How Should I Dress for A Job Interview?

Before the recent COVID-19 driven work changes, professional dress codes were fluid. For many years, even companies with stodgy traditional dress codes had “Casual Friday,” which, somehow, was still more formal than other companies’ daily requirements. It’s all fashion and fun until management issues special memos reminding employees of the well-known long-term benefits of wearing shoes (yep, seen them). Job seekers believed it was apropos to match their dress for interviews with the company’s dress culture – it wasn’t.

After lock-downs, quarantines, work-from-home, masks, Zoom, and many other factors, the professional dress code has gone from fluid to fuzzy. And, yes, in some cases, fuzzy means slippers. Yes, fuzzy slippers are hilarious, but they are not professional (however, people interviewing for fuzzy-slipper-designer positions should be fine).  

Your job interview attire should be professional, formal, and job-appropriate. Your default position should be your “Sunday’s best.” You can always dress down, but you can’t dress up.

Here are some sartorial tips to consider when dressing for a job interview:

1.    You can’t go wrong with a suit. For almost every interview, a suit and tie (if applicable) are the best options. Being overdressed won’t hurt you. If you’re a creative type interviewing at a creative company, you can go with a more hip, edgy, flamboyant suit, but still a suit. If your interview is with a more traditional and conservative company, go with a Brooks Brothers/Ann Taylor style suit. In the end, you can’t go wrong with a suit. Let’s call a professional suit the Standard Rule. The beautiful thing about a suit is that if you get to the interview, and you are told you’re overdressed, you can probably take your jacket off without penalty.

2.    The Standard Rule applies to companies with casual dress codes. You’ve heard Company X has a casual dress code – i.e., “People wear jeans.” You want to dress down for the interview to fit in with the company culture, but chances are that’s a mistake; I’ve personally witnessed interviewers dressed in Levi’s and a tee shirt ding a candidate for not dressing professionally enough. That said, there’s always exceptions (and people being judgmental) – if you show up in a suit and tie, maybe they’ll think you’re an undercover narcotics officer and beat you up in the parking lot. The person who sets up the interview will know the most appropriate attire; ask them for clarification on what you should plan to wear. 

3.    Ask the person who sets up the interview for clarification. Still aren’t clear? You’re not alone – career professionals toss terms like “casual,” “dressy,” and “professional” around a lot, but they mean different things to different people and companies. Whether a recruiter, hiring manager, or somebody’s assistant, the person who sets up the interview should know the internal expectations of job candidates’ dress; ask them and do what they say. 

4.    The Standard Rule may apply for positions with casual dress codes. What if the position is a warehouse job, manual labor, or involves working outdoors? Dressing up can rarely hurt you, but use your best judgment. A suit and tie, if applicable, may not be the best option for the roles mentioned above. However, consider dressing up for the interview.

5.    The Standard Rule applies if you’re pounding the pavement. Let’s say you’re applying for jobs at the mall; this often involves dropping off resumes in person. You’re in front of someone for a brief time, and you make a crucial first impression on whoever accepts your resume. Dress to impress! In many real-world cases, looking sharp and professional is sometimes the difference between your resume going into the circular file (that’s the trashcan) or the hiring manager’s inbox.

6.    The Standard Rule applies for remote interviews (e.g., Zoom). In case you haven’t heard the news, you can’t go wrong with a suit. Treat a Zoom, or any other remote video interview, like an in-person interview. You’re not going to show up for an in-person interview in fuzzy slippers, and the same standards for remote interviews should apply. You make an instant impression on video. It’s easy for your Zoom interview to start on a positive note – dress in job interview-appropriate attire right down to the shoes nobody can see. Look professional, or you’ll convey a “don’t care” attitude that’s an unnecessary hurdle.

7.    BONUS TIP: Keep an extra jacket/blazer and tie (if applicable) in the car. If you start casual and arrive at the interview to see other candidates dressier than you, you can make a quick retreat and dress up before your interview begins.

Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercs.com.