What you should wear for a job interview will be dependent on the type of job and company you are interviewing with. For example, if you’re interviewing at a company where everyone wears jeans and t-shirts, you may look too formal in a three-piece business suit. This is where researching the company ahead of time and learning more about their company culture comes in handy. Spend time on their website, LinkedIn company page, Glassdoor, and other social media pages to learn more about their environment and see if you’re able to find photos of the team and how they dress at the office. What you wear to the interview will demonstrate your level of professionalism, confidence, and understanding of the company so it’s important to do your research ahead of time. When in doubt, however, when interviewing it’s better to err on the side of being overdressed vs. underdressed, and no matter what type of attire you wear, having clothes that are clean and comfortable is paramount. This may mean getting your clothes dry cleaned, shoes polished, and spending time on your hair, nails, and makeup. Here are some ideas on what to wear depending on the office environment…
Formal Business Attire
For careers in finance, law, banking, or other similar environments, it’s best to dress formally. In an article on Monster, they recommend, “A suit is the most traditional and professional option. For men, it’s best to choose a well-tailored two-piece suit in a classic color such as black, gray, or navy. Pair this with a dress shirt, conservative tie, and polished shoes. For women, a pantsuit in a solid color or a knee length skirt suit with a blouse is a good choice. You can also complement your outfit with simple jewelry such as elegant earrings, an understated necklace, or a classic watch.”
Casual Business Attire
Dressing in casual business attire will likely be the route for most interviews. For this type of environment’s dress code, Monster recommends, “For men, you could wear chinos or dark dress pants, with a collared shirt and blazer. Depending on the company dress code, you may or may not have to wear a tie. But, avoid wearing jeans and shirts without sleeves or collars. A knee-length skirt or a pair of slacks with a blouse is a smart option for women. You could also wear a fitted dress with a simple pattern and a jacket or blazer. Avoid short dresses, and when wearing tights, make sure there are no ladders or holes.”
Casual Attire
And finally, there are some companies, think of more start-up and creative environments, where it makes the most sense to dress casually. For this, Monster recommends, “A casual dress code for men could include: dark-washed jeans, chinos, collared polo shirts, simple shirts, loafers, sneakers. For women, you could wear: a pair of tailored jeans, a blouse, a cropped cardigan, a casual dress, flats or short boots.”