Can the color of your tie help you get a job? Some people might say that what you wear to an interview doesn’t matter, but recent studies suggest that the color of your tie might actually make a difference in the hiring decision.
First things first, let’s start by discussing why you should always wear a tie to an interview. Making a good impression on a hiring manager or recruiter is one of the best ways to increase your chances of getting hired. One easy way to appear professional and make a positive impression is to wear a tie to an interview.
According to INC.com, 71% of hiring managers would not hire a candidate who showed up underdressed to an interview. Because of the importance of dressing professionally for an interview, we always suggest you show up overdressed rather than underdressed.
If you were a hiring manager, you wouldn’t hire a candidate to be the manager of your employees if they showed up to an interview with jeans and a t-shirt, would you? Probably not. So why would you expect a hiring manager to hire you when you show up in unprofessional clothing?
When you are going in for a job interview, it is important to remember that you are not only competing against other candidates, but you are also competing against the image that the interviewer has in their mind of the perfect candidate. If you show up to the interview dressed in jeans and a t-shirt, you are immediately at a disadvantage. The interviewer will automatically picture you as someone who is not taking the process seriously and who does not have the professional demeanor that is required for the job.
On the other hand, if you show up to the interview dressed in a suit and tie, you are sending a message that you are taking the process seriously and that you have the professional demeanor that is required for the job. In today’s competitive job market, it is important to do everything you can to make sure that you stand out from the crowd, and dressing for success with a suit and tie is one of the best ways to do just that.
Now that you are ready to go to your interview with a suit and tie, let’s discuss how the color of your tie can help you get a job offer.
The Effect of Color on Decision Making and Business
We live in a world of color. Everywhere we look, we see a different hue and shade. And while we may not always realize it, color plays a big role in our lives. Color can affect our moods, our emotions, and even our decision-making. As the article The Effect of Color on Decision Making and Business points out, color can be used to influence the way we think and act. For example, businesses use color to create an atmosphere that is conducive to spending. Stores often use warm colors like red and yellow to stimulate customers’ appetite for shopping. And restaurants often use blue or green to create a feeling of calm and relaxation.
Even if we may not know it, color can affect our decision making, change our reactions to specific situations, and much more.
One great example that I think most of you can relate with is feeling sad, depressed, lonely, or tired on a gloomy day. While there are many reasons for this, including decreased oxygen content in the air, restriction to indoor activities, and more, the main reason is for the lack of light.
Lack of sunshine means your body produces less serotonin and more melatonin, causing us to feel tired. When it is dark and gloomy out, we are no longer seeing the bright greens on trees, the blue sky, and the shining sun. Instead, all we see is dark colors, and many times, no colors at all. That is why you see most malls have significant lighting and bright colors, to keep you in the mood to shop.
Color awakens unconscious reactions. Colors considered “warm” (red, orange, and yellow) have the greatest wavelength and require a significant amount of energy to be perceived by the brain. That means these colors will stimulate the brain, increase heart rate, and also breathing, which is why most stores include warm colors in their logo, aisles, and entrances.
On the other end, “cold” colors (green and blue) require a lot less energy to perceive, making you feel more relaxed and calmer.
So... Can the color of your tie help you get a job?
As you can see, color significantly affects a person’s decision making, which is why the color of your tie can help set you a part from other candidates. A candidate with a dark green tie will have a less of a chance of receiving a job offer compared to a candidate wearing a red tie.
However, just because “warm” colors stimulate the brain and increase heart rate, that doesn’t mean you should always wear them on an interview. You will have to pick the color that best fits your personality.
If you are shy and quiet, we suggest wearing warm colors to offset your shyness. If you are outgoing and loud, we suggest wearing colder colors like blue or purple. We suggest you avoid wearing warm colors as a loud and outgoing individual because it may cause the hiring manager to be overwhelmed by your presence.
For a full list of tie color meanings, check out our other article on our blog! If you are looking to prepare for your next interview, follow these Zoom interview tips. Lastly, check out these Zoom interview mistakes that you should avoid at all costs!
