How To Dress For A Job Interview: 5 Easy Tips

When you think of dressing for an interview, probably the first (and maybe only) visual that comes to mind is of a serious, business-suited figure in a dark suit and tie. But while most of us don’t have that much experience with job interviews—or even know what they really entail—the reality is that they don’t happen very often. Therefore, any little thing we can do to prepare ourselves is beneficial. One of the best ways to feel more relaxed in an interview situation is to dress comfortably. Dressing appropriately shows that you take interviewing seriously and are prepared for it. Even if you’re not always sure about what makes good job interview attire, there are some general rules that apply to most situations.

Dress for comfort

Interviewers are more likely to be impressed by you if you look like you are already in the job and will fit in perfectly—or at least don’t look like a total out-of-touch moron. If you’re wearing a suit and tie, but it’s not your usual style and you’ve been obsessing over what you’re wearing all day, you may end up looking like you’re trying too hard. If you’re wearing a pair of jeans and a smart t-shirt, but you look like you just woke up and you haven’t eaten or slept in a while, the interviewer is going to wonder what’s wrong with you. If you look like you’re dressed to impress, but you’re also comfortable in your own skin, you’re more likely to be noticed by the interviewer.

Be aware of your surroundings

It’s important to be aware of your surroundings, especially when meeting with potential future employers. Remember that this is not just a meeting with a friend or colleague, but also the person who has the power to hire you. You don’t want to be caught staring at the table or zoning out or doing anything that makes you seem like you’re not paying attention—instead, you should be listening to what they are saying, especially in terms of the job they are trying to fill. If you’re in a quiet coffee shop and you can hear the person who owns the place talking to a few customers, you don’t want to start daydreaming about what you’re going to have for lunch or start daydreaming about who that person is and what their life must be like. Be aware of your surroundings and don’t take any short cuts.

Be professional, but not overly formal

In an interview, you don’t want to come off as overly formal or overly casual. You don’t want to come off as “I know nothing about what I should be doing” or “I know exactly what I should be doing,” which is the worst thing you can do. If you over-apologize for not knowing a lot about certain things, you can come across as not knowing enough to be confident in your answers and as someone who doesn’t know what they should be doing. If you come across as super confident, you can come off as a know-it-all. What you want to avoid is the “I don’t know, but I know that” attitude.

Don’t forget to smell nice

There’s nothing more off-putting than meeting a potential future boss who smells like they haven’t showered in a few days. Your body language also plays a part in how you come across, so if you can make sure to smile and look confident, you can also make sure to make sure to smell nice, especially if you’re meeting them in a formal setting like an office or a conference room. If you’re interviewing for a job that requires a formal meeting or presentation, you can make sure to wear deodorant or make sure to wear a nice perfume or cologne. If you’re meeting someone in their office, you can make sure to leave the door open or make sure to leave your coat and other things on the rack.

Wear matching accessories to set yourself apart

If you’re wearing a suit and tie and then also wearing matching accessories, like a pocket square or watch that matches your suit, you are setting yourself apart and making a statement that you are taking the interview seriously. Even if you’re wearing a nice outfit and the interviewer is wearing a business casual outfit, you can make a statement by wearing matching accessories. You don’t want to go overboard with the matching accessories, though, because you don’t want to come off as overdressing. However, if your usual outfit might be considered business casual, you can make a small statement by wearing matching accessories.

Take a moment to compose yourself before the interview

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been sitting around all day stressing about the interview. It’s important to take a few moments before you walk into the interview to compose yourself and calm down. Make sure that you’ve eaten a healthy meal, you’ve gotten some rest, and you’re not rushing and you’re not stressed out. If you’ve been rushing around all day, you may end up looking like a mess when you walk into the interview, even if you look like you’ve been groomed and put together when you walk out of your house. You don’t want to walk into the interview looking like you’ve been rushing around all day.

Follow these tips, and you’ll feel more confident in your job interview attire.

If you follow these easy tips when dressing for an interview, you’ll feel more confident as you walk into an interview. And if you have a job interview, any level of confidence is important!