Interviews are such an integral part of a career path, and it’s important to look your best to make an outstanding first impression. But should you wear a luxury watch to an interview? I’ve wondered about this question myself because I want to make the best first impression I can. After I looked into it more, I found the answer to the question:
As a general rule, it’s recommended not to wear distracting jewelry or bold luxury watches during an interview. Instead, wearing a sleek and subtle dress watch that pairs well with your outfit during your interview is the best approach to make a great impression.
I used to know nothing about how to dress for interviews. But after I looked into this topic more and learned more through my college classes, I have become much more educated when it comes to dressing for interviews. Read on to view the full answer to why you shouldn’t wear luxury watches to interviews, whether or not you should wear a watch to an interview, and more!
So Should You Wear A Luxury Watch To An Interview?
Wearing any distracting jewelry or bold luxury watches is a big no-no for interviews. Distracting watches or jewelry will make you appear pretentious during an interview, which can negatively affect your chances of getting the job.
I learned this through one of my college classes. I am currently a business major at Loyola University Chicago, and every business student at our school is required to take the “Business Preparation” course. My professor, Doctor Lithgow, gave a PowerPoint presentation about dressing for success, and more specifically about interviews. She said this:
“Stay away from any distracting jewelry. It can distract your interviewer and make you look like a showoff, which might hurt your chances of getting the job. If you’re gonna wear any jewelry, wear a simple dress watch because it can complement your outfit.”
I couldn’t agree more with my professor’s advice. While dressing up well and making a great visual impression is important, I believe that the most important part about interviews is to reveal the amazing qualities you have on the inside, not the outside.
This is why taking a more subtle approach by wearing a dress watch will tell your interviewer that you’re not trying to show off to them, but rather you’re trying to look professional and sophisticated to make an outstanding first impression.
Some argue that wearing luxurious jewelry or items during an interview can impress your interviewer visually when in reality, it can do the opposite effect. My professor also said, “In the United States, unlike some other countries around the world, it is illegal to hire someone based on their physical appearance.”
This shows that even if there’s a chance that a luxury watch impresses an interviewer, it will not be the deciding factor on whether you get the job because they cannot legally hire someone based on how they look. Obviously, there are exceptions such as interviewing to be an actor or model, but for the majority of interviews, appearance isn’t taken into consideration.
This means that bold luxury watches only hurt your chances of getting the job, while dress watches will enhance your outfit without drawing too much attention.
Can You Wear A Watch To An Interview?
It’s highly recommended to wear a watch to an interview since it can help you look more presentable and professional. More specifically, it’s advised to wear a subtle dress watch instead of high-end, bold luxury watches.
If you’ve ever wondered why people buy luxury watches in the first place, I wrote another article giving 8 reasons why people buy luxury watches. If you want to see the post, click here!
The reason why dress watches are the best watches to wear to an interview is that it’s the most formal type of timepieces that is perfect for an interview setting. Typically, the most optimal form of attire for job interviews is business professional, and a dress watch compliments professional attire very well because they’re classy and elegant.
I understand this from personal experience. When I wear my Panerai Luminor (my favorite dress watch in my collection) paired with a sleek suit, I feel like a proper businessman prepared for any type of interview or workplace. This demonstrates that dress watches are the best timepieces for interviews.
What do I mean by dress watches? For those of you who don’t know, when I’m talking about dress watches, I mean timepieces equipped with a high-quality leather strap. Leather straps are by far the most subtle type of watch band and it’s also the most professional-looking watch band compared to metal and sports bracelets.
Can You Wear A Gold Watch To An Interview?
Generally, you should not wear a gold watch to an interview. Gold watches are bold and draw too much attention, which can make you appear pretentious to your interviewer.
Gold, compared to leather straps and dress watches I mentioned earlier, gains a lot of attention when you wear it, which is not necessarily what you want during a professional interview. When you see someone wearing gold, it’s one of the first things your eyes are drawn to because of how bright and bold it is. This is not a good thing for an interview because it can distract your interviewer.
If anything, gold watches are timepieces that should be used for everyday wear, not in an ultra-professional setting like an interview in my opinion.
Key Takeaways
Wearing a watch to an interview is a great decision, but remember to stick to clean and simple dress watches instead of a bold luxury watch since it can appear to make you pretentious and gaudy. Also, remember to stay away from gold watches as well when going to an interview because they draw too much attention.
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