Interview Attire & Beauty Tips From Nicole Williams
Looking for a new job in 2012? Nicole Williams, Connection Director at LinkedIn, Author of Girl On Top, Owner of Works By Nicole Williams and regular contributor for ABC’s Primetime, Good Morning America, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Fox News and CNN, shares her tips on looking the part and standing out (not just on paper).
Common Mistakes:
Some of the most common mistakes when it comes to interviewing is in the attire. “The biggest mistakes people make are skirts that are too short or tight, too much cleavage, scuffed shoes, excessive perfume, Lady Gaga makeup, or looking like you walked off the set of Working Girl circa 1985,” Williams says. “The most important thing you bring to an interview is confidence. What you wear and how you wear it helps convey that. If you aren’t comfortable in your outfit – that will come across in an interview.”
Chic Attire:
If you think interview attire needs to be frumpy, think again. “You don’t need to wear a two piece black suit for a job interview. You need to wear your “power outfit.” Have a favorite skirt that always makes you feel great when you wear it? Why not pair that with a blazer? The days of interview uniforms are over. It’s Ok to show off your personality through your clothes – as long as you aren’t wearing a lime green mini skirt. Stick to business professional looks,” Williams says.
Beauty:
When it comes to beauty- stick to what you know and what looks good. “The day of a job interview is not the time to start experimenting with smoky eye makeup. Keep it simple and understated. Make sure your nails are filed and your manicure doesn’t have any chips,” Williams says. Try a OPI Gel Manicure; it lasts up to two weeks with no chipping, smudging or cracking. When it comes to perfume, don’t over-power. “Keep your perfume to a minimum – two spritz is all you need,” Williams says. Want to add a little extra drama to your look? Williams recommends the Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler $19, available at Nordstrom.
For hair, Williams recommends splurging. “Keep your hairstyle tasteful and polished. If you need extra confidence, why not spend $40 on a blowout? They are my guilty pleasure. People don’t necessarily notice when you are put together but they 100% notice when you aren’t,” she says. Check out Drybar (various locations) for a picture perfect blowout (in fun names like Manhattan and Straight Up) for $40, including the wash.
Win 3 Drybar Blowouts
If you’ve ever faced the debacle of paying a fortune for a sleek blowout at a fancy salon or going the cheap route and getting less than perfect results, Drybar is here to solve all of your problems. A salon that does, as they put it, “No cuts. No color. Just blowouts” for a flat rate of $40 in New York (and $35 everywhere else), Drybar makes the errand of going to the salon for a wash-and-blowdry a truly enjoyable experience. Their “menu” includes bar-themed styles including the Manhattan (classic blow-out), Straight-up (smooth and sleek), Southern Comfort (big hair), Cosmo (sexy waves) and Mai-tai (beach hair) among others.
Check out my interview with Drybar founder Alli Webb:
To add to the fun, Drybar plays chick flicks, has an assortment of candies to indulge in, phone charging stations and refreshing spa water. All of the stylists give killer head massages, too! They even have an iPhone app for booking.
Drybar just opened up in NYC and already has locations in LA, San Francisco, Dallas and Atlanta. They also just teamed up with reality TV star Bethenny Frankel’s Skinnygirl Margarita to style up the Skinnygirl ponytail: a high pony with a flip.
