Dressing up for Interviews

I just started university again after a two week break, and during that time I've went to a few of my friends' graduations. So what happens next? I assume they jump into the nauseating grind of the job search, so here's a little advice to give yourself a little confidence boost when planning what to wear for your job interviews. There is nothing better then walking into an interview prepared and confident; I can't really help with you being prepared but here's some advice I use when getting ready for any interviews.

LOOK PROFESSIONAL!

Pretty obvious right? This being said, looking professional doesn't really help that much but doesn't hurt. However, dressing poorly can potentially make or break the interview. Most interviewers don't notice how we dress, except when it's distracting. The aim of the interview is to hire someone that can do the job and work in teams to do that job, and the way we dress is not an indication of your ability to do these things.

So, what does it mean to dress professionally? That really depends on the job you're applying for, most professional positions working behind the desk will require a suit, while some will only require a simple button up shirt and dress trousers or Chinos. The trick is not to overdress, getting information about the typical dress code in the office before hand helps out a lot. Jobs that require you to meet clients may be more impacted the way you choose to dress so think about the industry!

For suits, I recommend a conservative 2-button dark grey or dark blue suit, with either black or dark brown shoes, a simple striped tie, and a standard white collared shirt. The idea is to keep it conservative, keeping jewelry to a minimum (cuff links etc).


For jobs that do not require a suit, a simple white or blue collared shirt tucked into dress trousers or chinos and a pair of black or dark brown shoes. Go for a blazer if you want that sharper look, but not necessary. Minimal is best, wear what's comfortable.

The entire point is, what you're wearing is so standard that the interviewer can ignore what you are wearing and focus on your resume, personality and how you answer questions. Still, it can't hurt to walk into the interview with confidence and putting some effort into what you wear will definitely help.

Hope the advice helps!
Wei