When it comes to what to wear for a job interview, executive casual or business formal is often the standard. But, a general rule of thumb, being more professionally over-dressed is better than being professionally under dressed, as it shows the effort you put in getting ready for the occasion, which is a mark of respect and consideration in itself and extra points for you! And remember that wearing professional clothing that you feel good in and that is appropriate for your role, increases your self confidence and puts you psychologically in the right mindset to go into an interview.
What is the company culture and dress code?
Be sure to do your research before you wear your suit, however, if you are entering a work environment that is more casual, a suit might not be the right attire for your interview. Depending on the type and level of job you are interviewing for, you may have to dress in a business casual or business formal attire. If you are interviewing for a lower-level position or in a more casual sector, business casual or business formal may be appropriate as you want to show that you will fit in with how you dress and that you made an effort to present your best self.
What role are you interviewing for?
Business formal is how you are always expected to dress at executive-level and leadership interviews. Tailoring is even more important along with presenting a polished overall look in this case. You might want to give your outfit some weight with a structured blazer or by incorporating the color you might want to give your outfit some weight with a structured blazer or by incorporating the red color red. On the other hand, if you are interviewing for a marketing position, you might want to wear something creative that showcases your personality and your creative side, while making you more memorable. When you are interviewing for a technical role that is not customer-facing, you may get away with a more casual look involving a polo if you’re feeling adventurous. However, I would not recommend wearing jeans to an interview, simply because you don’t know 100% the background of the people interviewing you and how they could interpret that.
What is the industry culture?
If you are interviewing for a start-up job or in tech, you may fit better in the business casual style, as you don’t want to look too traditional or even too stiff. You can explore a variety of options for business casual such as dress pants with a dressy t-shirt or blouse, pencil skirt and jacket, or an urban suit and tie with modern cuts or laidback fluid materials.
If you are interviewing for a bank, the workplace is most likely more formal, women could wear a pair of wide-legged pants with court heels and blouses, but if it is a bit more casual cool, they still look super professional when paired with a rollneck sweater and smart trainers that look like leathery sporty loafers. Women may choose to wear skirts or pantsuits with heels, and men might choose to wear blazers or suit jackets, button-down shirts, dress pants, ties, and dress shoes. Often, advice is for women to wear a skirt, dress or classically tailored pants with a jacket, and for men, suit and tie. Clean, neutral-colored slacks or pants, dress shirt and jacket are all safe, appropriate choices.
Men may want to think about wearing a dress shirt with a long sleeve, pants, belt, and dress shoes. For pant colors, aside from black, gray dress pants, or neutrals like navy blue or grey, are excellent choices to wear for a job interview. To dress up an outfit even more, try a pair of chinos. If you add to your wardrobe one pair in black and one pair in brown, and you will most likely already have matching shoes to wear them with.
Women may want to opt for a formal dress, skirt, suit or black dress pants. Pairing a black pencil skirt with a khaki jacket gives you a professional but relaxed look that will help you maintain confidence throughout your interview. If you want to opt for a more conservative look, go for tailored suiting whether it’s pant suits or skirt suits, button-up shirts, fitted jackets, and leather or suede shoes.
Your dress shirts should be white, or if you are feeling a bit daring, a lighter shade of blue. Wear your dress shirt, jacket, and matching pants, and finish off the look with a belt and Oxfords or loafers. And if you are completely opposed to wearing a blazer, you can opt for dress pants with a dress shirt underneath a nice sweater. You could go with well-fitting sweaters over pants, skirts, and even over dresses.
In terms of shoes, men should consider wearing black Oxfords with their business attire. Just avoid open-toed shoes, and always make sure that your shoes are good-looking and well-polished. And the same advice applies to women. when you are making a decision about which professional shoes you will wear for your interview, be sure to have shoes with closed-toes, heels that are not taller than 3 inches, and neutral colors.
What will the weather be like? If it is mid-summer, opt for lighter-colored and lighter material garments and suiting such as breathable linen or cotton. Typically, natural fibers like these are lighter and more breathable. Avoid wearing extra tight clothing to allow for some breathing space and opt for light sandals or mocassins. If your interview is taking place during winter, wear your most professional coat, also known as the classic wool coat and make sure to wear your scarf professionally.
What is the format of the interview?
If your interview is going to take place over lunch or drinks, you could wear a plain, sleeveless dress with a jacket on top. If you are going to be doing a casual interview, you could even wear a dark-wash pair of jeans with your navy jacket. If you are going to an informal interview, you could wear the V-neck sweater with a dark-wash jeans or khaki pants.
Even for a phone interview, dressing up can help you get into the right frame of mind and increase your confidence. Most simply, business casual interview attire means professional clothing with no tie or mandatory jacket. For women, business casual interview attire is a crisp button-up or conservative blouse, combined with pants or skirt. Wearing professional clothes will make you feel more confident and properly prepared for the interview. Just like wearing a smile and adjusting your body language improves your mood, dressing up in an appropriate outfit will make you feel more confident, even when the idea of interviewing makes you feel like a nervous wreck.
