How to Dress for a Job Interview
You landed the interview. After a stack of rejections and silence from recruiters, someone finally said yes, and the relief feels great for about a day. Then the nerves show up. It has been years since you last sat across from a hiring manager, and the rules you memorized back then may not apply anymore. Formal? Business casual? Regular casual? You want to get it right, so the question nags at you.
The old days really were different. Getting ready for an interview used to be an event. People broke out their Sunday best, booked a chair at the salon or the barber, and double-checked every detail. Through the '50s, '60s, '70s, and well into the '80s, dreadlocks, buzz cuts, dyed hair, visible tattoos, and multiple piercings could sink a candidate before a word was spoken. In some industries even the wrong shade of nail polish raised eyebrows.
Employers today still want you groomed and clean, just not laced into a stiff suit or a restrictive dress with pantyhose. The word that fits is kempt: put together, tidy, presentable. Most candidates now show up in business casual, which sits comfortably between too formal and too relaxed.
So what counts as business casual? For a woman, think a blouse or collared shirt with dress slacks, or a knee-length skirt or dress, plus a few small pieces of jewelry. For a man, trousers or khakis with a nice collared shirt. What it is not: a heavy suit, jeans, gym clothes, a t-shirt, or anything in a loud, attention-grabbing color.
On dresses and skirts, length matters. Skip anything too short and keep the hem at the knee or below. A hiring manager may read a lot of exposed skin as a poor fit, and remember that once you are hired you represent the company every day you walk in. If you are unsure what the look should be, search images for business casual outfits and copy the general idea. Sleeveless is fine as long as you add a cardigan over it, and neutral colors are the safer bet.
For a corporate role, a power suit can work in your favor. That usually means a blazer with dress slacks, well-tailored trousers, a matched skirt suit with a knee-length hem, or a vest. Stay in the navy, black, grey, or beige range. Press it and check it for stains before you leave the house.
Shoes trip people up. Leave the open-toe styles, stilettos, and anything slipper-like at home, and reach for proper dress shoes instead. Women can wear a modest low heel, a pump or a dressy flat in grey, beige, or black. No scuffs, no dirt, no missing polish. Sneakers and boots are out. Keep the whole thing plain, because flashy footwear can register as a cry for attention rather than a style statement.
Jewelry should stay modest and classic. Pile on too much and it pulls focus right off your face and your answers. If you wear any, keep it small: diamond or pearl studs, a simple necklace, one bracelet. Rings are fine when your nails are clean and manicured. Painted nails should be neutral or a French manicure, and not grown out too long.
Carry a black, brown, or navy bag, nothing oversized. Something that reads like a briefcase works well, and men interviewing with a presentation or a stack of resumes should bring an actual briefcase. One more thing: if you need prescription glasses, wear them. They tend to make a candidate look studious, and nobody minds that.
References: Bourne, L. (2009). The perfect interview outfit. Forbes. Sylvester-Williams, R. (2012). What is business casual? Forbes. Virginia Tech. (2015). Interview appearance and attire.