Introduction
Your interview attire is an important attribute that decides your entry into the organisation. This is because the recruiters or the hiring managers make their first impression based on the interview outfits.
Moreover, it shows your cognisance about the company culture and its requirements. The importance of what to wear to an interview augments when you sight these data.
According to a research, the interviewers get 55% of the first impression based on the interview dress and the gait of the employees.
Another study shows that 65% of employers consider the interview outfits to select the best out of the two employees. Due to such reasons, it is your interview attire and the way you answer the interview questions that decide your employment.
However, choosing an ideal interview suit, interview shoe, or interview dress is a daunting task. But we have specific tips and strategies which you should follow to wear the right job outfit.
What to Wear in An Interview? Things to Keep in Mind to Dress for Success
1. Research about the Company’s Dress Code
Before you decide what to wear, you should research the company’s culture and dress code for the job you’re interviewing. This helps you to have cognisance about the background of the organisation and thus plan what to wear to your interview
You can research about the job interview outfits in many ways. First of all, you can contact the recruiter or the manager to know about the right work outfit for interview. Secondly, you could surf the organisation’s social media page. This can help you to go through the various employees’ account and know their attire.
Thirdly, you can go during the lunch break to the organisation. Such a visit can facilitate you to have a glimpse of various employees and their clothes.
Moreover, there are many organisations which fabricate “one day in the office” videos. Such videos can help you to know the required attire which the employers expect.
Researching about the post and the organisation can also help you to estimate the precise nature of the job. In case you are interviewed for a corporate position, then you should likely wear a professional outfit. However, the role of less formal nature allows you to dress business casuals.
2. Evade from Deciding the Outfit on the Day of the Interview
The day of the interview already fills you with nervousness and stress. In such situations, you are likely to make the wrong decision. Moreover, while preparing for your interview, you may forget about the interview attire.
Hence, it is suggested to decide the interview suit in advance. Selecting the formal dress for an interview in advance proffers you much time. Therefore, you are likely to make the right choice.
This is because more considerable time helps you to research accurately about the company. Moreover, you can procure suggestions from other people on the same.
3. Do Your Laundry
After deciding the right interview clothes, make sure they are clean and well ironed. 59% of the recruiters turn down the job offer in case of dirty marks and stains on clothes. Moreover, such careless nature exhibits your lack of interest in the organisation and the post.
The creases on the interview outfits exhibit your amateurism. Not only this, but the recruiters think that you are irresponsible and could not perform the first task well.
4. Business Professional Attire for Women
Be it a corporate firm or an organisation with a conservative company culture – dressing appropriately in a professional attire is always suitable for any kind of organisation. Business professional attire is one of the safest options to choose when you are unaware of the dress code of an organisation.
So let us have a glance at the various professional interview clothes for women.
i) A Professional Interview Suit for Women
The formal interview attire for women includes a skirt or trousers with a shirt and a blazer. This is the most common and easy-to-procure option for all women. However, there are specific tips which you must take care while wearing such attire.
First of all, you should choose a neutral colour like grey, black or dark blue. The sleeves of your interview clothes should end right at your wrist or towards your hands.
Moreover, it is better to select a fabric which you can wear in any season. The length of your trousers should end below your ankles. Make sure that your blazer is neither too loose nor too tight. If you are unbuttoning it, then the inner shirt should not be revealing.
It may be a possibility that you choose to wear a skirt instead of trousers. In such a case, the skirts should be of at least knee-length. Short skirts will proffer you problems while sitting or walking.
ii) Formal Wear to a Job Interview
Instead of an interview suit, you could opt for a professional interview dress. Formal dresses are effortless to find, and it may include a simple black dress as well. However, you should make sure that the dresses are neither too tight nor loose and too revealing.
You can always pair up a formal black dress with a jacket and shoes. This proffers you a professional look. However, some women may prefer skirts over dresses.
iii) What to Pair with a Skirt?
A black skirt goes perfect with a white shirt for an interview. If not white, then you can prefer any light coloured shirt. Moreover, black shoes can also augment your professional nature in this regard.
Moreover, the shirt which you choose should not have any frills or logos. It should be simple and elegant. A light print on the shirt can be an option. But make sure to evade gaudy and enlarged prints.
iv) How to Choose the Right Women’s Dress Pants?
Some women are not comfortable with a skirt or dress. They can wear women’s dress pants. If you are one of them, then you should make sure that the pants are not too tight.
Any women’s pants are tight if they form creases or smile at the crotch. So you should make sure that the pants have at least one-inch extra fabric.
v) Formal Interview Shoes for Women
The best interview shoe can be a closed toe with a small heel. Such heel should not exceed 3 inches. Moreover, the colour of the shoes can be neutral like grey, black or Navy blue.
You can wear heels to the interview. However, you should avert wearing them in case you are uncomfortable. This is because you never want to commit any mistake during your meeting. Moreover, interviewers consider your gait as a first impression along with the interview attire.
You should not wear sandals to the interviews. Sandals are very casual and are not meant for professional attire.
5. Formal Interview Attire for Men
The best professional interview outfit for men is the interview suit. If you are doubtful of the dress code of the organisation, then wearing a suit is the best option.
However, you should choose a two-piece suit of neutral colours. It could be charcoal grey, Navy blue or black with subtle pinstripes. Avoid wearing very light coloured suits which are meant for parties and not professional purposes.
i) Which Shirt to Pair Up with your Suit?
The best shirt to pair up with your suit is the light coloured shirt. Moreover, the shirt could be of solid white colour or range from light to medium shades. Also, wearing French cuffs, which are meant for senior people, is not a good option.
ii) Interview Ties
Integrate the most uncomplicated tie with your suit. Striped or dotted ties are preferred over the single colour ties. But prevent yourself from wearing flashy yellow or red coloured ties. Such colours distract recruiters.
iii) Interview Shoe for Men
Fortunately, men can choose the shoe of their choice for interviews. The only restriction imposed is on the colour of the shoes. The colour should either be brown, black or grey. You can choose for loafers, Oxfords, cap-toes or any other variety.
6. Business Casuals
As known by its name, business casuals are a whisk of the formal and casual attires. They are a step up from the regular jeans and t-shirt and a step down from the professional attire. Most of the firms consider this as their dress code.
i) Business casuals for women
Tops
Women should wear simple yet professional tops which are comfortable and conservative. A shirt or a simple blouse with a cardigan or casual jacket is an ideal choice.
You can also choose to wear a hand-knit sweater or a Navy blue cardigan. Just make sure that the tops are of neutral shades and simple patterns.
Skirt or Dress Pants
Skirts and dress pants are an excellent choice for business casuals. Tucking your shirt in your pants or pencil skirt gives it a neat look. It casually exhibits your professionalism. To provide a casual look, you can also wear khaki or cotton pants.
Closed-toe Shoes
The best shoe for business casuals includes closed-toe flats or low heels. Your boots should not be dirty or scratched. Such shoes attract the recruiters’ attention and disturb them. Also prevent from wearing sandals, high heels or Stilettos as business casuals.
Accessories
Pair simple and professional jewellery with your business casuals. Wearing necklaces, long earrings or noisy bracelets exhibit your amateurism.
A delicate necklace, along with simple hoops and plain bracelet is the right choice to pair up with your business casuals. Wearing a muted colour, nail paint is also a good option. The nail paint should not be scratched.
ii) Business casuals for men
Men can consider wearing white coloured or any light coloured shirt. Wearing a tie along with the shirt is not mandatory for a business casual look. Instead, you could pair the shirt up with a jacket or Cardigan.
Neutral coloured khaki or cotton pants are an excellent option for business casuals. Some workplaces also allow the applicants to wear jeans. Pair your trousers with a dark coloured leather shoe or loafers.
Conclusion
Professional and ideal interview attire augments your self-confidence during a job interview. On the other hand, neon and vibrant job interview outfits may distract the recruiter.
So, it is better to do a dress rehearsal in the end. Make sure you have a comfortable gait. This can help you to procure suggestions and modify your look.
