How to Dress for a Job Interview

Do you have an upcoming job interview? It can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. You likely have a ton of questions circulating in your brain, from what types of questions you should ask during the interview to what you should wear. In this article, we will focus more on job interview fashion – if you want to dress to truly impress, you’ll want to keep reading. 

Why What You Wear at a Job Interview Matters 

When you attend a job interview, you have a couple of goals: find out more about the company, show that you’re a good fit for the position, and make a good impression. Dressing right is all about making that positive impression; the right outfit will help you look sharp and professional, while the wrong clothes could make it look like you’re a zero-effort type of person. 

Ideally, you want to wear something that captures the interviewer’s attention without it being a distraction. It’s not just about putting on the best pair of dress pants but also about showing that you’re comfortable wearing them. Here are the steps you should take to get it right. 

Research the Company 

First thing’s first – research the company! Researching the company is vital, as it will give you an idea of the type of clothing you should wear to the interview. There are so many variables here. What’s the work environment like? Generally, you want to go a step up from what the company’s employees usually wear – so if they dress business casual, you will want to dress business formal. What about company policies? The company might not let people wear too many visible piercings, so you may want to consider covering a piercing for the interview in this case. 

So, how do you research the company? There are a couple of ways to do this. First, check out their website and online presence – you’ll usually be able to find pictures of employees there. You could also reach out to the company via email or phone to ask what the dress code is. 

For most interviews, the dress type can fit into one of three categories: casual, business casual, and business formal. Each of these is quite different from each other, so it’s essential to understand what to wear for each one. 

Dressing Casual 

In some cases, dressing casually works for interviews, especially in casual environments. For this, you may wear something like dark-colored jeans, mid-length skirts, and a bold-colored blouse. Keep in mind there will always be variables. For example, if you have a job interview for an artsy company, you may get away with more creative attire. It’s all about knowing the particular company. 

Dressing Business Casual 

To dress business casual, you’re looking for smart, modern clothes. That might mean wearing a button-down shirts, blouses, and pencil skirts. Wearing shoes such as Loafers or Chelsea Boots works well for business casual.

Dressing Business Formal 

Business formal is for interviews where you want to make a good impression. This might mean wearing a dark suit and tie with dress shoes for men. For women, closed toe shoes with tailored trousers and a sharp blazer work very well (as does a knee-length pencil skirt). 

Don’t Forget About Comfort 

Of course, you should never forget about comfort when dressing for an interview. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing something you’d never usually pick out – as well as being smart, your outfit should also reflect you as a person. So, if dress shoes aren’t your thing, don’t worry about wearing them! 

Allow for Plenty of Time 

Dressing for an interview may take longer than you’d expect. The last thing you want is to be stressed on the morning of the interview because you can’t remember the best way to tie a tie or because your shoes don’t fit very well. To avoid this, allow plenty of time to get dressed before your interview. It’s also a good idea to try everything on well in advance of the interview so that you know it all fits nicely. 

Consider Accessories and Hairstyles 

What about accessories and hairstyles? When it comes to accessories, keeping it simple is the best route. A smart bag, a hint of cologne, and one piece of nice jewelry can help your overall look. For hair, something simple like a ponytail, bun, or topknot can work well. If your hair is short, using a little product to keep it in place is a good idea. 

Know What Not to Wear 

There are some things you should never wear to an interview. This includes: ● Flip Flops 

• Athletic Wear (unless you’re applying for an athletic company) 
• Wrinkled Clothing 
• Excessive Perfume 
• Flashy Brands 
• Too Much Jewelry 
• Overly Bold and Clashing Colors 
• Hats 
• Open-toe Shoes 
• Revealing Clothes 
• Sneakers 
• Anything Unclean 
• Ripped Jeans 

Walking into an interview with a t-shirt with a large brand name print on the front and tons of jewelry will not make a good impression. Likewise, wearing a hat during the interview is not a good look. Remember – being smart is key, even if you’re dressing casually. Again, it helps to research the company policy, as that will show you what you should definitely avoid when dressing for the interview.

Choose High-quality Clothing 

High-quality clothing always looks better. It fits well and doesn’t wrinkle as easily. So, when shopping for interview clothing, choose quality over cheaper materials. Here at Erica Wilson, we have a range of quality attire to help you dress well for the more casual interviews, including comfortable yet smart shirts and dark-colored pants. 

In Summary 

Interviews are about making a positive impression, and you won’t do that if you dress appropriately for the occasion! The best advice here is to research the company before planning an outfit. From there, you can focus on acquiring the suitable garments to create the perfect job interview attire.