This article provides guidelines on how to dress for a job interview in order to make a good impression right away. It details clothing and accessories to avoid and detailed recommendation for a wide variety of scenarios.
First Impressions Matter
You only make a first impression once. As an individual preparing for a job interview, wearing the right outfit is great way to make a strong first impression with your potential employer. This holds true if you are interviewing for a corporate job in a traditional office setting or, a job in a more informal work environment such as a mall or even outdoors. Presenting yourself professionally shows respect and that you are taking this opportunity seriously. Before we dive into suggestions for what to wear, let’s address the clothing and accessories that you’ll want to avoid.
Are Hats Acceptable?
Hats of any kind – baseball, trucker, fedora, bucket, cowboy, flat, beanie, beret – should be removed prior to walking into an interview for any type of job. There are a couple reasons why:
1) Hats can obstruct or shadow parts of your face. Strong eye contact and facial expressions are an important part of your overall communications and therefore you want your face to be completely visible to hiring managers
2) Hats are generally viewed as more casual accessories and an interview is an opportunity for you to demonstrate a professional, polished look, even if casual wear is the attire that employees wear to work. And I know…there are definitely hats that are fancier in nature and can make an outfit look really sharp, but we are talking general rules here. Job interviews are not the time to make potentially risky fashion choices that could detract from your overall presence. There is a time and a place for everything, and job interviews are not the time or place for overly expressive choices.
3) Many places of employment do not allow employees to wear hats so showing up hat free demonstrates that you already fit into the company culture and are ready to get started.
To summarize – leave your hat in the car – you can put it on right after you complete your interview. I do want to mention that head coverings worn for religious reasons or cultural reasons fall outside of this discussion and are perfectly acceptable to wear to any type of interview.
Other Clothing to Avoid
It is a good idea to avoid jeans, flip flops, hoodies, tee shirts, sneakers, crop tops, sweatshirts, and any overly casual clothing. If you would wear something to lounge around your house or casually hang out with friends, there is a good chance that this clothing is not the best option for your job interview. You want the hiring manager to know that you are serious about this opportunity and the right choice for the job. Making good choices on your interview outfit sends a message that you are responsible and professional. While what you say during the interview is most important, having a professional look is definitely part of the evaluation criteria.
What Should You Wear?
My top recommendation is elevating your clothing one level above what current employees wear on the job to give you a professional, polished look. To learn what current employees wear you can visit the place of employment (if there are public spaces), look for employee images on the company’s website or simply ask your point of contact. Below is a list of the different dress codes including a general description of each.
1) Casual: T-shirts and jeans allowed. Casual has the fewest restrictions or guidelines. Most companies don’t allow shorts. Examples: Tech companies, manufacturing, service companies.
2) Uniform: Employees wear a company-issued uniform that is provided to them or that they purchase on their own. Examples: Hotels, Quick service restaurants, airlines, medical establishments.
3) Business Casual Attire: Collared shirt for men (short or long sleeves) is typically a basic requirement as well as no jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts or shorts for all. Business casual is a pretty broad category into which many companies. fall. Often employees will wear company-issued “logo wear” that may include a button-down shirt, pullover, vest or polo shirt with the company logo displayed. Examples: Advertising and marketing firms, non-profits, creative industries.
4) Business Attire: We are taking our business casual wardrobe up a notch. Again no jeans, t-shirts, sweatshirts or shorts for all and some of the aforementioned “logo” wear may be too casual with the exception of a button-down shirt. Men and women will typically wear a sport coat or blazer with their outfit. You may see some full suits in the mix but typically men are not wearing ties. Examples: Education institutions, architecture firms, professional service firms, staffing firms.
5) Business Formal: The number of companies that have a true business formal dress code continues to shrink. Employees typically wear conservative business suits; often the men will wear a suit and tie; women may wear a suit as well or a dress or a skirt/blouse with a blazer. Examples: Law firms, banks, accounting firms.
Example of Elevating Your Attire One Level
Let’s say you are interviewing for a summer job at an insurance company and the dress code for employees is business casual. Elevating your clothing to be one level dressier than employees would mean making clothing choices that align with the “Business Attire” dress code. This could include dress pants, a button-down shirt and dress shoes for men. For women, options might include a skirt and blouse, a dress or dress pants and nice shirt. For shoes I recommend closed toed shoes which can include ballet flats, regular flats or even high heels. The reason I mention closed toed toes is because they tend to look a bit dressier. If you don’t have many dressier items in your closet and/or budget is an issue, consider borrowing items from a friend or checking out a local thrift store. Get creative in how you can put your best self forward. Unless you are interviewing for a job in formal industry such as banking or, an executive position, wearing a formal business suit is not required for the majority of interviews so definitely don’t run out and make an investment that is likely not necessary.
When it comes to clothing color choices, the best colors to pick are neutrals or simple solid colors. Try to avoid any overly bright colors or pattern choices that are too flashy or distracting.
Feel Free to Repeat
If you are interviewing for a position where there are multiple rounds of interviews, you can easily wear the same interview outfit each time so that you aren’t breaking the bank with a bunch of new clothes. Typically, each subsequent interview is with a different person but even if you are seeing the same person again and again, I can all but guarantee he or she will not remember what you wore on your last interview. I recently had a series of 3, in-person interviews for an architecture firm. For the previous 5 years I had been working at home for companies with a casual dress code. On top of that, I donated all of my dressier clothes two years prior as I was convinced, I would never work in a corporate setting again. This particular architecture firm had a “Business Attire” dress code so I knew I wanted to wear a blazer with dress pants. I had a blazer that would work but had to buy black pants and dress shoes. I wasn’t’ interested in investing in additional wardrobe pieces until I secured the job, so I wore the exact same outfit to each of the three interviews! I may have switched up my accessories but maybe not. I looked professional at all three interviews and landed the job. I have since invested in additional wardrobe pieces and plan to slowly re-build my wardrobe taking advantage of sales and deals!
Ask the hiring manager or your primary point of contact, what you should wear
If you are overthinking what to wear or don’t want to leave anything to chance, ask your point of contact for suggestions of appropriate interview attire. While my recommendation is to avoid any overly casual attire, the person conducting the interview may have a different opinion and be ok with jeans and sneakers for example. If that is the case, make sure your clothing is clean, crisp and wrinkle free. You’ll still want to avoid hats and any of the other items detailed above.
Accessories
The best option is to keep your accessories simple to minimize distractions. For example, avoid any bracelets that clank when you move your arms. I see you fellow hand talkers! I typically opt for small to medium sized earrings and a simple necklace. If you wear a smart watch, make sure it is set to silent mode so that it is not buzzing or dinging during the interview and of course, don’t pause to look for any messages during the actual interview.
Make-up
I personally love a full make look as I think it enhances my features, brings more color to my very fair complexion and creates a polished look. A make-up free, natural look is also perfectly acceptable if that aligns with your personal style and makes you feel most comfortable. If you opt for make-up, keep the look daytime and natural. Save the Taylor Swift eye and glitter for dinner out with friends later! If you don’t typically wear make-up but are looking to boost your overall look, I think most women can benefit from mascara and a coat of lip gloss.
Perfume / Cologne
Keep any spritzes or strong scents to a minimum. Some people are deeply sensitive to scents of any kind and therefore you don’t want to risk overwhelming their senses
Final Details: Make Sure your Appearance is Crisp and Wrinkle Free
Once you’ve put together the right outfit for your upcoming interview, give it a once over to check for wrinkles and creases. You want your clothing to be crisp free which may require you to use an iron or steamer. A wrinkly shirt or dress with visible folds will detract from your appearance. Many items from online retailers arrive folded which can present hard to remove fold lines. A steamer will literally change your life and can get rid of even the toughest wrinkles / creases without damaging the fabric or taking a ton of time. If you do not own a steamer or iron, chances are a friend or family member has one that you can borrow or use at their home. Another option is to take the clothing to your local dry cleaner and just tell them you would like the items steam cleaned.
Technology
If your cell phone is with you, check check double check to make sure the phone is in silent mode or preferably off. Keep it in your purse or pocket until the interview has concluded.
Phone a Friend
If you don’t interview often or, are interviewing for your first job ever, include a friend or family member in the process to get their feedback on what you are thinking of wearing. Share what you have learned about the company culture and dress code. It is also a good idea to role play answering basic questions that you will likely get asked in an interview. Below is a short list of common questions in any interview. Remember to keep your answers succinct and clear.
- Tell me why you are interested in this job.
- Tell me about yourself (keep your answer largely focused on your work history highlighting key accomplishments. It is ok to add in a personal tidbit or two as well).
- Why do you think you would be a good fit for this position?
- Tell me about a challenging encounter you had with a customer or co-worker and how you solved it.
Good luck! You got this.
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