Dressing smart is an essential part of any job interview process and the first step to impress the employer. There is always a dress code which one wears during the interview i.e. formal attire of professional attire as per the industry.
Dressing up casually on in an unprofessional way does not leave a good impression during the interview process. Another concern while dressing up is when a lady is pregnant during the time of the interview. Depending upon the pregnancy duration, one can dress accordingly.
It is important to note that, being pregnant will not send the resume below in the stack or a reason for not to be hired. The discrimination of any form during the hiring process is against the law.
Yet it is important to put up the best foot front during the interview process. One should dress up keeping in mind to look professional and smart but ensure not to focus too much on the pregnancy.
Do ensure to wear something comfortable and professional but ensure to inform about your pregnancy beforehand to prevent any hassles ahead. Interview during pregnancy should be considered as a usual interview, where your talent and skills speak for yourself.
Job Interview While Pregnant – Clothing Tips:
1. Wear dark color:
Colors are important during the job interview. It is advisable to wear lighter colors during an interview as it looks more pleasant and appealing. But during pregnancy, it good to wear slightly darker shades or something in gray, as it will not highlight the pregnancy. Darker colors are kind of camouflaging in nature and are suitable as they will not focus on your pregnancy.
It is not necessary to wear only black or gray, but darker shades of other colors will also work the best. For example, maroon, a darker shade of red or dark blue. These will look good and also be suitable for you during your interview.
If in case wearing a light shade is an option one is looking for then pay attention that the fabric cut is not fitted and is slightly loose. Choosing the right color for the interview is the smart thing to work on for the interview.
2. Wear a dress:
Wearing a dress is a great option during pregnancy when going for an interview. Since the cut of the dress allows to be comfortable and easily manages the pregnancy look. Another option other than dress can be wearing a skirt, mostly it is about comfort and looks good. Since these are comfortable and are professional attire too. Or even wearing office pants which are not fitted with an A-line cut top also looks great.
The only advice here is that the clothes he is wearing are not to highlight and make one look sloppy. Avoid wearing track pants or too casual clothes. Another important thing is that nowadays there are a lot of good office clothes designed for women during pregnancy.
Hence, it is good to check out the stores and learn what is the best outfit for the job. Keep in mind the various cuts and designs for the dress which are good to wear during pregnancy.
3. Avoid wearing fitted clothes:
As stated earlier, wearing loose clothes will work best. Understanding one’s body is important while dressing up for the interview. One kind of dress which works better for one person might not be a good option for another.
Also, pay attention to how ahead are you in your pregnancy. If you are in the earlier stages of your pregnancy then slightly fitted clothes will work good and if you are far ahead in the pregnancy then it is advisable to wear something loose. Options can be wrap up tops, cardigans or asymmetrical tops, these are comfortable, smart and completely in fashion.
Remember the aim is to get the job and not highlight your pregnancy. It is a natural and beautiful phenomenon to be experienced. While interviewing ensure that you prove to be the best candidate for the job.
4. Add a scarf to your outfit:
Adding a scarf to your outfit will work wonders. Not only it will make you look smart but it also is a good way to camouflage the pregnancy.
The advice is to wear a scarf with some patterns or light prints on it which will keep the attention of the person on your face and will be easier to talk with eye contact.
But it is important to pay attention to the detail as the scarf should match with your overall outfit, it should not look out of the place in the outfit.
Understand the kind of scarf you plan to wear, as there is a huge variety of scarf available in the market. Keep in mind to prevent from wearing any heavy or huge scarfs as they might look sloppy during the interview, it is good to go for medium length and light scarfs.
5. Avoid heels:
If you are far ahead in the pregnancy time then it is advisable to wear flats rather than heels. More than looking good it is about being comfortable. Since heels might not be a comfortable option in pregnancy, remember one might not be aware of how far a person has to walk or run. Might be one has to climb the stairs are walked quite far ahead.
Hence, wearing heels might turn out to be painful in this situation while wearing flats will provide more comfort. The freshness on the face is important while giving the interview, slight stress on the face during the interview might not go well and is also not impressive. Hence, find the best and comfortable shoes that go perfectly with your outfit.
6. Wear a cardigan or a blazer:
Another advised outfit to wear for the interview during pregnancy is to wear a cardigan, blazer or a formal jacket. It is not necessary it be fitted one can wear it and keep the button loose. This will make you look really smart and it won’t bother your pregnancy to be too highlighted.
Again ensure to find the right color of the blazer, instead of to wear too light colors it is best to wear darker shades. With a contrasting light colored top, this kind of color coordination will work for good as the person is not wearing too much of dark or too much light.
Keep in mind to wear the right size, avoid wearing a too small blazer or too bulky that it may look odd. Additionally, this is also a formal and corporate attire which will be perfect for your interview.
7. Wear good leggings:
If your office culture has a bit of casual environment then try wearing good leggings. One can never go wrong with them. They are highly comfortable and stretchable also they do give a smarter look to the overall outfit.
There are various good styles of leggings for pregnant women out in the market, explore the options available and see which one works best for you. The flexibility of leggings is an advantage since one can adjust accordingly as per the duration of pregnancy.
Another benefit of wearing leggings is that it provides the benefit of stretchability to take the steps accordingly. For example, if one needs to larger steps on the way then it fits perfectly. Hence, a good option for comfort and smartness.
8. Wear the right innerwear:
During pregnancy, the whole body changes wherein the breasts get heavier and tender. Hence, it is good to find the right inner wears before going for the interview. Rather than an outwardly look it is more about personal comfort.
Choose something cotton and light but with a good fit, that keeps your back and shoulder straight and in balance. A good innerwear will prevent slouching shoulders and will give you good confidence.
A situation where during the interview he is not comfortable might not benefit during the interview while wearing the right bra will provide great comfort. There are various varieties of inner wear available in the market specially designed to be work for the pregnancy. Hence, it is good to find the right fit for you.
9. Keep your hair neat:
The face is the first thing someone looks while talking and gives the first immediate impression about a person. Therefore, even going for the interview to ensure that your hairs are combed properly and tied back neatly.
As it will bring most of the attention to your face while talking and the focus be less on the pregnancy. While keeping everything in check, with a dress to shoes and scarfs, clean and combed hair should not be forgotten.
This might not a camouflaging thing for pregnancy but it does work well with your personality. Keep in mind that the intention during the interview is to look smart and good, and get the job. Hence, every tiny detail will work wonders.
10. Wear the right accessories:
Wearing the right jewelry and accessory is also important during the interview. Remember it is about your skills and competencies, it is good to focus to wear light jewelry which enhances the looks.
Avoid wearing heavy jewelry or too bright colored accessories. Simple earrings and a nice watch in your hand will do the required magic in your overall personality. A simple chain in the neck is fine, avoid wearing heavy necklaces. Also, do keep in mind that the coordination of the jewelry needs to be in sync with the overall outfit.
11. Wear light perfume:
Wearing fragrance is good when going for the interview. But the important to note here is that the perfume or deodorant should not be strong, as it will distract the person interviewing from the relevant questions and might lead to a negative impact.
Also, there are the chances that the other person may be allergic to the perfumes which might not go down well during the interview session.
If in case you decide to wear some perfume then ensure to wear something with an extremely light fragrance and is not at all overpowering. The person would remember you for your skills and personality and not with your perfume.
Also, do check if you don’t feel nauseated with the fragrance during pregnancy, as it might lead to an awkward situation during the interview.
12. Wear a smile:
Confidence is the key to any job interview, with the added smile on your face completes your entire outfit for the interview. During pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, women tend to have a natural glow on their faces, which is better than any make-up in the world.
A good smile will complete the deal as it will showcase your true personality to the interviewer. A smile is the best thing that impresses every person in conversation. It also indicates the level of confidence in the person, hence, it will impress the interviewer with your smile. Therefore, always carry your smile the moment you enter the room for the interview.
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful experiences in a woman’s life that they choose to experience. While professional success and fulfillment are also important for a woman to achieve.
Therefore, one should keep on looking for the best work opportunities that are out there. While pregnancy is a natural phenomenon and part of life, therefore, it should not become a reason for one to stop growing professionally.
With so many companies and startups coming up, the rise in opportunities has also grown significantly than ever before. Even the participation of women in with workforce has also gone up than previous generations.
The important thing here to understand is that there are a lot of companies that provide facility and care to women during pregnancy. They also take special care for them so that women can do their work comfortably and without any problem.
Also, discriminating against women during pregnancy is against the law. Professional success is a personal fulfillment that every woman should experience, hence, being pregnant should not come in the way to achieve something.
With so many benefits for women, it is good to achieve what is best for you and to be an amazing example for your children.
