Dress for Success

How to Dress to Get the Job

One male and two female sitting in chairs dressed in nice clothes.

Presentation matters. Think about it for a minute. If someone gives you a gift in a cool gift bag with colorful tissue paper bursting out of the top, it is impressive. However, the same gift handed to you in a reusable grocery bag doesn’t have the same impact. What’s on the inside is the same, but one presentation is way more impressive than the other.

How you dress for your interview has the same impact. The hiring manager is looking for the best person to do the job and someone who will represent their company well. The interviewer is going to be using both what you say and how you look to decide if you are the right person.

WHAT TO WEAR

Dress one level up from what the everyday dress is for the job

→ For example, if the dress code for the job is a polo shirt and khakis, then you should wear a dress shirt and slacks for the interview.

Be sure to dress for the job you are interviewing for

→ If you have applied for a construction job, a suit and tie would be doing too much. If you’re interviewing for a position in a bank, khakis and a polo shirt wouldn’t be enough.

Teen boy sitting in front of laptop wearing a button up shirt.

So what do you wear? [Asian girl standing with your shoulders shrugged and her hands out]

DON’T WEAR

Person leaning against a bike wearing ripped blue jeans.

Generally speaking, you should never wear jeans to an interview. Remember, you should dress one level up from what you would wear on the day-to-day job. If for some reason you do wear jeans, make sure they don’t have any holes or rips.

Young man wearing a beenie and headphones.

Leave the beenie and headphones at home. These are too casual and unprofessional.

Don’t wear t-shirts. It doesn’t matter if they are crew neck as seen above or v-neck; don’t wear them. They are way too casual. You should always wear a shirt with a collar.

Young woman standing with tight, short dress on.

This dress is too tight and too short. Your dresses and skirts should not be shorter than 2-inches above the knee. Leave this for when you are going out with your friends, but to an interview.

Young woman wearing a short dress that is strappless.

Not only is this dress too short, but it is also strapless. This is to casual for an interview.

Young woman wearing a button up shirt that is low cut.

Even though this is a button-up shirt, it is too revealing. You should not be showing cleavage in an interview.

Young African American woman standing against a way wearing gym clothes.

Gym clothes are no longer just for the gym, but they should not be worn to an interview. Also, your midriff (stomach) should not be showing. Lastly, you should (generally) avoid wearing athletic shoes to an interview as well. Dress shoes look much more professional.

Young man standing against a wall in shorts and a t-shirt

Shorts are too casual for an interview. Wear kahkis or slacks.

DO WEAR

Polo shirts are great for jobs that have a more casual dress code such as t-shirts and jeans. Remember, you should dress AT LEAST one level above the daily work-wear.

Young adult sitting in a chair with slacks and dress shirt on.

While this shirt doesn’t have a color, it still works because it is button up and paired with slacks and dress shoes, it conveys prefessionalism.

A young man in slacks, a button up shirt, and tie is shaking hands with a woman who is dressed in business causal attire. They are in an office setting.

For jobs in office settings, or to simply just impress your potential employer, slacks, a button-up shirt, and a tie are an excellent choice.

Young woman standing against a wall in a white dress and heels.

This dress is perfect for nearly any interview. It can be dressed up with a blazer, or down with flats. It is professional looking and classy.

Show up prepared to wear a mask in your interview. Each employers may have different expectations; and many jobs require employees to wear a mask during their shift.

APPEARANCE

Simply put, you want to look professional, clean, and confident.

→ Dress in a simple, professional manner – Too many accessories can be distracting.

→ Make sure your clothes are clean, ironed, and don’t have holes or stains – A shirt that looks like you slept in it does not leave a good impression.

→ No matter how stylish, NEVER wear jeans, t-shirts, hats, or sunglasses.

→ Check your buttons and zippers before going into the business – You don’t want your potential employer informing you that your zipper is down or that your bra is showing because a button is not fastened.

→ A single pair of earrings is fine, but all of the other piercings should be covered.

→ Keep necklaces, bracelets, and rings to a minimum – A few that are not distracting or profane are fine, but you should leave the weed leaf pendant at home.

→ Cover visible tattoos – While many companies don’t have an issue with tattoos, some have policies against them being visible at work. I have even known people who were biased against people with tattoos; they didn’t see them as professional. It is best practice to cover them for an interview. If you are offered the job, you can discuss what is allowed and what is not.

→ Don’t overdo the makeup – You aren’t going out for a night on the town. This is a job interview.

HYGIENE

Plain and simple – you need to be clean!

→ Make sure you don’t smell bad – Take a shower and use deodorant before your interview. If you smoke, make sure you are free of any odors associated with your habit.

→ Make sure your hair is clean, styled neatly, and a neutral color – No pink or green hair.

→ Take it easy on perfumes, scented lotions, and colognes – A little goes a long way.

→ Brush your teeth

→ Guys should be clean-shaven or make sure any facial hair is neatly trimmed.

→ Make sure your hands and fingernails are clean and trimmed.

As you can see, dressing for success takes a little planning. If you follow these guidelines, you are sure to make a great impression!