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What do I wear for an interview?

I've always wondered what is considered appropriate for an interview. I went with a short sleeve shirt to an interview, but I was then told that I had to wear a long sleeve.

#interview-preparation
#job-interview
#interview #interviews #interviewing #job-interview #interviewing-skills

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Austin’s Answer

Hi Yomaris,

Good question. Showing up for an interview can be stressful, and having to pick the right outfit is even more stressful. Despite the stress, I have learned a few things about how to properly dress for an interview from having interviewed for jobs at least 10 times.


For guys, suit and tie is the standard. It really depends on the job that you are applying for, but having a well fitted suit, nice tie, wrinkle free shirt, and shiny shoes is the standard that all guys should operate by when showing up to an interview. If you aren't working in an office or you are interviewing for a job that requires physical labor (i.e. farmer, fireman, forklift driver etc) then a suit/tie combination might me a little bit overkill. Guys, always remember to do your hair, shave, and brush your teeth; these little things make a huge difference when you are meeting your employer for the first time.


For girls (pardon my lack of familiarity as I am a man), a suit, nice dress, blouse+nice pants, and nice foot wear (think heels, nice flats, or wedges) are the standard. Every place has its own culture so you are going to have to judge for yourself what is the most appropriate to wear. Similar to the guys, little things go a long way so you likely do not want to show up with really messy hair. It is always better to play it safe and overdress than show up really under-dressed in tattered jeans and a T-shirt.


It's hard to say that you should "100% of the time wear X" as every employer has a different working culture and expectations. You will likely have to do some research and judge for yourself what is the proper attire to wear.


I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck!!


Best,

Austin

Thank you comment icon It depends on the company culture so try and do your research (look on Glassdoor for company reviews/interview tips). But if you’re not sure, a good go to is a black or navy blue suit for women and men (wear a tie). Good hygiene and well groomed hair (including facial hair) and clean nails. Comfortable but professional shoes. Whatever you wear, make sure you’re comfortable. Interviews are stressful, you don’t want add additional stress by wearing something uncomfortable. Julia Le Gendre, SHRM - CP
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Matt’s Answer

In general, dress a bit more nicely than you'd dress on a random day for the job you're interviewing for. But, this varies geographically, and by industry.

In tech, especially US west-coast tech, showing up in a business suit is off-putting, and inappropriate. Showing up in a dirty hoodie and sandals with socks is probably equally poor form.

You can do a little recon to get an idea of what people wear in their day to day lives, to set your baseline: show up at a casual lunch spot in the neighborhood where you're applying for jobs, and look around. Find people who look professional, but not stuffy, and emulate them.

Your goal here is to dress in a way that is unsurprising, but pleasant. You don't want your fashion choices to be a part of the decision making process.
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Karina’s Answer

Hi,

The industry dress code to be followed for interviews is wearing the 'Business Professional aka Full Business aka Formal Business' attire. What it means is:
1) Clothes should be solid, dark or neutral colors
2) Light colors can be worn underneath
3) No stripes or bright colors or bright prints
4) The color of your suit/jacket (whichever you are using) should be the same as that of your pants/skirt (whichever you are using). This means that a black suit/jacket with black pants/skirt works.
5) Shoes should be closed-toe heel or dress shoes

P.S.: This dress code can be followed for career fairs, professional networking and presentation events, business meetings, formal celebratory occasions as well.

Hope this helps!!!
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Samantha’s Answer

Hi! It totally depends on the industry you're interviewing for! If you're interviewing for a job in accounting, you'd wear a suit. If you're interviewing for a job at a laid back technology start up, jeans and a blouse/button down is probably more appropriate. If in doubt, it's always a good idea to ask what the dress code will be.
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Drew’s Answer

When dressing for an interview, you will want to:

1. Match your clothes to the culture of the company - The most important thing to do is to pick up on the culture and vibe of where you are interviewing.

2. Dress nicer than normal - You will definitely want to dress a little bit nicer than the normal working day, but you don't wan to look so nice that you are out of place.

3. Pick a comfortable and confident outfit - You want to wear something that you are comfortable in and that won't be bugging you all day. For example, don't wear an itchy sweater (even if it's cute or looks nice) because it will distract you from the interview. If you're confident in your outfit, then it will show in small ways.

TL;DR: Blending in visually can help it look like you are already part of the team and fit in. I don't think it's something that people notice consciously, but it does make an impact.

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Albanitza’s Answer

Hi Yomaris,

It depends on the company you are interviewing with and the role as well. That would also be a great question to ask anyone you've maybe interacted with prior to any virtual or in-person interviews.

However, I would recommend dressing professionally and there are a ton of great examples in the answers provided within the thread.

Best of luck to you!
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Michele’s Answer

What you should wear to an interview varies quite a bit depending on your potential employer and your industry. Focusing on overall neatness (no wrinkles, lints, stains), personal grooming, and dressing for comfort are important regardless of what you're wearing.

While you may feel embarrassed to ask (you shouldn't - it's always best to avoid assumptions), you can ask the person who contacted to you arrange the interview. Some companies even volunteer this information to job candidates in advance of their interview.

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Mark’s Answer

What you should wear to an interview varies quite a bit depending on your potential employer. It always good to ask the person / recruiter who contacted you to share the dress code for the environment. Some work places are more casual attire and others can be more polished requiring a suit and tie for example. I would focus on overall neatness, personal grooming, along with dressing for comfort are important regardless of what you're wearing. Don't assume what you should wear, take that extra step to find out and set yourself up for success ( first impressions make an impact ).


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Angela’s Answer

Great question! A good rule of thumb is to always ask your contact at the office you are interviewing for what the dress is in the office. For my company, we are casual so a nie pair of dark jeans and a blazer would be totally acceptable. If you are interviewing for a position and the dress is business professional, a dress with a blazer or skirt/slacks would be a nice touch. I would say stick to basic colors and minimal jewelry/makeup.
Thank you comment icon Angela, I agree with you. I always err on the side of being overdressed, however, I think its important to ask and understand the dress code for the company where you are interviewing. We actually go out of our way to share that ours is a casual environment and a suit would be too overdressed! Never be afraid to ask the person who called you for the interview. Believe me, they want you have a successful experience. Kari Bertsch
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Radhika’s Answer

1. Confidence
2. Positivity with a confident smile
3. Any dress just make sure they are comfortable clothes preferably light colored shirt and polished shoes
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Catherine’s Answer

Hello, Reminder, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Recommend the following for Interview dress

•No sleeveless shirts - in my experience short sleeve is permissible but really base that on the weather, temperature; comfortable shoes may have to walk around workspace, meet other Interviewers in different parts of building

• Have your clothes pressed

• Clothes should be comfortable

• avoid too tight, too short

• If have belt loops, wear a belt

• Jewelry – Minimal

• No perfume or aftershave

• Comb your hair

Catherine recommends the following next steps:

Purchase or have set aside a standard interview outfit and shoes that you can use specifically for when you have interview; you will be ready for any time that you are called to go for an interview
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Sara’s Answer

This can completely depend on the industry however in general it is important to dress for success. Choose an outfit that you have worn before and are comfortable in, nothing worse than finding out something is ill-fitting/itchy/too hot/etc. until it is too late to change. Avoid anything too flashy or distracting and ensure it shows you took pride in your appearance (avoid wrinkles, stains).
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Gloria’s Answer

Hi Yomaris.

This is a great question. You have gotten quite a bit of feedback, but I wanted to reinforce one point - it varies by business sectors and various companies. Some companies will tell you dress code requirements on their sites or in the job description. I would recommend that you dress on level above dress code. So if it is casual, then dress business casual. It is also safer to dress and appear more conservatively. Avoid showing too much skin (arms, legs, back), make sure that your hair and clothes are neat and clean, wear clothing that makes you feel confident about yourself.

Good luck with your interviews,
Gloria
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William’s Answer

Seeing that each company/field is different, see if you can leverage your recruiter for some best practices and expectations of the day. In some cases due to OSHA standards, company policy, etc. you may need to dress differently than a typical interview to take a tour after the interview of the lab, office, warehouse, etc. Good luck!
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Ryan’s Answer

I would say it depends on the company you are interviewing for. Some companies have more or a casual dress and others are more formal. If you're unsure, always dress on the more formal side.
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Thea’s Answer

Dress Smart and comfortable.
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Bradley’s Answer

Hi,

You should always try to dress for the job that you want. Not the job you have. It is never a bad idea to be over dressed but it can absolutely be a turn off for interviewers if you show up underdressed. It can give off a vibe of unprofessionalism or can say that you aren't taking the interview seriously.
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