You are set to graduate in May and already starting to interview. You've studied the company and have prepared your interview QA. But what do you wear? Your college career counseling office always adheres to the dark suit uniform, but you know the tech scene is much less formal. What do you do?
Working in the tech scene as a coder or programmer in Silicon Valley requires a very different wardrobe than the rest of the country. You want to look like you fit in for any job you apply for. Nix the suit but err on the side of business casual. Dark denim, blazers and a heel's for women and a closed toed shoe for men (no sneakers).
The tech scene can thank Steve Jobs for his informal approach to tech with jeans and a black turtleneck. It can also applaud Mark Zuckerberg for famously introducing the hoodie and flip-flops to tech company culture. We're sure Mark never thought he would be a fashion icon. Yet, his style has helped dictate what is appropriate for billion dollar businesses like Facebook. Yet, going into the actual interview, unless you are the founder of a billion dollar enterprise – stick with business casual and don't get too comfortable. Especially if you are only at the initial interviewing stage.
It's just clothes, does it really matter? Your attire tells the interviewer the type of environment you want to work in. If they see you dressed up very formally they'll make the assumption that you wouldn't want to actually work for their company. They don't see you as a natural fit. When they look at their sea of current employees and then at you – they want you to be able to be one of them. There is a difference from looking casual to looking like you rolled off the couch. Make sure you clothes are pressed and clean. Your hair, shoes, bag are all well-kept and organized. You might be wearing a button down short but if it's wrinkled, it'll only distract the interviewer from the words that are coming out of your mouth.
Still clueless, where should you turn? Look on LinkedIn and see if you can get a sense of style by current employee's photos. Scan Google for write-ups of the company or photos from events. If you are really unsure of what to wear, stalk the office. A few days before the interview, stand on the other side of the street from the entrance and see what people are wearing as they come in and out of the building. What you wear is a nonverbal expression of what you want to represent. . Statement pieces are encouraged but don't get too creative unless the position calls for it: Fashion, PR, Graphic, Art Director...Whatever you do, don't wear a shirt that makes a literal statement – no graphics.
What Suits You? Finding Attire That's the Right Fit For Your Industry
It takes about six seconds to make a first impression, and what you're wearing is a huge nonverbal and often subconscious way of ensuring the interviewer/client/coworker thinks you're a great fit. But before you reach for that bulky suit on the rack, think again.
These days, women can let go of the boxy power suits of the 1980s. Women wore these suits to blend into their environment, to subtly tell men that you were one of the guys and part of the team. Suits gave women power and confidence.
These days the modern suit is much different--it's all about fit. Stay away from blazers with shoulder pads and try on a style that cinches around your waist. What's paramount now is dressing for your industry. Every office, field and work environment is different.
If you're in finance or law, for instance, chances are you need to stick to a suit. However, stay on trend. While the pant suits you wore the 80s and 90s might still fit, that doesn't mean they are still the right fit and doing you any good at the office. In fact, they're most likely aging you. Take a look at what the senior women are wearing and take your cues from them. You can insert your style by adding a dash of color with your blouse or a statement necklace.
Corporate finance or law are also industries that tend to favor suits over other, more casual getups. Find one that complements your specific field. Remember, fit trumps quality. Visit a tailor to shorten a sleeve or (if they're a fit for your office) hem a skirt.
Before buying another shirt because it's on sale or accepting your older sister's hand-me-down blazer, think before you put it on. Does the fit, quality, and style truly compliment your professional brand? You'd never submit a report that was disorganized or create a PowerPoint that was all over the place. Extend this attention to detail to your work wardrobe.
The Perfect Interview Outfit For Every Job
A great way of expressing that you are the perfect person for the job is to dress the part. It takes about three seconds to make a first impression and what you’re wearing is a huge non-verbal and often subconscious way of ensuring the interviewer thinks you are a great fit. Speaking of fit, regardless of industry or what you wear fit is the key to looking your Most Unexceptional. Don’t hesitate to ask a tailor to help!
When you’re “artistic
In creative fields, you want to do just that, express your inspiration through your outfit. This can be one of the harder industries to dress for because the boundaries are much less defined. In this industry, you have more leeway to express yourself through your clothes, hair and nails via colors, prints, shapes and fabrics. The interesting thing about the creative industry is that whatever you’re wearing should ideally be inspiring you to be your Most Unexceptional in the interview. There is going to be less judgment on the other side of the desk, so make sure it’s something that you feel reflects you and helps your creativity to shine.
There is one caveat with this let-your-creativity-shine-through advice; make sure whatever you’ve decided to wear isn’t distracting to your interviewer. You risk sensory overload with an arm full of jangling bracelets, a mix of too many colors or the interviewer’s preoccupation with, ‘is that a bird in her hair’?
If you’re on Wall Street
In the financial sector what you are attempting to communicate via your outfit is utter confidence. You are responsible for one of the things that many people hold most dear: their money. There are much stricter rules for dress and in a lot of ways, this makes your outfit option must simpler. Very simple hair (pulled back off your face), a suit or a dress with a jacket. If you’re wearing a skirt or dress, in many firms the expectation is that you should be wearing pantyhose.
The good news is that the shape of suits and the style of professional looking shift dresses are very flattering. In this industry, you are choosing a more subdued color. Stay away from neon, loud pinks or Easter egg pastels. The goal is to not distract away from your intelligence and in fact to emphasize your ‘seriousness’. Shoes should also be simple and a professional bag (that is well organized and not filled with kid’s toys and fiber bar wrappers) is a key to conveying an, ‘You can trust me with your money’ message.
Dealing with Patients
One of the interesting things to consider when dressing for an interview in the ‘helping’ sector is that the focus is not on you, but on them – the patient (who in the interview is being played by the interviewer). In this industry, you want to wear an outfit that doesn’t overpower (by virtue of being under or overdressed) and ideally, makes others feel comfortable with your competence. This industry is uniform-dominant with the aim of not surprising people (for example when you walk into a hospital you expect to see scrubs).
When interviewing in this industry think simple. Hair styled in a bun or beyond your ears, ideally with your hair off your face. Wear a modest dress of pants and a button up shirt. Soft colors are preferable. Sometimes when thinking about what works for an interview in an industry it’s helpful to think in reverse: what wouldn’t work. And in this case, anything provocative, a towering, trendy heal, a ton of heavy make-up or perfume. Even if this wouldn’t be your usual selection of wardrobe for you day-to-day job in this industry, make sure it isn’t what you decide to wear for the interview.
Laying down the Law
The legal industry is much like the finance sector where competence is the key message that you are trying to communicate in the interview (as you would be with a client). But importantly, there is more room for conveying a sense of individual style.
Power is a big part of the legal industry and from my experience investing in a beautiful designer bag or a signature piece of jewelry is a good way of saying, I’m here to play…and win. More traditional suits, dresses, a mix and match of jackets and pants should be your staples. You can integrate some individual flair via your accessories – a beautiful scarf, trendy shoes or luxurious portfolio. This is also an industry where a blowout and a manicure can go a long way in the interview process.
Head of the Class
The focus in academia is your brain so this is an industry where the rules are much less strict. As a teacher, the key to your success is commanding attention and so much of that has to do with your posture and presence. The use of your hands and facial expressions to convey information are as important in the interview as your clothes in this industry.
One thing to consider is that the choice of your outfit is also going to depend upon the faculty you’re applying to teach or research within. Many instructors are expected to dress in a way that is consistent with what would be appropriate in the field they are teaching within so you can follow the information above. If you’re applying for a marketing teaching position you’re going to be more creatively dressed than if you were applying to teach law.
Fashion Forward
The fashion industry is a whole different beast. The outfit you choose is going to be as scrutinized as your resume so you better to be ready to impress. The rule to fashionable dressing is you want to as closely dress to the brand you are applying for. How close? The outfit you choose if you’re applying to Calvin Klein is…Calvin Klein. Discounts are provided to employees so they can afford to wear the brand they are working for exclusively – it’s that important. For the interview bag, borrow a friend's or rent one to get your hands the brands’ tote.
Public Relations
When you work in PR you are an extension of the brands you are representing. That means you really do need to dig in and get a feel for company culture and the companies business prior to selecting your interview outfit.
In PR a business is hiring you to “be them” when you are pitching and sometimes representing them in the media. This means you have to think about your outfit very carefully. In selecting your interview outfit you’ll want to show you’re on top of fashion trends so feel free to wear the color, fabric, design of the season. This is one industry where a dark wash jean with heels and a jacket may fit the bill. Just make sure to roll up your sleeves and wear accessories that dress this ensemble up!
If you’re not sure
LinkedIn profile pictures are the key to success and this question is infinitely easier to get a feel for. Before you go into an interview you should definitely be checking out their Company Pages and the interviewer’s profile.
Not only are you going to get a ton of valuable information about their career trajectory, their picture is a perfect representation of what they think is appropriate career attire and what they think works for them, is likely to work for you. How formal is their hair, their clothes, their posture…all of this will give you some important clues to how to dress for the interview. But at the end of the day and long story short when in doubt: wear a black shift dress.