Creating the perfect outfit for a job interview is all about presenting the most competent, respectful and hard-working version of yourself. To do so, you have to understand the company you’re interviewing for and how they want to present themselves to the general public. You, as a potential employee, are a reflection of the company’s upstanding reputation. Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help you assemble the best dress-for-success ensemble ever.
DO: Treat yourself to a new conservative-formal interview outfit.
You might hesitate to buy a new outfit for this occasion (after all, interview outfits aren’t as exciting as first date outfits!), but it will definitely pay off when you attend multiple job interviews and already have a designated outfit. Of course, not every company requires a skirt-suit or pant-suit anymore, so when in doubt use glorious Google to research the company culture and policies.
For women: if you don’t need to wear a suit, a pencil skirt, shirt and heels does the trick, or cloth trousers and a nice blouse. If you do need to wear a suit, go with well-fitted wool or cotton pants that you look and feel good in! ! For men, either a solid navy or a solid dark gray suit will do the trick. Don’t wear double-breasted suit, but do stay with either a two- or three-button cut suit (the two-button style is a touch more classic), paired with a simple white- collared shirt.
DO: Add subtle accessories.
Accessories will add to your outfit without detracting from the main focus of the interview: you. For women, don’t wear dangly earrings, but do choose pearls, silver or gold studs; a pearl necklace or a simple chain will also work well. For men, choose a tie with an overall neat pattern like small polka dots or classic stripes. Don’t wear bowties or pocket squares, even if that is your personal style.
A few more parting words of wisdom…
- Make sure your outfit looks neat and wrinkle-free.
- Keep your nails trimmed, and if you want to wear nail polish, stick to neutral colors.
Good luck!
