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  • Interview Attire
  • Interview Attire
  • Business Casual

Interview Attire

interviewing Attire
What to Wear...

It takes only a few seconds for someone to form a whole list of impressions you during a job interview. Make sure your physical appearance isn’t the one thing that has a recruiter thinking, “This person is not for us.”

We recommend students dress as professionally as possible for interviews. It’s better to be a bit overdressed than to be underdressed and to therefore come off as unprofessional. 

A few general rules regarding interview attire:

  • When in doubt, always go the conservative route. You want YOU to stand out, not the clothing, jewelry or makeup you wear.
  • Ensure you’re well-groomed before an interview. This means having clean and manicured nails, showering, wearing deodorant/anti-perspirant, brushing your teeth and neatly styling your hair.
  • Whether male or female, your jewelry should be understated and should complement your outfit. Men should stick to no more than a wedding band and a watch, while women should choose conservative jewelry.
  • Bring a briefcase, portfolio or simple tote bag to carry your work samples, a notepad, pens, research materials, etc.

Interview Attire Tips for Men and Women: 

  • Well-tailored, clean, pressed suit in conservative shades, such as navy blue, gray or brown.
  • Pressed white or light-colored, long-sleeved shirt underneath suit.
  • Shoes should be plain black or brown leather and should coordinate with outfit. 

Interview Attire Tips for Women 

  • Pants or skirt suits are acceptable. Skirt suits should be no longer or shorter than knee-length.
  • A sweater set with a knee-length skirt or dress pants is also acceptable.
  • Hosiery (neutral nylons or tights, depending on the season) is a must.
  • Shoes should be sensible pumps or low-heeled dress shoes.
  • Natural-looking makeup.
  • Hair should be out of your face. A neatly placed bun is a good way to ensure hair isn’t distracting.
Interview Attire for Women

Interview Attire Tips for Men 

  • A tie that coordinates with your suit and that avoids wild colors and patterns is necessary.
  • Dark socks should be worn and should be long enough to cover legs fully at all times.
Interview Attire for Men

You should avoid... 

  • Low-cut necklines
  • Mini-skirts
  • Loud prints and patterns
  • Open-toed shoes and spike heels
  • Dramatic makeup
  • Fragrance of any kind
  • Excessive or flashy jewelry
  • Baseball or any other kind of hat
  • Low-cut necklines
  • Sleeveless tops and sheer fabrics
  • Mini-skirts
  • Loud prints and patterns
  • Open-toed shoes
  • Dramatic makeup
  • Excessive or flashy jewelry
  • Gum, mints or other objects
  • Flaunting designer labels too much

Looking for help with business casual? It's not recommended for interviews, but you can find some information on it here.

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