How to Dress for an Interview: Your Essential Guide

With more competitive job openings available, making a good first impression with how you dress for an interview has never been more important. Before setting out for the interview, consider today’s workplace conventions, the employer’s dress code, and the interview location while choosing your interview attire.

Not dressing appropriately for an interview is one of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make. What you wear is one of the only things in your control, and if you get it right, it may be the difference between landing that dream job or being unemployed.

If you want to create a good first impression and land that dream job, follow these tips:

Choosing the Right Dress for an Interview

Regardless of what everyone else at the workplace is wearing, it is important to pay close attention to your dress for an interview. For example, a candidate in a suit and tie, or a dress and heels, will normally create a considerably better impression than a candidate in jeans and shoes.

Learn more about what to wear to a corporate job and what to wear to a more relaxed, casual job. In both circumstances, being well-dressed in clean, undamaged clothing is needed.

Remember that your top goals are to display your credentials and make informed professional judgments. That is, your outfit should enhance rather than detract from the main point of the interview. 

Using our straightforward procedure, you’ll be able to confidently pick your clothing without having to spend vast time and energy on this area of interviewing.

With no further ado, let’s get right through it.

The Suit

When selecting a dress for an interview, you can always opt for the standard, classic suit. However, many fashion suits are available that will become out of date faster than you can purchase them. So ignore the latest trend and find what looks best on you.

Make sure your suit fits. Too many men buy suits that are too big for them. Find one that’s as close to fitting as possible. If you need to make adjustments, it’s always worth investing in a tailor. When checking your suit fit, ensure that:

• You’re able to move your arms freely.
• You have a few inches of room in the chest.
• The chest and shoulders fit comfortably.
• The jacket is long to cover your behind.
• When your arms are held straight down, make sure that the arms do not extend past your knuckles.
• The sleeves show ½ inch of the shirt cuff.
• Your jacket collar shows ¾ inch of your shirt’s collar.

For choosing the right dress for an interview, go for the standard classic suit – single-breasted, notched lapels, two or three-buttoned jacket, single or double back vent, regular flap pockets, and a left breast pocket. As for trousers, flat or pleated slacks are fine.

When selecting your suit fabric, you must consider its weave and color. Natural fibers are best, preferably worsted wool. Blended fabrics, although cheaper, are less durable and may be less breathable.

It’s best to select safe colors for an interview – navy blue, charcoal, grey, or black.

Other tips for wearing a suit/dress for an interview:

• Unbutton your jacket when sitting down.
• Have your suit dry-cleaned before your interview, if needed.
• Have your suit pressed to ensure you look your best.
• Don’t smoke near your interview suit or other bits of clothing.
• If you’re low on cash, buy something cheap but not cheap-looking.

Here are some classic suits you can try out:

The Dress Shirt 

The fit should be loose enough so that you’re able to move freely but not so loose that you have excess material bunched up under the jacket. Your shirt should be long so that when you bend over, it doesn’t un-tuck. Finally, you should be able to put two fingers in-between your neck and collar – any more, and it’s too loose.

Avoid buttoned-down collars in an interview, as they’ll appear less formal. Your choice of collar depends on your facial structure. Long thin faces – spread collar, round faces – point collar.

Your shirt fabric should be simple. Avoid loud colors such as pink and purple and patterns such as checks – they make the outfit less formal. The white and blue colors are simple and go with almost every suit.

Here are some interview shirts you can try out:

The Tie

Avoid very bright colors and designs that will attract undue attention. Solid or simple patterns in red, blue, or black are acceptable. Striped ties are a good choice and come in various colors. As for the tie material, always wear a tie made from silk.

On a side note, a study shows that brown ties create a trustworthy expression in the workplace. They indicate that you are self-assured, trustworthy, and honest, although they have a dreary meaning. Wearing a brown tie to a job interview conveys to your prospective employer that you are a decent choice and will be a dependable employee.

Although your physical appearance doesn’t guarantee 100% of your job chances, it significantly influences how the interviewer views you. Even though the employer does not need you to wear a tie on the job, it is important to wear one in the beginning to demonstrate your devotion.

You can always get your suit ties together with other accessories for matching colors and patterns.

Dress Shoes 

Your shoes are as important as the suit itself. Avoid anything eccentric. Plain, polished, dark shoes are fine—oxfords are always a safe choice, and a good pair will last for years. Remember that your shoes and belt should always match, and you should only wear dark socks.

Women are no longer required to wear heels, and men are no longer required to wear stiff, formal shoes, but you should avoid wearing sneakers or sandals. Also, keep the flip-flops, Eskimo boots, and expensive Nikes in the shoe cabinet. When choosing professional shoes for an interview, ensure they have a closed toe, a heel no higher than 3 inches, and are in neutral colors. Flats are also suitable for an interview.

Here are some shoes that will fit your interview suits:

Accessories 

Less is always bliss, so keep it simple. For example, a wristwatch is fine—if it has an alarm, turn it off before the interview. As for jewelry, piercings may be more acceptable in today’s society, but it’s still best to play it safe and remove all piercings if you have any.

The adage “less is more” applies to interview attire. Examine your appearance in the mirror before leaving the house. Ideally, your accessories will be understated and complement your overall outfit.

Make your appearance appropriate for the job and sector. For example, if you work for a government office, the standards are different than if you seek a position in fashion public relations.

Avoid wearing too many things at once. It’s also vital to pick accessories that complement your interview outfit rather than overwhelm it.

Wearing a hat to a job interview is inappropriate, regardless of the position. Winter hats, baseball caps, and even designer hats fall under this category, (Religious headgear, such as a yarmulke, hijab, or other head covering, is an exemption and may be worn during interviews.)

In a similar vein, avoid wearing hoodies or other sweatshirts or sweatpants.

Here are some suit accessories (ties inclusive) that you should try out:

Grooming 

Good grooming conveys to the interviewer that you pay attention to detail and care for yourself. Conversely, if you don’t take the time to take care of your basic hygiene or appropriately dress for an interview, it sends the message that you will not exert any effort as an employee.

A study shows that job prospects with a polished, professional appearance have an advantage over their competitors. You may rapidly achieve a dignified appearance and garner respect by being sanitary and appearing nice and put together. In addition, your grooming habits might reveal a lot about how you conduct yourself and who you are as a person to an interviewer.

Your face should be clean-shaven and washed in the morning before the interview. Get your haircut a week before, and trim the back of your neck and behind your ears the day before. Your nails should be clean and cut, and your breath should be fresh. Go easy on the cologne—it’s not a first date, and some interview rooms are small, so too much cologne may be overpowering.

Closing Tips 

Choosing the perfect dress for an interview might not get you the job – but turning up looking shabby and untidy could hurt your chances of getting the position. Your aim is to look neat and professional and present yourself in the best way possible throughout your interview. Wear clothing that’s appropriate for the interview. The interviewee can then focus on your skills, not your appearance.

When you dress for an interview, ensure it reflects seriousness and professionalism. Keep things basic, wear nothing too loud, and stick to safe, solid, and neutral hues. Appear refined but not arrogant. However, you must maintain your confidence. Above all, learn about the company’s culture and whether or not it has a dress code.

When you’ve decided on your interview clothes, set aside plenty of time to prepare for your chat with the potential employer fully; this might entail studying the firm, creating Winner method stories about your work experience, and preparing interview questions.