Dressing for job interviews
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People choose clothes either for inward reasons like satisfying their creative urge, self-expression or outward reasons like showcasing their lifestyle or generally to impress others. However when it comes to interviews, be it for a job or higher studies selection process, the only purpose of clothes and general grooming is to create a favorable impression in the minds of the interviewers and to help one land the job successfully. Though the interview process is more about discussions based assessment, the first visual appeal is created with clothes, hairstyle and general hygiene.
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In this piece, we will try to lay down some basic ground rules and offer a wardrobe toolkit to the candidates on how to dress up for an interview.
Warning: Long Post Ahead. For the ease of reading, we have divided the post into various sections. Choose whichever section is applicable for you. The tips are not only for the interview though that is the focus. You can use it for your daily work wear planning as well.
There are various types of interviews and interviewers. Golden rule to remember is that you are not dressing up for yourself but for the interviewers. Since you wouldn’t know in advance, most of the times, who would be your interviewer, key is to dress up conservatively.
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The biggest favor your clothes can do, in an interview occasion, is to present you in the most acceptable way and then fade into the background and let your knowledge and articulation take the center stage. |
Entrance Interviews for MBA & other academic institutions, Civil Services, other UPSC and other governmental jobs, Junior Management levels and campus placements
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Expected Candidate Profile: Learner profile, Well-rounded Personality, Trainable, Knows his academics. Expected Interviewers Profile: Clothes are the least important area of their concern (usually) as long as you are adequately presentable. They are there to test the candidates on their academic achievements and whether they have the learning ability and capability to absorb and grow. Dressing Theme: Nothing ostentatious & flashy, nothing that takes away the attention from what you speak and how you speak, brings out your humility. Even if you come across as a bit naive in fashion and style, it is OK. |
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Shirt: Avoid pure white shirt. If it’s old, then it will look yellow and stale. If it’s new, it will either look too bright and flashy or as if you have bought it specifically for the interview. Not good either ways.
Choose a well-worn but relatively fresh shirt. Always pick a light colored shirt & avoid dark color as much as you can. If it has to be striped, then better to have white or very light base color. Avoid checks. Avoid cream or yellow or green color base. Safest is solid light blue.
Tie: Tie is must for this category of interviews. Always have one which is contrast to that of the shirt color, which means dark colored. Avoid loud and large prints. Choose very fine, micro patterns or plain and smooth silk/polyester. Safest base colors are red and dark blue base.
Trousers: Always have trousers in contrast to shirt’s color. Don’t have any pattern on the fabric unless it is very fine. Avoid cotton chinos if you can.
Shoes: Keep it in black leather with laces. No experiment there.
Socks: Match with your trousers. Never wear white socks. Avoid wearing loud colors or prints
Jacket/Suit: Not really required as long as your academics are solid and you are confident about your diction, content and articulation. But its also safe to wear one. If you do, put on a jacket (formal blazer) in dark color, preferably navy blue or black. Keep it simple and without any shiny or flashy skin or element. Even if it is slightly oversized, no one will notice but don’t have it too tight or slim fitted or of course completely ill fitted.
Bag: You can carry a plastic folder with your resume and certificates, a faux or real leather portfolio bag is equally OK. If you can’t avoid a sling bag, then don’t enter into the room with it hanging on one or both of your shoulders. Carry it in your left hand like a briefcase.
Choose a well-worn but relatively fresh shirt. Always pick a light colored shirt & avoid dark color as much as you can. If it has to be striped, then better to have white or very light base color. Avoid checks. Avoid cream or yellow or green color base. Safest is solid light blue.
Tie: Tie is must for this category of interviews. Always have one which is contrast to that of the shirt color, which means dark colored. Avoid loud and large prints. Choose very fine, micro patterns or plain and smooth silk/polyester. Safest base colors are red and dark blue base.
Trousers: Always have trousers in contrast to shirt’s color. Don’t have any pattern on the fabric unless it is very fine. Avoid cotton chinos if you can.
Shoes: Keep it in black leather with laces. No experiment there.
Socks: Match with your trousers. Never wear white socks. Avoid wearing loud colors or prints
Jacket/Suit: Not really required as long as your academics are solid and you are confident about your diction, content and articulation. But its also safe to wear one. If you do, put on a jacket (formal blazer) in dark color, preferably navy blue or black. Keep it simple and without any shiny or flashy skin or element. Even if it is slightly oversized, no one will notice but don’t have it too tight or slim fitted or of course completely ill fitted.
Bag: You can carry a plastic folder with your resume and certificates, a faux or real leather portfolio bag is equally OK. If you can’t avoid a sling bag, then don’t enter into the room with it hanging on one or both of your shoulders. Carry it in your left hand like a briefcase.
Job Interview for Mid Managerial Level positions in Private or Public Corporations
Expected Candidate Profile:
Subject Matter Expert, Team Player with Leadership Potential, Culture Fit
Expected Interviewers Profile:
Have proven themselves within the company and their corporate circle, HR looks for culture, integrity match & future senior leadership capability. Functional interviewers look for good subordinate, team leader and a candidate who is in control and shows enough interest and zeal for the job.
Dressing Theme:
Conservative & Safe Dressing, smartly fitted clothes which tells the world that you take interest in leaving a good and professional impression.
Jacket/Suit: Jacket is a better option but a classic two piece suit is also a good choice. Three piece, however is definitely overdressing and is completely avoidable. If you plan to wear a suit, then choose only solid colors from either grey, blue or black. Avoid shiny polyester which looks cheap. If you are planning to wear jacket, then you can opt for small patterns on the body fabric but not too big and bold.
Shirt: If you choose to wear a jacket or a suit, opt for solid colors in shirts, like white, power blue, peach etc. You can also opt for checks and stripes depending on whether you are going to wear a tie or not. Tie with a patterned shirt is a tricky subject and needs to be evaluated on case to case basis.
Tie: Though not compulsory (especially when you wear a jacket), ties have been considered to be safe to be worn for formal occasions historically. So you may choose not to ignore them. If you are going to wear a tie, choose something which works with your shirt and is in contrast to the shirt color.
Trousers: Avoid wearing trousers which are of the same color as that of the jacket unless it's a suit set. If you are wearing a dark blue or black jacket, then ash grey or khaki trousers too would look very professional. Keep the fitting smart rather than too tight fitted or too loose. Avoid front pleats. They look very sloppy and old fashioned.
Shoes: Black with laces are the safest
Socks: Match with your trousers. Never wear white. Avoid wearing loud colors or prints
Watch: Standard sized with leather strap is the best but complete steel is also OK as long as it is not too big with a jazzy dial.
Belt: Definitely wear one and match it with your shoes
Bag: If you are meeting someone in the public place, then a plastic folder with a copy of your resume is good enough. The safest option, wherever you meet, is a smart portfolio bag or formal satchel bag which one would normally carry to the office. Avoid sling bags.
Job Interview for Senior/Top Leadership positions in Private or Public Corporations
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Expected Candidate Profile:
Business & Thought Leader, already established credentials, Professional Pictures/Videos already on the internet, so an impression is already formed. Expected Interviewers Profile: Board Members, Peers, Top Head hunters. All of these belong to the same socioeconomic and lifestyle strata as the candidate. They have a deep understanding and vision for the organization’s culture, issues and challenges. Dressing Theme: Continuity to your public image, Should look a person who controls the room in a professional manner without appearing too dominating and a potential threat. Having a good exposure without being an exhibitionist or show-off. Dressing as per your personal taste without losing sight of those who would interview (at least few of their pictures would also be available on the internet if meeting them for the first time). |
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Fabrics, Stitches and Fit should look richer & fresher when seen in person than how they appear in your pictures. Best clothes are tailored. They are made for you. So avoid wearing standard brands with their logos on pockets or sleeves or cuffs etc. You may like to read more about different type of suits here.
Jacket/Suit: Wear a nicely cut dark colored suit on a weekday. If the meeting is scheduled on a weekend, a jacket will work though a suit will do no harm. If it is in a very casual setting, say in a hotel café or a club house, then a sport shirt with smart chinos should also do the job. If you opt for a jacket in any setting, avoid linen and cotton jackets unless it’s a very personal heart to heart kind of discussion than a formal process. Avoid jackets with metal buttons. Always opt for 100% wool material. It is the richest material for suits and jackets and you have arrived! You must read this before buying your next suit fabric.
Shirt: It will be decided depending upon when and where you meet and whether you wear a suit or a jacket.
Opt for only white shirt if you wear a suit. Crisp white shirt looks the plushest. Wear only French cuff shirt with nice cufflinks.
You can try light colored, light pattern shirt if you wear just a jacket.
Never wear shirts which have the colors belonging to the family of yellow and green. Never wear dark colored shirts. Never wear knitted polo shirts.
Tie: Tie is an option for you depending upon your interviewers, organization profile and your own public image. If you choose to wear one, always opt for one which is of pure silk, if not five or seven fold ties. Large or comic prints can be avoided for the interview.
You can avoid wearing a tie with a jacket or if you are meeting on weekend and in a public place. A nice pocket square may add a certain air of suaveness to your jacket ensemble.
Trousers: Well fitted trousers (holds good for jackets and suits too) are difficult to find. If you can find one for yourself, you can solve any problem. A problem solver is what your interviewer is looking for. So try getting the smartest fitted trousers for yourself.
One of the jobs of your attire is to make you look old enough to handle a large responsibility if you are very young. On the contrary, if you are in your 50s or don’t have the best of body frame, your garments’ fit, if it is smart, will assure people that you stay in touch with the latest and keep up with the world. It gets reflected in the trousers (and jackets) the most.
Shoes: Match it with the rest of the ensemble though black or tan with laces are the safest option. Never wear tan shoes with black trousers or vice versa. Avoid slip-ons unless it’s a weekend meeting in a cafe. Definitely avoid open-toe shoes wherever and whenever you meet.
Socks: Match with your trousers. Never wear white socks. Prints can look good but it is safe to be on the conservative side.
Watch: Standard sized with leather strap is the best but complete steel is also OK as long as it is not too big and loud. Though you can afford to flash a bit of sophisticated luxury in here.
Belt: If you are wearing one, match it with your shoes. If you are meeting in a casual setting, don’t wear formal slim leather belt. You can try braided or belts with stylish (not big and flashy) buckles. You can also try a without-belt look but it will be dependent on many other factors.
Bag: You don’t need to carry any bag or a folder. However a good idea would be to carry a smart looking visiting card case. Also it is important to subtly display that you are putting your phone on silent mode and instead of keeping it on the table, slip that into your jacket’s internal pocket.
Shirt: It will be decided depending upon when and where you meet and whether you wear a suit or a jacket.
Opt for only white shirt if you wear a suit. Crisp white shirt looks the plushest. Wear only French cuff shirt with nice cufflinks.
You can try light colored, light pattern shirt if you wear just a jacket.
Never wear shirts which have the colors belonging to the family of yellow and green. Never wear dark colored shirts. Never wear knitted polo shirts.
Tie: Tie is an option for you depending upon your interviewers, organization profile and your own public image. If you choose to wear one, always opt for one which is of pure silk, if not five or seven fold ties. Large or comic prints can be avoided for the interview.
You can avoid wearing a tie with a jacket or if you are meeting on weekend and in a public place. A nice pocket square may add a certain air of suaveness to your jacket ensemble.
Trousers: Well fitted trousers (holds good for jackets and suits too) are difficult to find. If you can find one for yourself, you can solve any problem. A problem solver is what your interviewer is looking for. So try getting the smartest fitted trousers for yourself.
One of the jobs of your attire is to make you look old enough to handle a large responsibility if you are very young. On the contrary, if you are in your 50s or don’t have the best of body frame, your garments’ fit, if it is smart, will assure people that you stay in touch with the latest and keep up with the world. It gets reflected in the trousers (and jackets) the most.
Shoes: Match it with the rest of the ensemble though black or tan with laces are the safest option. Never wear tan shoes with black trousers or vice versa. Avoid slip-ons unless it’s a weekend meeting in a cafe. Definitely avoid open-toe shoes wherever and whenever you meet.
Socks: Match with your trousers. Never wear white socks. Prints can look good but it is safe to be on the conservative side.
Watch: Standard sized with leather strap is the best but complete steel is also OK as long as it is not too big and loud. Though you can afford to flash a bit of sophisticated luxury in here.
Belt: If you are wearing one, match it with your shoes. If you are meeting in a casual setting, don’t wear formal slim leather belt. You can try braided or belts with stylish (not big and flashy) buckles. You can also try a without-belt look but it will be dependent on many other factors.
Bag: You don’t need to carry any bag or a folder. However a good idea would be to carry a smart looking visiting card case. Also it is important to subtly display that you are putting your phone on silent mode and instead of keeping it on the table, slip that into your jacket’s internal pocket.
Dressing for Startup Jobs
This new breed of businesses has everything anti to what has been written above. That doesn’t mean that you can walk into an interview in shorts and crew neck tees (though we have heard cases where interviewers have done so). It’s always safer to wear a formal shirt and a chino (if not dress trousers). Even if you wear a suit, there is no harm. Worst case, you would hear a satirical comment on your dressing. But it can also be a good ice breaking point to capitalize on. And If you have a good solid content in you, it won’t matter much.
Well these are a few very general and the safest tips. However each person, each job, each organization and therefore each problem, is different. If you would like to get an individual advice, feel free to let us know. If you would like to have a corporate-wide session, or consulting or a workshop on grooming and dressing for your sales executive and other senior leaders who face the external world, we carry out such sessions as well.
Women Interview Dressing Tips Blog post is saved for the next time. So dear ladies, keep a watch. Till then, you may find this piece of some use.
Always remember, dressing or grooming is not everything but it definitely is a very good starting point and First Impression is normally the Last Impression.
To make things simple, we have prepared this quick FAQs for you.
Women Interview Dressing Tips Blog post is saved for the next time. So dear ladies, keep a watch. Till then, you may find this piece of some use.
Always remember, dressing or grooming is not everything but it definitely is a very good starting point and First Impression is normally the Last Impression.
To make things simple, we have prepared this quick FAQs for you.
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