Did you finally get an interview at that reputable tech company but you’re not sure what’s the best way to leave an impression? Well, apart from your wits and outspokenness, how you dress for the interview can play a big part in getting the job.
Dressing for interviews can be tricky. Why? Because different companies have different expectations of how candidates should dress. If you show up for an interview at a Silicon Valley startup wearing a formal dress, you might look weird to your interviewers. Or, the people at that Wall Street company might frown on your if you show up wearing jeans and a shirt.
To make sure you’ve always dressed appropriately at job interviews, here’s a guide on what to wear and what to avoid.
How to Dress for a Corporate Interview
When you’re interviewing for a professional position, it’s important that you stick with a formal look.
Interview Attire for Women
Corporate interview attire for women is broader than interview attire for men. Women have more options to dress up formally and leave a lasting impression. In my experience, the best way to do so is with a fine blouse and dress pants/suit skirt, or a statement dress. Make sure the dress or skirt is below the knee or just above the knee.
When it comes to colors, you should avoid anything too colorful or flashy. Just like with men attire, it’s best to wear something black, grey, or navy-colored. Keeping it simple is the perfect way to go, with less makeup and less jewelry. Avoid sparkling and dangling earrings, or arms full of bracelets as this can distract your interviewer.
You should also think about what purse you’re going to wear. For a corporate interview, the ideal choice is a professional-looking tote bag or purse. The shoes should also be formally looking and in a darker shade. Wear professional hairstyle like loose curls or short and stylish.
To sum up, this is what you should know about your formal interview meeting:
- Suit skirt and dress below the knee or just above the knee.
- Don’t wear anything colorful or flashy.
- Less makeup.
- Less jewelry.
- Formal shoes.
- Formal hairstyle.
- Professional tote bag or purse.
- Light perfume.
Interview Attire for Men
When it’s a corporate interview meeting, men can never go wrong with a nice suit. If you don’t have a suit, it’s best if you order it a few weeks ahead of time to make sure it suits you well. You can use the extra time for tailoring and adjustments.
It’s also important to remember that apart from a sharp-looking suit, you need to appear with well-groomed hair, freshly shaved facial hair, and polished shoes. In my experience, this is the ideal combination that will get you noticed and respected.
Here are some other things you should take into consideration for your corporate interview meeting:
- Make sure the suit is stain-free.
- The color of your suit should be a darker shade, such as black, dark grey, or navy.
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt with your suit, preferably a white one.
- A leather belt and a tie are nice accessories.
- Wear dark socks and formal shoes.
- Go light on perfume.
- Go can elevate your look with a briefcase.
How to Dress for a Business Casual Interview
If the interview is of a business casual character, you can play with different outfits and add a modern touch to your look.
Interview Attire for Women
For a business casual interview, you can wear a combination of a skirt, blouse, dress, sweater, and twinset. If you like, you can enhance your look with a jacket, hosiery, and closed-toe shoes.
The skirt should be below your knee or just above your knee. The pants can be khaki, twill, cotton, or corduroy. If you opt for a dress, make sure it’s professional looking and has a sheath silhouette. Although it’s a business casual interview, solid colors are better than bright and flashy.
To sum up, this is the ideal business casual attire for women:
- Below-the-knee skirt.
- Blouse.
- Khaki, twill, cotton, or corduroy pants.
- Hosiery.
- Jacket.
- Closed-toe shoes.
- Professional dress.
- Avoid flashy colors.
Interview Attire for Men
The best business casual attire for men are pants, a button-down shirt, dress shoes, and dark socks. Jeans or shorts are unacceptable.
The pants should be neatly pressed, and made of cotton, wool, or gabardine. You can pair them with a button-down shirt, preferably cotton, and neatly pressed. Avoid wearing polo shorts as these are too informal. A sweater is also acceptable, as well as a tie and a leather belt. Wear dress shoes, preferably leather for a formal yet chic look.
In short, this is what you should opt for:
- Cotton, wool, gabardine pants.
- Button-down short.
- Sweater.
- Tie.
- Leather belt.
- Dress shoes.
Dressing Up for a Casual Interview at a Startup
Startup attire is less dressy and if you’re interviewing at one you should ditch the black dress/suit and dress shoes. Working here requires long days and overtime so startup employees are often dressed in casual clothing that’s comfortable and practical.
The ideal startup-casual attire is relaxed but still trendy. A popular look for men’s dress pants, jeans, or khakis, paired with a casual t-shirt and a blazer. The t-shirt will add a relaxed flair to your outfit, while the blazer can add a professional edge.
A cool and chic startup casual look for women is a pair of slim-fit dark-wash jeans and a cotton blouse. If you want to add more style, try a blazer with jeans. You’ll get a laid-back outfit that is also presentable.
For your interview, you can leave your dress shoes at home, and put on a pair of sneakers or flats. Solid colors are an excellent pick over too-colorful patterns.
