{"id":2444,"date":"2020-01-21T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-01-21T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/local.events.com\/what-to-wear-to-an-interview\/"},"modified":"2021-04-07T16:53:32","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T23:53:32","slug":"what-to-wear-to-an-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/english-speaking\/what-to-wear-to-an-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Wear to an Interview"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Deciding what to wear to\u00a0an interview can be stressful. At some point in your life, someone has probably told you to \u201cdress to impress\u201d or \u201cdress for the job you want, not the one you have.\u201d<\/div>\n
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But what do these sayings actually mean? What specific items can you choose to make a good impression at your next job interview?<\/p>\n

Truthfully, the type of clothes you should wear will largely depend on the type of job you want. However, you shouldn\u2019t rely on this alone. Dress codes can differ from one company to another, even if these companies are hiring for the same position. Many organizations use specific terminology to dictate how you should dress for your job interview.<\/p>\n

Dress Code Terminology<\/h2>\n

There are essentially four categories of dress<\/a> in professional settings: casual, business casual, business professional, and business formal. You might be wondering, \u201cWhat do these terms mean?\u201d while flipping through the items in your wardrobe.<\/p>\n

Read on to get a breakdown of each term, along with examples of what fits into each category.<\/p>\n

Casual<\/h3>\n

\u201cCasual attire\u201d can mean different things to different people. Overall, it refers to everyday wear. However, you should still dress a little more formally than you would around the house or when you\u2019re running errands. Make sure that all of your clothes, shoes, and accessories are clean before the interview.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s consider a few examples of \u201ccasual attire\u201d for both men and women:<\/p>\n

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  • Acceptable Interview Attire for Men<\/strong> – Slacks, fitted jeans, khakis, collared shirts, loafers, tennis shoes, pullovers.<\/li>\n
  • Acceptable Interview Attire for Women<\/strong> – Fitted tops or blouses, slacks, khakis, medium-length skirts, fitted jeans, tennis shoes, open-toed shoes.<\/li>\n
  • Clothes to Avoid<\/strong> – Flip-flops, old sneakers, t-shirts, clothing with novelty patterns, acid-washed jeans, shorts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Business Casual<\/h3>\n

    \u201cBusiness Casual\u201d is one of the most common forms of interview attire. It combines the comfort of casual attire with the professionalism of more formal dress codes.<\/p>\n

    While there are no exact guidelines for business casual, it could be described as a form of casual attire that excludes jeans and tennis shoes. Business casual patterns and colors are also more conservative.<\/p>\n

    Here are a few concrete examples of \u201cbusiness casual\u201d attire for men and women:<\/p>\n

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    • Acceptable Interview Attire for Men<\/strong> – Slacks, khakis, button-down shirts, neckties, sports jackets, knit pullovers, dress shoes, loafers.<\/li>\n
    • Acceptable Interview Attire for Women<\/strong> – Fitted blouses, khakis or black pants, loafers, closed-toed pumps, flats, jackets.<\/li>\n
    • Clothes to Avoid<\/strong> – Flip-flops, t-shirts, clothing with novelty patterns, shorts, jeans, tennis shoes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Business Professional<\/h3>\n

      \u201cBusiness professional\u201d generally refers to suits and similar attire required for formal situations.<\/p>\n

      Most \u201cdesk jobs\u201d in offices, board rooms, and similar workspaces will require (at minimum) business professional attire during the interview process and sometimes work hours.<\/p>\n

      Usually, if no dress code is stated for the interview, \u201cbusiness professional\u201d should be your default. It looks professional and helps to make a good first impression. Business professional colors should always be conservative (dark blue, black, gray, and brown).<\/p>\n

      Let\u2019s look at some specific examples of \u201cbusiness professional\u201d attire for men and women:<\/p>\n

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      • Acceptable Interview Attire for Men<\/strong> – Suits (conservative colors), ties, dress pants, sports jackets, button-down shirts, oxford shoes, loafers.<\/li>\n
      • Acceptable Interview Attire for Women<\/strong> – Suits (conservative colors), knee-length skirts, dress pants, button-down shirts, jackets, hosiery, closed-toed pumps or flats.<\/li>\n
      • Clothes to Avoid<\/strong> – Shorts, jeans, tennis shoes, khakis, clothing with bright colors or patterns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Business Formal<\/h3>\n

        \u201cBusiness formal\u201d is reserved for high-level job applicants in fields like law or executive management.<\/p>\n

        In the same way that \u201cbusiness casual\u201d is a more formal version of \u201ccasual,\u201d \u201cbusiness formal\u201d is simply a more formal, tailored version of \u201cbusiness professional.\u201d It consists almost entirely of tailored suits and pantsuits of black, gray, or navy.<\/p>\n

        In any case, consider some examples of \u201cbusiness formal\u201d attire for men and women:<\/p>\n

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        • Acceptable Interview Attire for Men<\/strong> – Tailored suits (neutral colors), ties, button-down shirts, black or brown oxford shoes.<\/li>\n
        • Acceptable Interview Attire for Women<\/strong> – Pantsuits or skirt suits (neutral colors), heels.<\/li>\n
        • Clothes to Avoid<\/strong> – Open-toed shoes, any casual or business casual attire<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          How Dress Codes Vary by Organization Type<\/h2>\n

          Some organizations have a strict dress code, while others are relatively lax. Figuring out what kind of attire an organization expects its employees (and job applicants) to wear can be as simple as Googling the name of the organization.<\/p>\n

          However, not every business or start-up has this kind of information available online. Thankfully, many organizations tend to conform to the standards set in years past, which makes it a little easier to plan your wardrobe in advance.<\/p>\n

          Here are a few common types of organizations and their respective dress codes:<\/p>\n

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          • Corporation<\/strong> – Corporate culture is usually associated with business formal and professional attire. However, corporations hire for a wide range of positions, many of which don\u2019t involve board rooms or offices. In any case, corporations and larger businesses almost always have a set of guidelines for how employees should dress around the workplace (including interviews).<\/li>\n
          • Brick-and-Mortar Business<\/strong> – Smaller businesses may or may not have a strict dress code, as it is entirely up to the business owner. Employees may need to wear a uniform during work hours, though this would not apply to the initial interview. As a result, the job interview dress code for small or family-owned businesses can vary.<\/li>\n
          • Start-Up<\/strong> – Just as corporations are associated with formal attire, start-ups are generally associated with more casual (or informal) attire. Though it is not always the case, those applying to work for a start-up can likely wear business casual clothing. It is always better to overdress than underdress, so it is not recommended to wear casual attire to a start-up interview unless explicitly told to do so.<\/li>\n
          • Nonprofit<\/strong> – Nonprofits come in all shapes and sizes. Like corporations, most large non-profits have a strict dress code. Alternatively, smaller nonprofits may or may not institute a dress code at all.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Do Your Research Before the Interview<\/h2>\n

            Ultimately, every business or organization has different dress code standards. Even if you\u2019re applying for the same position at two different organizations, you may need to dress a little differently for each respective interview.<\/p>\n

            If you\u2019re still unsure what to wear for your next job interview, don\u2019t be afraid to ask. Tell your recruiter or interviewer that you would like a little information about the expected dress code for the interview.<\/p>\n

            When in doubt about their expectations, don\u2019t be afraid to overdress. You may feel a little silly wearing business professional attire to an interview that only requires business casual attire, but it will likely have little or no effect on your ability to secure the job.<\/p>\n

            Alternatively, if you underdress for an important interview, you probably won\u2019t make a very good impression. So, make sure to do your research and know what to wear to a job interview – this will put you on the right path to landing the job of your dreams!<\/p>\n

            Check out our interview advice video for more tips on figuring out what to wear to a job interview, including ways you can research the dress code before you even step foot in the office!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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