Congratulations! You've been selected for a job interview. Terror! You have no idea what to wear. You're not alone.
As companies continue to hone, refine, and relax their dress codes, it becomes more and more difficult to determine the proper outfit for an interview. This holds especially true for women, because men can move from suits to khakis in the blink of an eye — but what about women?
While the rules for ladies are a bit more complicated than those for men, following a few basic guidelines can help you pluck perfection from your closet.
Research Proves It: Clothes Matter
We all know that your job chances should be based on your talent and expertise rather than the clothes on your back. Most companies even have formal rules about how candidates are selected, evaluated, and chosen. A few of those rules concern fashion sense.
But despite the hard and fast rules that should guide hiring decisions, most of us have hidden biases that dictate who we want to work with and whom we would rather avoid. Those opinions translate into split-second decisions about your suitability.
For example, the Association for Psychological Science says it takes a tenth of a second for someone to form an opinion about you — and that's based on your face alone. Once that opinion forms, it can be shifted, but it can take both time and effort to make that change.
Your clothes can help, as people tend to start an assessment by looking at your face and then trailing their eyes down your body.
On that quick scan, they could notice:
The neckline of your shirt
Wrinkles in your blouse or skirt
The height of your hem
Runs in your tights
Scuffs in your shoes
Within just a second or two, someone has learned a great deal about you, and researchers say that people make snap judgments about competency based on what they see.
In a study published in the Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, researchers showed people images of male bodies, with faces obscured, wearing either a tailored suit or an off-the-rack option. After five seconds, people were asked to evaluate the man's success, trustworthiness, salary, flexibility and confidence.
Tailoring made all the difference. The better the fit, the more successful and important the man seemed.
Researchers tried a similar study with women's bodies, and as they describe in an article in Psychology Today, the bodies differed only in skirt length and buttons fastened. The more conservative the dress, the more likely people viewed the woman as a manager, not a receptionist.
Research like this is fascinating, and it showcases just how quickly we form opinions based on tiny changes in clothing worn. If you thought you could blow off a decision about what to wear, this data should change your mind.
Do Your Fashion Homework
Reading studies of how people perceive clothing and competence is interesting, and even a little bit fun. But to really prepare for your job interview, you'll need to do your own research. Prepare to really dig in, as the answers may not be easy to find.
For example, National Public Radio published documents from Goldman Sachs about their new business-casual dress code. In it, officials said, "All of us know what is and is not appropriate for the workplace." Is that really true? Maybe not.
But research can help uncover clues. You can:
Contact the company's human resources department. The person scheduling your interview can be your fashion consultant. Only about 40% of companies have a formal dress code, says the Employers Council, but most HR pros have some inkling about what's considered good versus garish in the office. Ask for guidelines you can follow.
Stalk social media. Look for Facebook and Instagram channels run by the company's marketing department. What do employees wear in these photos? Look for snaps taken while people work and avoid those taken at company parties.
Work your connections. Do any alumni from your school work for the company you're targeting? Ask what this person wears to work each day.
First-person accounts are likely to give you the best information. But if you absolutely can't find anything about the company's culture and your interview coordinator is of no help, be as formal as you feel comfortable. It's safer to dress up than to opt for comfort.
Put Together Your Outfit
Once you know what people tend to wear each day in the company you hope to work for, it's time to dig into your closet and investigate your options.
In general, you should consider the following:
Dress up a level. If everyone wears casual clothes, you should be just a bit dressier. If they wear shorts, then you should wear a dress. If they wear dresses, then you should wear a jumpsuit. Note that you should never wear completely casual clothing in your interview. You should always wear business casual or better.
Seem polished. No rips, tears or smudges on your interview clothes.
Be comfortable. Nothing should pinch or poke, and you should be able to talk without shivering or sweating.
Project professionalism. You're not dressing for a first date. You're hoping to get a job. That means no high heels and no low-cut blouses.
Remain understated. Bold prints, neon colors, and other brassy choices can pull focus from your words and experience during the interview. You're not required to dress in black from head to toe, of course, but you should be a bit conservative.
If the company follows a strict dress code, here's what you might consider:
Standard business: suit, hose that matches your skin tone, low heels
Business casual: calf-length statement dress, closed-toe sandals
What you'll wear could also vary depending on the industry you hope to work in.
Here are some tips based on specific job roles you might interview for:
Nurse: choose business casual clothing over scrubs.
Mechanic: opt for a nice blouse and jeans, rather than coveralls.
Art Director: add a touch of flair with a scarf or a pin, but keep your overall look conservative and managerial.
Coder: go for business casual. Startups are notoriously casual, as many organizations want their employees to focus on their work and not their clothes. But again, dress up a level from their casual standards.
Engineer: leave your steel-toe boots at home. You might need them for worksite inspections, but you won't need them during this talk. Wear office-appropriate shoes and clean, pressed clothes.
Gardener: skip the grass-stained jeans and torn shirts. Aim for business casual clothing, but opt for sturdy shoes in case your interviewer wants to show you the grounds.
Receptionist: steer clear of low-cut clothing and high heels. Project professionalism with conservative clothing and low shoes.
Don't forget to pay attention to your accessories. Make sure your shoes are comfortable, polished and in good shape. Keep your jewelry to a minimum, or focus on adding just one statement piece that showcases your style and flair. Limit your rings to one per hand, and keep nail polish light and neutral.
I Wore The Wrong Thing. What Now?
Imagine that you've prepared for your interview with care, and you walk into the office feeling out of place. You've dressed to the nines and everyone else is casual, or you're far too casual for the situation at hand. What should you do?
Don't panic. Everyone makes mistakes, and if the company has no dress code, it's very hard for you to get it right the first time.
Consider the following, based on your scenario:
Too formal? Don't point it out. Most companies expect their job applicants to appear in their Sunday best. If the topic comes up naturally in conversation, you can point out how seriously you take the opportunity and that you wanted your clothing to convey that fact.
Too casual? Mention it if it seems appropriate. Highlight the research you did in advance, and tell your interviewers you can, and will, dress to meet their requirements in the future. Job interviews are like dances, and both sides tend to be nervous. Don't let one slip keep you from moving the conversation forward. Once you've addressed the issue, move forward naturally.
And if you didn't get the job of your dreams, don't worry. We have hundreds to choose from, close to your home. Search our database for jobs, and apply in minutes for the position that's right for you. Learn more here.
