When it comes to your top half, blend business with casual. Smart trousers or chinos are generally good foundations for men.
A good rule of thumb is to try and balance elements of casual wear with more formal attire. This style of dress is more difficult to define than business formal as different people have different views on what it means in practice. Technology, education, marketing and hospitality are examples of the industries more commonly associated with business casual wear. If you don’t own something smart, simply go without.
Don’t accessorise with cheap jewellery, as it will harm your professional appearance. If not, opt for smart flats avoid open toes or slingbacks.Ĭomplete with a briefcase or smart business bag, and subtle jewellery such as a simple bracelet watch. If you’re comfortable in them, wear a tapered heel of no more than three inches. Keep the skirt below or just slightly above the knee and complement with nude tights. It’s generally acceptable for women to go without a jacket, particularly in warmer months, but it’s a good idea to carry it with you. Wear a skirt or trouser suit in dark tones with a light coloured buttoned blouse or shirt. Compliment the look with a nice watch but avoid any other jewellery. Colour match it to your suit or choose pastel tones to complement.įinish off with smart leather shoes (well polished), a leather belt and perhaps a briefcase. Keep your tie simple and avoid heavy patterns, bright colours or novelty ties. Greys and dark blues offer a much more approachable look. Stick to a tailored suit with the jacket buttoned up, a plain, light-coloured shirt and a tie. You’ll want a polished outfit that presents you as assertive, confident and professional. Industries such as finance, banking, legal, high-profile sales and HR all fall into the business formal category of interview attire. The following examples provide guidance on business formal, business casual and smart casual wear, the types of roles they are associated with, and interview dress tips for each scenario. What to Wear in Different Interview Scenariosĭifferent industries have different expectations when it comes to what to wear to an interview. When choosing what to wear to an interview, consider how your physical appearance can complement your skills and experience, and help to demonstrate that you are a good fit for both the role and the hiring organisation. Ultimately, the right level of self-confidence will go a long way towards a strong first impression. An outfit in which you feel both comfortable and professional can put you in a positive frame of mind and help to calm the nerves. Putting thought into what to wear to an interview can also bring a personal benefit by way of self-confidence. Turning up in full-blown business attire when the interview panel are all dressed down could give the impression that you’ve misjudged the company’s ethos and, subsequently, aren’t quite the right fit. A well thought-out interview outfit not only proves you understand the industry, but it can also show that you’ve done your research and identify with the hiring organisation's company culture. It shows you’ve looked into the company culture. For example, formal business wear would be the standard for a job in the finance sector, whereas a role in graphic design would generally come with a more casual look. Attending an interview in a carefully chosen outfit can show the employer that you have a good understanding of the professional norms associated with your chosen industry. From an employer’s perspective, a candidate that puts little effort into how they look may well have the same laid-back approach to their work. Regardless of whether you attend your interview in formal business wear or something more casual, a well-presented outfit shows that you are serious about the opportunity on offer, that you understand and respect professional standards, and that you take pride in your appearance. While judgement will be predominantly based on your interview performance, first impressions count for a lot – and how you present yourself can carry major weight.ĭressing appropriately for an interview is important because: The purpose of an interview is to provide a potential employer with the opportunity to assess your suitability for the role on offer. Why Is Dressing Correctly for an Interview Important?