How to Dress for a Formal or Casual Interview

How to Dress for a Formal or Casual InterviewHow to Dress for a Formal or Casual InterviewThe first impression you make on a potential employer is incredibly important. When you meet a potential employer for the first time, they immediately form an opinion of you based on what youre wearing and how you carry yourself. Regardless of the work environment, its important to dress professionally for a job interview because how you dress can either make or break the job interview. In general, the candidate dressed in a suit and tie, or dress and heels, will make a much better impression than the candidate dressed in jeans and sneakers. Different industries have different expectations of how candidates and employees should dress. The appropriate dress code can vary greatly depending on the company, industry,and location. For example, a tech start-up in Silicon Valley might frown on someone who dresses too formally, while a Fortune 50 company on Madison Avenue might frown on someone who dres ses too casually. Heres a breakdown of what to wear for a corporate position and what to wear for a mora laid-back casual position. In both cases, being well-groomed with clean, untattered clothes is always required. How to Dress for a Corporate Interview Mens Interview Attire Here are examples ofinterview outfits for men. Men should always default to wearing a suit. All clothes should fit well and be free of stains Suit in a solid color such as navy, black, or dark greyLong sleeved shirt that is white or color coordinated with the suitLeather beltTieDark socks and conservative leather shoesLittle or no jewelryNeat, professional hairstyleLimited amount of aftershaveNeatly trimmed nailsPortfolio or briefcase Womens Interview Attire In general, fashion for women is more complicated and varied than it is for men who have fewer options. It makes assembling an interview outfit a bit more challenging for women than for men. For instance, if youre wearing a dress or skirt, you need to decide if youshould wear pantyhose or if bare legs are acceptable. Women also need to considerinterview accessoriesand choose an appropriate purse. Thebest interview bagsare ones that are professional and large enough to fit a resume but arent flashy. Here are the fundamental building blocks of what women should wear to a professional interview Suit in navy, black, or dark greySuit skirt just below or above the kneeCoordinated blouseConservative shoesLimited jewelryNo dangling earrings or arms full of braceletsNo jewelry is better than cheap jewelryProfessional hairstyleNeutral colored pantyhoseLight make-up and limited amount of perfumeClean, neatly manicured nailsPortfolio or briefcase What Not to Bring to the Interview GumCoffee or sodaIf you have lots of piercings, leave some of your rings at home (earrings only is a good rule)If possible, cover tattoos You can bring your smartphone but make sure its on mute or vibrateduring your interview. It avoids the risk of getting a di stracting loud text alert or phone call mid-interview. How to Dress for a More Casual Interview When the workplace or the job is less formal, the dress code may be less formal as well. If youre elend sure what to wear, its fine to check with the person scheduling the interview. However, its still important not to dress slovenly. Here are some casual options Business CasualStartup CasualWhat to Wear When Theres No Dress Code Tips 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 dont 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 youre prepared for the next interview.Be sure to polish your shoes the night before.Bring breath mints with you to use before entering the building.