The Interview can be a little intimidating. We’ve all been there. So busy anticipating the interview that we forget to plan an outfit. Then, hours before the interview we are scrambling in our closet trying to piece together an outfit that says “take me seriously”, “I know what I’m talking about” and “please hire me!”. We have ALL been there!
When it comes to Interview outfits, there are some do’s and don’t’s that I personally live by. Now days, fashion and dress can be so laid back, but I truly believe that there is such confidence and self-worth when you dress the part. I always live by the mantra of being OVER dressed than under.
Shop my Outfit:
I’m wearing a size 0 in the dress (normally a size small) so I would definitely size down! Shoes are TTS!
Interview Outfit DO’s
- You definitely want to find something comfortable but still put together. It truly depends on where you are interviewing, so for the point of this post, I’ll be focusing mainly on office/business. Obviously, interviewing for a dance teacher position is going to look different than interviewing for a CEO role..hah! However, 2019 is the year of being comfy and forcing others to be okay with that. What ever happened to dressing up for work? The Interview is the very first impression someone has of you. So, do you want to be portrayed as a slob who doesn’t really care or as someone who put effort into their outfit because they care and want this job?
- Appropriate length: This can be hard to find, too. A good rule of thumb is to find a dress or skirt that hits you right above the knee. That way, when you are sitting, the dress/skirt is not going super high up your leg and becoming a little more…revealing.
- Neckline: Go for something that brightens up your face and brings the attention to your face. What I mean by that is look for a neckline that is not low. HA! The neckline in the dress I am wearing is perfect because while it isn’t too low, it also isn’t a turtle neck, so it brings the attention up to my face.
- Shoes: A nice heel or closed toe flat is best. I would opt for a shoe that is comfortable to walk in, but still demands authority. While sandals are cute, they are definitely a lot more laid back than a closed toe heel. If you don’t feel comfortable walking in heels, I would wear a nice looking loafer or flat (closed toe!).
- Accessories: These are GOOD, just don’t over do it! Steer away from bold/statement pieces. A dainty necklace or earrings can help tie the outfit together, while still looking timeless and not distracting. Accessories are like the icing on the cake; they add the final touches.
- Hair: Make it look nice! Now is not the time to Texas Tease your hair up to heaven and add your favorite hair clip. I would do either soft, loose curls or a nice up-do. Something that makes you feel confident.
Interview Outfits DON’Ts
- Wearing something too casual. Of course, right? Steer clear of jeans, black jeans (yes…we all do this!), sweaters, plain crew neck t-shirts, or cardigans. While these items might be fine at the workplace itself, I wouldn’t recommend wearing these to your interview. Again, you want to put your best foot forward, so if your black jeans are your absolute BEST, that might make your boss wonder how lax your will get once you are actually hired. It also portrays that you didn’t really put much effort into it.
- Mini skirts. Even if your skirt passes the “finger-tip rule” (standing up straight, arms by your side, and fingers can touch the hem of skirt/dress), this doesn’t mean it is an appropriate length for interviews. Again, when you are sitting, it is natural for your skirt/dress to loose a few inches of length. Do you want to be worried the whole time about what you are revealing or focus on the interview questions?
- Low necklines or super high necklines. I know this sounds confusing, but when a neckline is too “high” it makes you look like you are hiding something and can be really frumpy.
- Sandals. I know these are popular, but they just don’t look amazing for interviews. Wedges, open-toe heels, gladiator sandals, anything super strappy, or “nice” flip flops are OUT.
- Bold/Distracting accessories. I know the bright pink necklace is really fun, but save that for the weekend with your gals! When interviewing, go for non-distracting pieces. If you want to add something “fun”, add a cute dangly earring.
- Hair: Messy pony tails, braids, or not even doing your hair. I know we live in a “let’s be natural” world, which I LOVE, however; for an interview, let’s put forth a little more effort. Spray some heat protectant spray if you’re worried about any damage..haha!
Interview Outfits I love:
These dresses are all super high quality and will last you years. Easy to dress up for an interview or dress more down for a normal day in the life. Pop on a fun blazer, a leather jacket, etc. to give yourself a whole new look. Also, these are my favorite heels and they come in so many colors!
