How to Dress for a Corporate Interview
If you’re going on a job interview at a company in a traditional industry, such as finance, banking, or insurance, you should opt for more formal corporate attire. In general, this means a suit and tie for men and a pantsuit or skirt and blouse for women.
Men's Interview Attire
The best interview outfits for men in the corporate world tend to be conservative. Men should always default to wearing a suit. All clothes should fit well and be free of stains.
Here are a few guidelines for men who are interviewing in corporate roles:
Suit in a solid color such as navy, black, or dark gray
Long-sleeved shirt that is white or color coordinated with the suit
Leather belt
Tie
Dark socks and conservative leather shoes
Little or no jewelry
Neat, professional hairstyle
Limited amount of aftershave
Neatly trimmed nails
Portfolio or briefcase
Women's Interview Attire
In general, the interview fashion for women in corporate jobs is more complicated and varied than it is for men. The increased options make assembling an interview outfit a bit more challenging for women than for men. For instance, if you're wearing a dress or skirt, you need to decide if you should wear pantyhose or if bare legs are acceptable.
Women also need to consider interview accessories and choose an appropriate purse. The best interview are ones that are professional and large enough to fit a resume but aren't flashy.
Here are the fundamental building blocks of what women should wear to a professional interview:
Suit in navy, black, or dark gray
Suit skirt just below or above the knee
Coordinated blouse
Conservative shoes
Limited jewelry
No very large dangling earrings or arms full of bracelets
No jewelry is better than cheap jewelry
Professional hairstyle
Neutral-colored pantyhose
Light makeup and a limited amount of perfume
Clean, neatly manicured nails
Portfolio or briefcase
Gender-Neutral Interview Attire
If how you typically dress doesn’t conform to a traditional gender norm, your interview attire shouldn't have to either.3 The key, as with gender-specific attire, is to find clothing that is polished, professional, and a fit for the company you're interviewing with.
How to Dress for a More Casual Interview
When the workplace or the job is less formal, the dress code may be more relaxed. If you're not sure what to wear, it's fine to check with the person scheduling the interview. However, it's still important not to dress sloppily. Learn more about some casual options:
Business Casual: You can leave the suit at home, but don’t get out those jeans just yet. Business casual means no jeans, no sneakers, and no apparel that would be more appropriate for the gym or the club.
Startup Casual: Jeans may be OK for an interview at a startup, but make sure they’re clean and free from holes or ragged seams. You’re going for stylish, not sloppy and it’s still a good idea to dress up a bit more than the folks who are already working there.
What to Wear When There's No Dress Code: Not sure what to wear? When there’s no real dress code, keep it professional and towards business casual.
Tips for Making the Best Interview Impression
Take some time to prepare your interview outfit to be sure you're ready to make the best impression.
Well in advance of your interview, make sure you have appropriate interview attire, and everything fits correctly.
Get your clothes ready the night before, so you don't have to spend time getting them ready the day of the interview.
If your clothes are dry clean only, take them to the cleaners right after an interview, so you're prepared for the next interview.
Be sure to polish your shoes the night before.
If you're interviewing remotely, it's best to avoid very bright colors, stripes, and wearing the same color as your background.
What to Bring to the Interview
In addition to getting your interview attire ready the night before, also gather what you will need
Interview location/directions
Contact name and number for the person you're meeting with
Identification
Notepad and pen
Extra copies of your resume
List of three references
Work samples (depending on the job)
Laptop or tablet to showcase your work (depending on the job)
Breath mints with you to use before entering the building
Lastly, good luck on your interview. You got this!
Comments