What to wear to an interview

You can’t banish all the stress of an interview, but at least you don’t have to second guess what to wear. The night before your big interview you should fall asleep knowing that a professional, appropriate outfit is laid out waiting for you. Here’s what you need to know.

Do your research

As the business world continues to develop and grow, the traditional, suit-cladded workplaces are on the decrease. To make sure you’re choosing your outfit to match the employer, you should carefully research the company’s values and the general attire so you can select the look which shows you fit in.

Generally, if you're interviewing for a well-established, more traditional organisation, for a client-facing role or in a sector like finance, banking or law, you might want to up the formality with a suit - skirt or trouser. If you're interviewing for a smaller company like a start up, for a role which doesn't involve much (or any) time with clients or is in a more creative sector, you can go for something that's a little less formal. If the company welcomes jeans and hoodies in the workplace, think smart trousers or skirt and a shirt rather than a full suit.

Underplay your style

You can establish your personal style once you’ve secured the job – the interview is for demonstrating your experience and knowledge. Let your personality shine rather than your outfit. This means wearing understated colours like black, grey, navy blue and other neutral tones rather than bolder colours. Forget the current trends and instead focus on portraying yourself as professional and ready to work.

Be comfortable and confident!

While you want to fit in with the company, you’ll perform best for your interview if you feel confident. Since confidence can come from the clothes you wear, try to choose an outfit that’s appropriate for the company but you feel comfortable in. No hoodies or tracksuits, but if you have a smart jumper that you can wear over a shirt and would make you feel better than a suit jacket and feels appropriate for the firm or sector, it’s probably better to go with that.

Perfecting your look

Here are some outfits we suggest for interviews:

• Plain but smart skirt or trousers
• Shirt or blouse - ideally white, a light blue or grey
• Sensible but smart shoes - if you’re planning on wearing heels, try to keep them at maximum 3 inches in height. Black or brown shoes are ideal
• Limit your jewellery to simple items
• Try to make your hair look smart - this could by tying it back or styling it effectively
• Keep your socks and, if you choose to wear one, tie neutral and appropriate

What is business attire?

Sometimes, an employer suggests a dress code for your interview. Or, you might need to wear a certain type of outfit to work when you’ve secured the role. Here is an overview of what the terms mean and what you’re expected to wear with each:

Business formal

This is the most smart and formal you can dress in the workplace. Business formal calls for a matching outfit of a suit with a skirt or trousers either in black or another dark colour. Your shoes should ideally be black to match the outfit.

Business professional

This attire gives you slightly more room for individuality than business formal. With a business professional outfit, a suit is acceptable, but you could also wear some smart trousers, a tucked in shirt and tie. Equally, you could wear a skirt and shirt or blouse, or a smart jumper over smart trousers or skirt. As with business formal, dark colours with white shirts are preferred.

Business casual

Business casual is a combination of casual work wear and business professional, meaning it’s more relaxed than other dress codes but still requires you to look smart. You could wear a smart jumper with a shirt or blouse underneath and trousers or a skirt. Generally, there’s no need to wear a tie in a business casual workplace or interview.

Casual

A casual dress code doesn’t necessarily mean dressing as you would outside of the workplace or interview. Instead, jeans and an appropriate t-shirt are acceptable, as is a less formal skirt. You can usually wear smart trainers in a casual workplace, but not sliders or flip flops. Generally, try to avoid clothes with intentional rips and if in doubt, choose the smarter option.

For the formal interview

If your interview is with a traditional firm or company, there are certain rules that they typically expect you to follow. Ideally, you should wear a suit (either trousers or skirt) with a jacket. Ties are recommended, but waistcoats are optional. As a rule, black shoes match black suits while brown shoes match grey suits. While it's best to have a well-fitted or tailored suit, this is by no-means necessary for securing the role. If you're on a lower budget, try and find a suit that is a neutral colour like black or grey but makes you feel comfortable and confident. Remember your personality, experience and skills are what the employer is really interested in.

Upshot

Ultimately, an interview is for you to show you’ll fit in well with the job and the employer, so choosing a smart and appropriate outfit can really help with this. The upshot is that if you don’t feel comfortable or confident in the clothes that the employer wants you to be wearing, maybe try and find a workplace that suits you better. The interview is as much about seeing if you want to work for the employer as it is the other way around, so be mindful of how the workplace and dress code makes you feel so you can make the best choice for you.

Need some inspiration? Check out the pictures from our events to see what other members wear.