You’ve been hunting for a job for weeks, and you finally receive a call. You’ve been chosen for an interview for a final assessment to prove your qualifications for the job. You’ve perfected your resume and practiced all of the possible questions that you could be asked. All that’s left to do is pick the perfect outfit.
With the right interview fashion knowledge, you will become an expert at selecting the perfect outfit.
When preparing an outfit, it never hurts to call the business/company that you’re applying to and ask about its dress code and any recommendations about what to wear. A good detail to remember throughout deliberating your options is less is more. Avoid flashy jewelry, dramatic makeup, and heavy fragrances.
For girls, black is your best friend. Aim for neutral colors. Keep it simple for a business professional interview by selecting nice slacks, a blouse, and blazer or a neutral colored dress that isn’t low cut and is an appropriate length. For a business casual interview, select a hole-free pair of dark wash jeans paired with a button up shirt or blouse.
Avoid heels that reach great heights and substitute them with flats. Add a statement necklace to an otherwise basic outfit to provide color and originality.
For boys, think of your Sunday best. Business professional styles include dress pants, a button up shirt, and tie.
You can never go wrong with adding a nice jacket or blazer. For business casual, keep the button-up, but now substitute the dress pants for a pair of hole-free khakis.
A tie is optional but is always appreciated. Ditch the sneakers for a nice pair of dress shoes. Don’t forget the most important piece of this outfit, a belt! Make sure those pants are sitting on the hips and secure them with a solid black or brown belt to avoid any baggy pants style.
Experienced job applicants include seniors Medina Susak and Lydia Barnes. Susak said, “My go-to job interview outfit is a white button-up, black slacks and shoes and maybe a black dress that is appropriate and not too revealing,” Barnes said, “Always think modest to keep things safe.”
Dark and neutral colors are always the way to go when it comes to choosing the perfect outfit. Susak said, “I’d recommend a nice pair of dark wash jeans, a non-revealing button-up, and a statement necklace.”
When recommending what a job applicant should dress like, Barnes said, “It really depends on what kind of interview you’re going into. If it’s a casual environment, for example a fast food franchise, wear a nice pair of jeans and blouse. But if it’s for a business/internship interview, a long skirt and blouse would be appropriate. For a full-time job, think ‘date ready’ and how you would present yourself on a first date.”
Now that you’ve become an expert on job interview fashion, you can now choose the perfect outfit and succeed in your interview. Always remember less is more. “The interviewer knows within the first 10 minutes if they’re going to hire you or not,” Susak said. “How you present and dress yourself will have a big effect on their decision.”