What to wear to an interview: dress for the workplace

What you wear to a job interview matters, though not in the way many people think. No single outfit works everywhere. The right clothes are the ones that suit that particular workplace, chosen with a bit more care than for an ordinary workday. The Swedish Public Employment Service puts it simply: pick clothes you feel comfortable in and that make a good impression. The rest is about finding out what that means where you are applying.

Start from the workplace dress code

The simplest advice is also the best: dress like the people who work there, one step up. If the staff wear T-shirts, you might choose a shirt, a polo or a nice knit sweater. If they wear shirts, add a blazer. If they wear suits, do the same.

The idea is to look like someone who already belongs there but has made a little extra effort for the day. It shows that you have done your homework on the workplace, and it keeps your clothes from drawing attention away from what you say.

If you are unsure, it is usually safer to aim a little above than below. You can overdo it in that direction too, though. The CFO of Vimeo has said that very formal clothes can become a distraction in an interview if they differ a lot from how the candidate normally is.

How to find out the dress code

You rarely need to guess. There are several places to look:

• The employer’s website. Photos of employees often tell you more than the text.
• Social media and LinkedIn. There you see how people look on a normal day, not only in press photos.
• The place itself. If you have been in the store, the office or the building, you already know a lot.
• The recruiter. It is perfectly fine to ask what people usually wear when you book the time.

Asking isn’t embarrassing. If anything, it shows that you care about fitting in.

How industries differ

Dress codes vary a lot between industries, and you notice it at the interview.

Formal industries such as banking, finance and law often expect a suit, preferably in neutral colors.

Offices, tech and many organizations usually sit at a neat everyday level: chinos or dark jeans with a shirt or a fine knit sweater.

Creative jobs such as design and marketing leave more room for personal style, for example a color or a piece of clothing that says something about you.

Hands-on jobs such as preschool, healthcare and industry are more about looking fresh and tidy than dressed up. Jeans and a nice sweater go a long way.

One rule for everyone

Search for interview clothes for women or for men and you often get completely different lists. The basis is the same for everyone, though: the workplace dress code sets the level, and within it you choose what you feel good in and can move comfortably in. Pants, a skirt, a dress or a suit all work, as long as the level matches the workplace.

Choose what makes you feel like yourself on a good day. If you go to an interview in clothes you have never worn before and that chafe, it shows in how you sit and talk. The same goes for shoes: if you can’t walk comfortably in them, pick another pair.

Practical tips for the day

A few things make a big difference whatever the industry:

• Fit before brand. Clothes that fit well look cared for, whatever they cost. Too tight or too big draws the eye.
• Clean and in good repair. Iron or steam what needs it, and check for stains the day before, not that morning.
• Little perfume, or none. You don’t know how sensitive the person you meet is, and meeting rooms are often small.
• Comfort. A waistband that digs in or shoes that pinch take attention away from the conversation.
• Lay out your clothes the night before. Then you avoid a rushed morning and can spend your energy on what you are going to say.

What to wear to a video interview

For a video interview, the same level applies as in person. Karlstad University, a Swedish employer, reminds candidates that clothes and background are part of the impression on screen too, and the European Youth Portal advises being well dressed from head to toe, since you might need to stand up.

Solid, matte colors work well, and bright white is best avoided since it can glare on camera. More on tech, light and eye contact is in our video interview tips.

Your clothes are a small part of the whole. What decides the outcome is what you say, so spend most of your time there. Read the job interview guide and prepare for the common interview questions and your strengths and weaknesses.