Hey Applicants—Orange Is Not the New Black

There has been a lot written about how job applicants’ attire can affect employers’ first impression of the candidate.

For example, one study reported that 80 percent of hiring managers reported that shoes are “extremely important” to one’s interview appearance. Apart from shoes, there are a whole host of general no-no’s, like appearing messy or baring too much skin.

A new survey from CareerBuilder takes this topic to a new, colorful level.

The survey asked employers what they most often associate with colors candidates wear to job interviews.

When asked to advise jobseekers on the best color to wear to a job interview, employers most often recommended blue (23 percent) and black (15 percent). Orange topped the list for the worst color (25 percent of employers) and was the color most likely to be associated with someone who is unprofessional.

Many employers felt more conservative colors such as black, blue, gray, and brown conveyed a sense of professionalism. Other key attributes they pointed to:

• Black—Leadership
• Blue—Team Player
• Gray—Logical/Analytical
• White—Organized
• Brown—Dependable
• Red—Power
• Green, Yellow, Orange, or Purple—All four colors were associated with Creative.