
Selecting what to wear to an interview is one of the most nerve-racking outfit decisions, right up there with first dates and meeting your S.O.’s folks for the first time. Though your ensemble is not a deal maker (or breaker), what you wear can be a crucial factor in creating a great first impression.
We all know the basics: Black and blue top the list for best color choices, inappropriate hemlines are a big no-no and, if you must wear a loud color, tone it down with neutral basics. But before you start sweating these details, first do your homework. From the company culture right down to your interviewer, these factors are monumental in choosing your attire. If you’re interviewing for an editing job at, say, Brit + Co, bright colors are applauded, whereas if you’re trying to land a gig with a corporate giant, a more classic approach is highly recommended. Keep in mind that even in creative fields, you still have to convey a sense of professionalism. The key point is to strike the perfect balance between polished and fashion forward, giving the interviewer a glimpse into your work ethic and personality.
Armed with this knowledge, we figured we’d help take the stress off your next interview with beyond-basic wardrobe staples to keep on hand the next time you find yourself at a loss for what to wear to an interview.
1. Kate Spade Saturday Mini Satchel ($165): A bold handbag can add the right amount of edge to any look. Since this crimson purse is already eye-catching enough, you can skip the high-end designers or reach for a diffusion line instead when it comes to your clothing. (via Stockholm Street Style)
2. Equipment Signature Shirt ($208): Classic white shirts are a no brainer, but even so, too often we find ourselves ripping our closet apart looking for a chic interview blouse. Let’s all stop that! We’re huge fans of Equipment’s spin on the classic. Just be careful of any sheerness and do a check in natural lighting before you head out the door. (via Gastro Chic)
3. Windowpane Ankle Pant ($80): Get away with a bold windowpane print by restraining the color palette to black and white. If you’re feeling a little daring and interviewing in a non-corporate environment, try mixing prints. It shows off your creative side! (via Collage Vintage)
4. Cleo Stripe Ponte Dress ($43): Forget being nervous about taking the print plunge. Stripes are a safe way to introduce pattern into your interview ensemble. Plus, you can quickly trade out your blazer for a chambray button up to head to a post interview lunch! (via Mr. Newton)
5. Faux Leather Herringbone Jacket ($70): Swapping out your blazer in favor of a moto-style jacket is a gutsy move, but when done tastefully, it can really make you stand out from the pack. Make sure the rest of your outfit is classic and refined and keep in mind, this look will only work in a more fashion forward job environment. (via Grazia Daily)
6. Leather Envelope iPad Case ($167): It may be a small detail, but your iPad case can be a standout element to a prospective employer. Be prepared and dress your tech in a stylish case that doubles as a clutch. Or better yet, why not make your own?! You’ll not only impress your interviewer with your killer digital portfolio but with your savvy DIY skills, too. (via Star Style)
7. Reiss D’Orsay Pumps ($131): The classic pump gets an update with an electric blue wash. This is the ultimate heel to pair with an understated pencil skirt or cropped trousers. (via Harper’s Bazaar)
8. Rebecca Taylor Tweed Blazer ($395): Who says you have to wear a matchy-matchy suit? A chic bouclé topper is a modern take on the often staid suit. (via Harper’s Bazaar)
9. Theory Rhin Austell Skirt ($190): Nothing makes us ooze confidence quite like the timeless pencil skirt. Take a cue from your favorite street-style blogs and try rocking the season’s midi version instead. Pull the whole look together with a crisp button up and nude heels. (via Collage Vintage)
10. Collette Dinnigan Tango Shift Dress ($251): Go for a poppin’ print if your interview is at a creative office. A killer graphic print on a shift silhouette will show off your taste for aesthetics. Tone down the burst of color with a solid, dark-toned blazer and heels. (via The Sartorialist)
11. Resort Chain Necklace ($34): Don’t get too complicated with arm candy stacks and layered necklaces. A simple bib necklace is always a surefire bet. Kudos if there’s an impressive story behind the piece (ahem, like that you made it!).
We’re sure your knockout skills will land you your dream job, but we like to think this style guide will give you that extra oomph of confidence you need! Still have style questions? Don’t sweat it, ask us in the comments below!
Welcome to Selfmade Finance School, our new money series with Block Advisors to help small business owners with their tax, bookkeeping, and payroll needs year-round. This week, we explore the tax implications of bringing family members into your business.
The question for today is this: Does hiring your family members make sense for your business? Let me be clear. This is not a piece about whether hiring your family members makes sense for your relationships with those family members. As someone who is part of a family business, I could fill up a lot more than 600 words on my opinions about that. For today's purposes, we focus on whether it makes sense from an overall "good business and tax implication" perspective. As it turns out, there is a decent amount of tax nuance when it comes to employing your family. Let's break it down based on relationship to the employee:
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Spouses Who Are In Business Together
Personally, if I had to be in business with my husband, it would not go well. However, many couples build viable, strong businesses together and I say, good for them! Depending on how you have your business entity structured, it will make a big difference on the tax treatment of you and your spouse working as partners. Because a business jointly owned and operated by a married couple is generally treated as a partnership for Federal tax purposes, the spouses must comply with filing and record keeping requirements imposed on partnerships and their partners. The election to file two Schedule C (Form 1040) forms, (one for each spouse) permits certain married co-owners to avoid filing partnership returns, provided that each spouse separately reports a share of all the businesses' items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit. Under the election, both spouses will be subject to self-employment tax and on net earnings from self-employment and receive credit for Social Security earnings.
One Spouse Employs Another
If you have a dynamic where your spouse is an employee of your business, then your spouse's wages are subject to income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare taxes. If you are self-employed (not a corporation or a partnership), your spouse's pay does not have to be included in your federal unemployment tax account (FUTA) contributions and payments. However, if your business is a corporation or a partnership you must include that spouse's pay in your unemployment tax contribution calculation.
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You Employ Your Child
First, let's be clear. I work in my family business, but I am an adult, so I am treated just like a normal employee. However, if you, for example, run a family restaurant and want to hire your children under 18 to work for you, there are some tax benefits. But first, you should check with your state for rules on how many hours minors can work (in non-agricultural jobs) and reference the Fair Labor Standards Act for information on limitations on the kinds of work children can perform.
"This is an often overlooked or under-utilized strategy. Paying your children for true services they provide in your business can be a powerful tax-saving tool," says Cathi Reed, Block Advisors Regional Director. "If you are a sole-proprietorship or single member LLC, and the child is less than 18 years of age, the business is not required to withhold FICA or payroll taxes. The child can use his or her standard deduction against income you pay."
You Hire Your Parent
Oh dear. If you are brave enough to do this, know that you will need to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes on your parent's wages and make the appropriate withholdings, but you don't have to pay unemployment taxes. Now all you have to do is convince your parent that you are the boss. Have fun with that!
Is Hiring Family Members Worth It For The Tax Benefits?
"There are some positive tax advantages to hiring family members. It's important to treat a family member like any other employee. Hiring your children can result in substantial savings for businesses. Make sure your child has real, age-appropriate work to do and a reasonable pay rate, comparable to other employees. Consult with a Block Advisors small business certified tax pro to ensure that you are complying with all requirements," advises Reed. "Block Advisors, a team within H&R Block, is dedicated to meeting the tax, bookkeeping and payroll needs of small business owners year-round. To start working with the tax experts at Block Advisors, visit blockadvisors.com."
In my opinion, you should not hire a family member solely because of the tax benefits. You should always hire based on whether that person is right for the job and keep in mind how this hire could materially impact your relationship with that person and others in your family. Finally, as I mentioned, make sure you have a tax professional on your team when making these determinations. As you can see, things can get a little tricky!
*All details were sourced from IRS.gov and blockadvisors.com
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regards to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. O'Keeffe Financial Partners and any other entity listed herein is not affiliated with Kestra IS or Kestra AS Investor Disclosures: https://bit.ly/KF-Disclosures