What Should I Wear In A Job Interview?

I know we have talked about this several times in our previous blogs, social media posts and emails. However, this topic continues to come up, and for good reason. Most of us are confused about how we should present ourselves at a job interview.

In a world that is ‘woke’ and supposably accepting, why is there still so much uncertainty about appearances and job interviews? It is because deep down, we know the world is not as accepting as we would like. Individuals are still judged by their names, race, religion, gender and even presentation during the job searching process.

I know this, because I have interviewed a number of hiring managers who have disclosed this information to me. One manager even stated that they look at the job applicants names first and delete any application they do not like based on nationality. Their resume is not even opened. However, this is a whole other topic and be sure we will be discussing that in the near future. So if you want to know more, then subscribe to our newsletter here.

Back to job interview presentation. What you need to know…

First things first…Company Image

Every business has an image. This image is presented via their logo, colours, ad campaigns, language they use and yes, even presentation at the workplace.

Whilst you may be a very relaxed individual when it comes to attire, the company you are interviewing with may have a more conservative approach. This is because they are marketing themselves to their ideal target audience and want to come across in a certain light.

So, this is not about conforming and not being true to thy self. It is about respecting the organisation and the connection it is trying to build with their clientele. If you do not agree, then perhaps this is not the workplace for you.

Otherwise, you put aside your “image” and adhere to the organisations. If you agree to represent and work for and with them, then yes, at a job interview you will dress conservatively to show you are a good cultural fit. This will include how you wear your hair, having natural makeup and removing any large facial piercings that may distract.

Ask…

The best and easiest thing to do is simply ask, “What is the dress code at this company?” The answer should guide you on the rest of your appearance. If you are told we dress corporate / professional. Then assume coloured hair, nose rings and even very visible tattoos may be a taboo there.

If you have a tattoo you cannot easily cover up, then disclose that right away and ask if it will be an issue. At the very least, they will have a heads up and not be overly surprised when they see you.

Most companies may simply ask you to cover the tattoo up as best you can while at work – tattoo makeup or a band-aid could do the trick.

If you feel strongly about changing your appearance and adhering to company clothing policies, the best advice we can give is to find a company culture that suits you and works with your style and level of comfort. Not much research is needed to find out what the company culture and dress code is like. Viewing the company website, LinkedIn profiles of current employees and even checking out company reviews will give you clearer direction of what to expect before you even apply.

And of course, there are industry specific cliches as well, where most people in Marketing, Tech, Fashion and Design are more casual, whilst those in Corporate Sales, Accounting, Engineering are more on the business formal side and then we have Legal, Finance and Banking where the attire is business professional.

And if you are really really unsure, then err on the side of caution and go business formal.

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What Should I Wear In A Job Interview?