Business Casual Dress For An Interview
The first thing that probably leaps to mind when you think of business casual is khakis and a polo shirt. But business casual doesnt have a one-size-fits-all definition. For one company, it might be a strict no jeans rule. For others, it might be jeans are fine, but no shorts. If your research leads you to conclude that the company is business casual, youll have a lot of options when deciding what to wear to your job interview.
Khakis or other dark-colored pants are a safe bet. Wearing patterned pants is OK, too, as long as the pattern is subtle . Jeans might be acceptable if they are in a dark wash. However, when selecting interview attire, its usually better to err on the side of caution and stay away from denim.
Anyone can wear a long sleeve button-down shirt in a solid color. You could also wear a nice sweater or sweater vest or casual blazer over the shirt. And while polo tops are probably OK once you get the job, they could be seen as too casual during an interview.
Here are additional business casual dress tips:
- A tie is optional but acceptable if you choose
- Dark socks with matching closed-toe shoes
- Colors can go beyond black, white, gray, and navy, but stick with light or pastel tones, instead of deep jewel tones
Hooded Sweatshirts And Jackets
Avoid bringing or wearing all hooded sweatshirts and jackets when going to an interview. Wearing a hood gives notice to an employer that you may not want to be visible in public or are uninterested in working for the company. If it’s cold outside, wear a clean, professional jacket or coat with no visible logos. You want to make every possible effort to leave a good impression with the interviewer, and that includes when you are arriving and leaving.
What To Bring To An Interview
In an interview youre not expected to bring anything other than yourself. However for certain types of interviews particularly at a senior level its important to be ready for any type of situation. This is something that we focus on in executive interview coaching so that you leave no stone unturned. Below are our top tips of what to bring to an interview.
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Tips For Jobs With A College Or University
Use the business professional clothing suggestions as a general guide for jobs at higher-level education institutions. If youre applying for a campus groundwork help position, you might opt to follow the business casual guidelines. Remember, you can always call and ask what attire is appropriate for the job to which you are applying.
What To Avoid When Choosing Your Job Interview Attire
Regardless of how formal or informal the workplace is, the goal is to look professional. To make a good impression, here are some things to avoid:
- Avoid suits and clothing that are out of date or ill-fitting. No matter your age, gender, or what have you, fit is important.
- Avoid clothing that is too casual or inappropriate for some settings.
- Avoid appearing sloppy. When you dont bother to iron your shirt or tuck it in, it can look unprofessional.
- Avoid athletic or sports shoes, flip-flops, and open-toed shoes or sandals.
- Avoid tank tops or shorts.
- Avoid showing bra straps or underwear through your pants/skirt.
- When you stand with your arms on your sides, and the hem of your dress or skirt is above your fingertips, its generally too short. Choose a longer one.
- Avoid low necklines or exposing your belly.
- Avoid perfumes or colognes because, in small rooms, smells can be distracting. Also, some scents can be very irritating to others.
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When In Doubt Dress Up A Little
Dress codes vary. For example, a tech start-up in Silicon Valley might frown on someone who dresses too formally, while a Fortune 50 company on Madison Avenue might frown on someone who dresses too casually. Its important to get a sense of the corporate culture before you head into the interview, to make sure that your attire is appropriate.
Different industries have different expectations of how candidates and employees should dress. The appropriate dress code can vary greatly depending on the company, industry, and location.
However, regardless of what everyone else at the company is wearing, its essential to take particular care with your appearance during a job interview. The candidate dressed in a suit and tie, or dress and heels, will usually make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in jeans and sneakers.
Learn more about what to wear for a corporate position and what to wear for a more laid-back casual position. In both cases, being well-groomed with clean, untattered clothes is always required.
Tread Carefully With Colors And Prints
Theres no need to avoid colors and prints altogether, but we advise you to choose wisely. Stick with colors that give a professional vibe, like cobalt blue or red. Leave the neon blouse at home to avoid looking too casual or distracting. Likewise, large, loud prints can distract and take the focus away from you and your qualifications. Instead, focus on subtle details that will leave a great impression.
Even at an office with a casual dress code, its important to look polished and professional for an interview. Aim for a balance between formal elements and casual touches to make a great first impression.
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How To Dress Up For An Interview
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
During an interview, employers may assess several things about a candidate, including their outfits. Professionals who are applying for a new role can benefit from learning effective ways to present themselves in job interviews. Dressing professionally can help you show recruiters that you take the interview seriously. In this article, we explain how to dress up for an interview, share some additional tips to help you choose appropriate attire for the interview, discuss its importance and provide a few examples of a professional interview outfit.
What To Wear For A Job Interview In The Retail Industry
The Indeed Editorial Team comprises a diverse and talented team of writers, researchers and subject matter experts equipped with Indeed’s data and insights to deliver useful tips to help guide your career journey.
Related: 3 Outfits for Different Workplaces: Business Casual and Beyond
From a casual tech environment, to a business-professional setting like law or finance, Ingrid explains how to express yourself in the workplace!
An in-person interview is the best opportunity applicants have to discuss their skills and qualifications with potential employers. Arriving well dressed and groomed is essential to making an excellent first impression. Hiring managers for retail positions often consider the candidate’s outfit when making decisions.
In this article, we explain why outfit selection is so important for retail interviews, describe what to wear for each professional category and type of store, and provide tips for styling and accessorizing.
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Research The Companys Dress Code
In conjunction with dressing one step up, youâll want to get a clear sense of the companyâs environment, culture, dress code, or workplace attire expectations. You can find this out by:
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Perusing the companyâs website and social media profiles for images that offer clues about the typical attire
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Visiting the companyâs location and observing firsthand how employees dress
Once you find out the companyâs dress code, consider the examples in these four workplace attire categories:
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In formal environments, appropriate attire might include a tailored suit, button-down shirt with tie, blouse, lace-up dress shoes or close-toed pumps, and stockings or dress socks.
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In casual environments, such as a tech company or start-up, you might see staff members wearing a broad range of attire, from khaki pants and button-downs to jeans, T-shirts, and hoodies. For your interview, you might choose an outfit that is more on the business casual side, rather than something very casual. Business casual attire typically blends some elements of formal and casual attire and can include non-denim pants, blazers, button-downs, and dresses and skirts that arenât part of a business suit.
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In creative environments, such as a design company, art gallery, or a clothing boutique, you might find a more fashion-forward culture of dressing. In this case, you might choose garments and accessories that reflect the latest trends and resemble the styles worn by employees and clientele.
Strategy #: Ask Your Recruiter Or Someone Who Works At The Company
If you’ve made it to the interview stage, you’re probably in touch with someone at the company who is handling logistics. That could be an external recruiter, in-house HR, or a hiring manager. Regardless, definitely feel free to ask them what you should wear to your interview it’s a totally normal question that they should be happy to answer.
Here’s a quick email template you can use:
Email Template: How To Ask About Interview Attire
Hi ,
I am very excited to come in and meet the team on . I did have one quick question for you what should I plan to wear to the interview? I want to make sure I’m showing up the right way and I always feel like it’s better to ask than assume.
Thank you so much for the help.
Best,
If they give you a vague answer like, oh whatever you wear to work is fine, you can always follow up and ask them to be more specific or you can reach out to another person who works at the company and see what they think.
If hoodies and sneakers are cool at your office but their dress code is a bit more formal, things can get awkward. Making sure the expectations are set early is the best way to go here!
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Rehearse And Tweak First
All of these pieces are important and worth making an investment in if you haven’t already. You may well end up with a go-to interview outfit that you turn to time and again.
But before you assign it a special, untouchable place in your closet, conduct a video rehearsal first with your laptop. It’s important to see how you look through the lens of a camera so that you can see what a hiring manager will see before a video interview. For example, the shirt in your interview ensemble should be a recommended light shade, not white, because white can sometimes come across as too stark onscreen.
In addition to making any tweaks to your look, a rehearsal can give you the chance to adjust the lighting before you prepare to say goodbye to ties forever.
References
Research The Office Dress Code
Before choosing an interview outfit, research the company to determine how formal the workplace is. If youve checked the company website and social media pages but still cant determine the dress code, try calling the companys HR department. Explain that you have an upcoming interview and would like to know the appropriate dress code.
Its also a good idea to consider the role and industry. If youre interviewing for a corporate position in finance or law, for example, wear formal business attire. This means a matching suit and tie, tailored dress, pantsuit or skirt suit. However, for less formal positions and workplaces, business casual is usually the best option.
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Cotton Or Silk Blouses Go With Skinny Jeans
The perfect combination of skinny jeans and a silk or cotton blouse will give any woman a great casual look. They will allow you to look professional while still staying comfortable.
You will need to choose jeans that fit appropriately. Besides, Dark-wash jeans will work better than light-wash ones.
A silk or cotton blouse is also one of the must-have items in your wardrobe. Blouses are comfortable, allowing you to feel comfortable when entering an interview room. If you find one with a great pattern, it will help you show off your personality.
What To Wear For A Virtual Interview
Assume that the rules for online interviews are the same as those for in-person interviews. Stick to the dress code youve determined is appropriate for the role and workplace environment, even if the job entails working from home.
Your on-camera background is a part of the total picture the interviewer will get about you. Be sure it projects professionalism and is free of clutter, pets, people walking by, and other distractions.
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How To Dress For An Interview Guide For Women
There are some key points that women need to follow in regards to their dress when preparing for an interview, but the main rule of thumb is that it is always best to dress conservatively. A matching two-piece suit is always a good bet. Of course, trouser suits are great if you worry about having your legs exposed when getting out of your vehicle or while sitting and are very formal as well as fashionable.
Which ever type of suit your select, be sure it is tailored to fit you right you do not want your pants to be too baggy or too tight. Always make sure your clothing is pressed and creased properly. For those women who prefer to wear skirts, then it is important to ensure your skirt falls at least to your thighs. Do not go to an interview wearing a miniskirt as the interviewer will not take you seriously. With a skirt, the slits should not be too high either, but perhaps a small one on the side or in the back would be appropriate. Wearing a suit jacket with a neutral colored blouse or knit sweater is appropriate.
Selecting the color for your suit is just as important as selecting your suit. Bold colors should generally be avoided, but colors such as navy, black, dark gray, or brown are always safe. These should all be solid colors, but a subtle weave or plaid is acceptable if it does not stand out too much. The fabric of your suit should be made from high quality blends of wool or wool synthetics blends.
What Is Casual Dress For An Interview
How You Can Dress For An Informal Interview . You possess an in-person interview, congratulations! Youve done your quest on the organization and therefore are looking forward to the possibilities of working there. However.
If youre already dressing a measure over the dress code, keep the accessories simple. Theres no requirement for a tie or elaborate jewellery. Incorporate a simple watch or perhaps an understated necklace. Choose nice, polished footwear along with a matching belt. With regards to accessorizing, a job interview isnt the time for you to experiment. Stick to what you are aware of love!
- Always Dress One Step Up
- Keep Accessories Simple
- Tread Carefully With Colors And Prints
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Video advice: What to Wear to a Job Interview
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Fashion Faux Pas #: Too Uncomfortable
Those shoes might look amazing, but if theyre pinching your toes and rubbing blisters into your heels, theyre not worth it.
When your feet hurt, it shows on your face, says Felicia Johnson of performance coaching company Sevenfold Coaching. It impacts your confidence level, and you’re distracted during the interview, because you’re thinking about your feet.
Additional Interview Attire Tips
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Strike a balance between going casual and going too casual.
Aside from interviews in the workplace, interviews could also be conducted in informal settings. For such interviews, you should wear a casual business outfit. Just remember the business part as a reminder that its still a business meeting irrespective of the meeting venue. When wearing casual interview attire you are free to express your personality a bit more through your clothes, but dont push it.
A business casual outfit would make you appear less formal but more professional than when you put on your T-shirt and shorts with flip-flops.
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Going casual still calls for neatness
Whether youre a man or a woman your hair still needs to be cut or styled neatly. For women, ensure that your make up is on point and on a professional level. A natural look will work just fine. If you use make-up thats fine too, but it should not be a form of distraction to the interviewer.
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Focus on the fit of your clothes and wrinkles
You chose your interview attire for the big day now try it on and see what it looks like on you. Focus on looking professional and make sure that your clothes are clean and stain and wrinkle-free.
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Wear your smile!
Dont make the interview awkward smile! A smile will go a long way. This does not mean that you should put on a fake smile, but just be enthusiastic about the fact that youre there. Aim for a relaxed, natural smile when you meet people and when youre doing the interview.
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