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How To Dress For An Interview

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How to Dress for an Interview

Color-blocked geometric dress? Yes, please. Statement dresses exude confidence and show that youre ready to take command of a room and share your amazing ideas. Dress in a standalone statement dress or layer a statement tank dress over a white button up for some more pizzazz. Feel free to skip the panty hose in 2022.

College Job Interview Attire

Make sure to dress professionally when interviewing for a professional job or internship as a college student. It’ll show that you’ll know how to behave in a professional manner if you’re hired.

Less formal attire is acceptable when interviewing for campus jobs and more informal workplace jobs. However, you still want to dress professionally for most positions, even if they are entry-level. Review these tips for college women and college men on what to wear to an interview, as well as what to wear for an interview for an internship.

Check The Weather And Dress Appropriately

You should also think about weather. Wearing a beautiful white summer dress is not a good idea when it rains outside even though you may feel great in the summer dress, and it may even be a fitting choice for the job you are trying to get. Of course if you take a taxi and they drop you right in front of the company your problem is solvedand you do not have to care about the weather.

You should also avoid wearing too many layers of clothes during a hot summer day. Maybe you have an AC on at home nonstop, but this doesnt have to be a case in the company, or on your way to the interviews. The last thing you want is perspiring heavily during your interview, or taking off your jacket and be already wet under your shoulders.

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Interview Dress Code For Corporate Interview

It is crucial to follow a formal dress code while appearing for a corporate interview scheduled at a middle level or senior position in industries like banking and financial services, telecom, etc. Reason being, formal outfits reflect a persons strong leadership trait and also exhibit seriousness towards the company and the interviewer.

What To Bring To The Interview

Interview Dress Tips For Women, What To Wear??

In addition to getting your interview attire ready the night before, also gather what you need to bring with you:

  • Interview location/directions
  • Work samples
  • Laptop or tablet to showcase your work
  • Breath mints with you to use before entering the building

You can bring your smartphone but make sure it’s on mute or vibrate during your interview. It avoids the risk of getting a distracting loud text alert or phone call mid-interview.

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Interview Outfits For Women

Whether you have an interview at a top firm in the city or if youre looking for a job in a small start-up, choosing the right clothing is important. If you know someone that works at the company you are interviewing for, ask about the dress code. Stay away from loud clothing choices or too many accessories. This section of the guide covers appropriate clothing styles for four different types of interviews.

Formal Business Environment

Business formal is seen as the standard interview dress code, whether you are male or female. When you are interviewing for a job with a company that requires business formal, it is important to dress a little more formal than the company standard. If the company you are interviewing with embraces business formal, these guidelines will help you dress correctly.

Casual Business Environment

If you are interviewing for a position in IT or an environment where the company dress code is more relaxed, business casual style may be acceptable. The aim is to look professional without going over the top. These guidelines can help you make appropriate choices for a business casual interview.

Casual Environment

Worker Environment

Dressing for Success in Your Next Interview

Tip #: Do Your Laundry 72 Hours Before Interview Day

Part of nailing that first impression is how your clothes look when you show up.

You could be wearing a full suit, but if it has stains on it or it’s wrinkled like it’s been sitting on the floor of your closet for weeks, that kind of defeats the whole purpose.

We want to make sure our outfit is clean and crispy. The best way to do that is making sure to do the laundry or get the dry cleaning done at least 48-72 hours before your interview!

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Types Of Interview Attire

Heres a great infographic from Business Insider that provide great tips on how to dress for your interview:

Overall, there are only a few standard types of interview attire, the most popular of which are smart casual, business casual, executive casual, and business formal.

Now, we get it. Youre probably thinking, What the heck do those terms mean? Dont worry, well clarify.

First, smart casual is a fairly new invention. Its nestled in-between two common options that youll see in the infographic: baseline casual and mainstream casual.

A classic example of smart casual is pairing dark, tailored jeans with a classic button-up shirt, a trendy blazer, and elevated sneakers or an upscale sandal. Essentially, you take casual elements, find the dressiest versions of them, and combine them with low-key business staples.

But what about business casual? Would that be the same thing? Well, no. Typically, with business casual, jeans are forbidden fruit. The same goes for tennis shoes or sandals.

Instead, you move more into classic office wear options. Think slacks or pencil skirts with button-up shirts, sweaters, and cardigans. For shoes, youve entered into relaxed dress, like a nice loafer, ballerina flat, or ankle boot. For women, open-toed heels may be okay, depending on the environment. Its a step above smart casual.

However, this isnt quite into tie-mandatory territory. That comes next.

Keep It Simple Wear Your Favorite Colors

How to Dress for a Job Interview

Simple one colored shirt, skirt, or even t-shirt is fine in most cases. Casual, business casual, or formalthis depends on the position you are applying for. But in any case, you should keep it simple. The interviewer shall pay attention to what you say, not to what you wear.

This changes only when you apply for a job of a flight attendant, hostess, or for a similar role, or when your interviewing skills are rather bad, and you want them to focus on your clothes rather than on your words.

You can obviously mix some colors to reflect the preferences of your interviewers , but in general, you should try to keep it simple, and avoid orange and brown. Both genders do not like these colors.

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Outfit Ideas For Business Casual Workplaces

There are just as many options for dressing for a casual interview. If your workplace is casual or business casual, you can dress in comfortable, easy-care separates. Think flat-front chinos with a tailored polo shirt, or even shorts with a cotton T-shirt. You could add a custom uniform work vest to complete the look. If you work in an industry where a specific uniform is required, then your apparel choice is easy. All you have to do is wear your usual uniform and make sure its clean and wrinkle-free.

Youll find brandable workwear for various industriesfor example, construction uniforms and restaurant uniforms. To distinguish management from employees, many workplaces opt for different color uniforms. Management might wear a red or black polo shirt, while employees might wear a totally different color that matches the companys color scheme.

When selecting business casual shirts, make sure to choose an embroidery color that stands out against the shirt color. For example, white embroidery pops against dark colors, while black embroidery makes a bold impression against a light-colored shirt.

Dress One Or Two Levels Up

“The interview dress rule of thumb is that you dress one or two levels higher than the job that you’re going for,” explains Kate Wendleton, president and founder of the Five O’Clock Club, a national career counseling and outplacement firm. “If you were going for a job as a mechanic, you wouldn’t go in there in dirty overalls, even though that’s how you would dress for that kind of work. You would still go in there and show respect. You would go in with an open-collar shirt, clean pants, and maybe a jacket.”

As Wendleton puts it, by dressing a notch or two above what’s standard apparel for the position you’re interviewing for, “you’re definitely showing that you care about this job, and that you know the game.”

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What To Wear: The Basics

Wear something you are comfortable in and that makes you feel confident and polished. Presenting yourself well is more than what you are wearing its also how you interact with your interviewers, which is harder if you are uncomfortable or are worried about how you look.

What not to wear? Avoid sweats, pajamas, jeans, sneakers, or anything that you would wear in a very casual, hang-out, or party environment. Youre not going to the gym or on a date.

Options to consider:

  • Dress pants or skirt with a button-down shirt or a blouse. To make this more formal, you can add a blazer.
  • A suit, pants/skirt with matching blazer
  • A dress with a blazer or cardigan

Generally, darker colors and solid colors present a more conservative image.

Top Interview Dress Advice

How to Dress Up for Job Interview? 10 Best Outfits for Women

Find out what not to wear to an interview. There are some very definite interview dress do’s and dont’s to follow. Make sure you are not ruining your chances of getting the job by wearing the wrong clothes to your interview.

It is important to remember that candidates do not get jobs because of what they wear to the interview, however a number of candidates damage their chances of success by dressing inappropriately.

A personal sense of style is valuable but be aware of aligning your dress to the requirements of the situation. Know about preparing for a job interview and use your company research and knowledge of the profession to make the right judgment call on how you should dress for an interview.

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Interview Dress Code When Work Place Is Less Formal

If the work place is casual, follow the thumb rule of neither to be overdressed nor to be underdressed. For instance, IT is one industry where dress code is less formal and wearing business casuals is considered appropriate. Similarly, in a startup-like environment, casuals or business casuals are prefered.

Even if you are planning to wear business casual dress code for an interview, it is necessary to put in the right effort while shortlisting the outfit.

Casual Interview Dress Code For Males

Let us have a look at some outfit options for males.

Top wear: ?

  • Shirts: Long-sleeved and button-down shirts in a light color and simple design look attractive. Colors like white, light blue, light brown, light grey, light pink, mauve, etc., are best to choose. Candidates can also wear denim shirts as they look classy.
  • Sweaters and blazers: Sweaters and blazers are optional. If you prefer to wear them, select dark coloured sweaters and semi-formal blazers and wear them over light coloured shirts.

Bottom wear:

  • Trouser: Khaki and cotton pants are ideal to match with light-colored shirts. It is advisable to select cotton pants in dark colors like black, blue, brown, dark grey, etc. You can also choose denim trousers or jeans for business casuals. However, do not wear ill-fitted or ripped jeans.

Footwear😕

  • Socks: Select a pair of cotton socks and match it with the colour of the trouser.
  • Shoes: Choose leather shoes in dark colours like black and brown. You can also go for sneakers in white or black.

Accessories:

  • Belt: Compliment your look with a brown or black coloured belt.
  • Watch: Wearing a watch is optional. If you wish to wear it, you can either go for a classic one or a sporty one.

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The Strict Business Dress Interview

Business dress is a category with some flexibility to it, which is why weve set strict business dress aside as its own category apart from just business dress. This is where you not only need to be dressing like a businessman, but like a businessman making the most formal and conservative choices.

When You Should Interview in Strict Business Dress

If youre interviewing for a job that requires you to wear a business suit every day, the only way to dress more formally for the interview is to wear a business suit really well, with perfectly executed details. Typically you dress this sharply when youre applying in industries that already have high standards of presentation:

  • Prominent law firms
  • Most banking and financial positions
  • Executive roles
  • High-level political positions

The common thread here is jobs for powerful people. If everyone youll be working with wears suits already, your suit needs to impress.

Elements of Strict Business Dress

Theres no room for error and very little for personal expression when youre trying to impress a well-dressed employer. Stick to the conservative interpretation of business clothing:

Because theres very little room for personal expression at this level of formality, the details matter more than they will in situations where each applicant is more varied. Everything needs to be crisply pressed, sharp-edged, and very neat, and the fit of your clothing should be as close as possible.

Cotton Blouses And Skinny Jeans

How To Dress For An Interview

This is a great smart casual look for women. A pair of well-fitting, slim-fit dark-wash jeans is essential in any woman’s smart casual wardrobe.

The tailored look of the jeans mirrors that of dress pants, and do wear the dress pants for an interview, but denim is more comfortable and also has a more relaxed look suitable for casual work environments.

A nice cotton blouse, like the one here, works well with jeans or khakis. With a cut that’s slightly more dressy than your average t-shirt, the blouse looks polished but feels just as comfortable as your favorite cotton t-shirt.

A pair of tasteful heels will round out the look. Choose shoes that are simple enough to go with an array of pieces but comfortable enough for long days at work.

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7 Job Interview In The Fashion Or Retail Industry

A mistake people make when interviewing for a fashion-related job is to make a broad-brush statement that they should dress super-trendy or edgy. What you wear here depends on the specific job you are interviewing for. Keep clothes simple and instead make accessories the focal point. Have stylish shoes, a sharp bag and modern jewelry displaying your great taste. People shouldnt notice your clothes first, but you in your clothes.

This look is an excellent example of a streamlined dress with a standout clutch for an accessory and bejeweled heels.

If you are looking to bring some subtle glam to your look, try this one out for size. We love the soft taupe blouse paired with an understated beige-gold blazer. Pair with a black pencil skirt and tie the look together with some choice accessories. The gold bracelet and watch echo the gold jacket and are further complemented by gold hoops. A large black purse, sunglasses, and thin, strappy black heels seal this professional, classy, and extremely stylish look as a definite contender for any job interview.

Common Interview Attire Mistakes For Both Men And Women

When youre deciding on what to wear to a job interview, you need to avoid certain mistakes. Luckily, when it comes to how to dress for an interview, figuring out what isnt appropriate is pretty straightforward.

Now, we know that some of you may not see some of the points below as mistakes. Instead, they may be part of your personal style. In that case, you may be wondering, why should you change?

Well, heres the trick. No one is asking you to sell out or change who you are. But heres the fact of the matter, you have to impress during your interview to land the job. While most of us would like to believe that appearance doesnt matter in the professional world, it certainly does. The hiring manager is going to make judgments about you passed on your outfit and style choices thats just the way it is.

With that in mind, heres a quick look at what not to wear to an interview.

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Go Classic With A Black Dress And Tights

A tasteful “little black dress” is the hallmark of a simple yet refined business wardrobe. Invest in a quality dress that skims the knee. A dress with a structured fit and nice details is professional yet still modern.

To give your outfit some life, pair the dress with textured tights, like the ones shown here. Make sure the pattern is subtle, thougha sheer stripe, cable pattern, or ribbed look adds texture and interest, but anything that resembles fishnets is not workplace-appropriate. Finish your outfit with a pair of black heels for a classic, timeless formal business look.

What Is Business Casual

How to Dress for an Interview

Although it doesnt have a strict definition, business casual generally means dressing professionally without being overly formal. Its a step up from jeans and a t-shirt but a step down from formal business attire. Its often a companys default dress code and one that is a smart option for job interviews in nearly every industry.

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Dressing Business Formal For Men

  • 1Start with pants. A pair of slacks is great, especially if they match your suit jacket. Chinos are also acceptable, but a two-piece suit is preferable, so try to have your slacks match your jacket.XResearch source A dark color, like a blue, grey, or black, is probably your best bet as it looks flattering on everyone and makes you seem more professional.
  • No jeans. Jeans, however tailored or designed, are not suitable for a job interview. Do not wear them, because the company that is interested in hiring you will not take you seriously and think that you aren’t interested.
  • No prints. Stick with solids. The one exception may be pinstriped pants.
  • Tailored pants. You want them to be form-fitting without being revealing. Baggy pants give a rumpled and unprofessional appearance.
  • 2Match your suit jacket to your pants. Because the norm is a matching two-piece, you want to try to complement your pants with your suit jacket. If you can find a matching two-piece, that will leave the best impression.
  • Again, dark colors and simple patterns are the norm here. A tailored suit jacket to go along with your tailored pants is what you’re after.
  • A blue blazer is acceptable in most cases if you cannot find a suit jacket to match your pants.
  • 3Choose a solid white or blue shirt. An overly bright shirt, or those with patterns shirts are typically informal. A starched white or blue shirt is perfectly acceptable, even if it seems a little bit plain.
  • Stay away from neons and pastels.
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