10 Tips On What (and

What Not) to Wear At a

Job Interview
BY MARK WILKINSON

I once interviewed someone who decided to wear

a bright (and I mean bright) purple suit, red tie and
shoes.

He definitely caught my attention – but not

necessarily for the right reasons.

In fact, I found the entire ensemble pretty

distracting and it was quite obvious that he did
too.

Perhaps if the purple-suited candidate had been

really, really great I would have overlooked the
faux pas, but as it stands, I remember very little of
what he actually said.

Now, I’m not exactly a “fashion guru” but I do

know what impresses recruiters (and what
doesn’t).

Here are my top 10 tips on what to wear at a job

interview!

“10 Tips On What

(and What Not) to
Wear At a Job
Interview” #Jobs
#Careers
CLICK TO TWEET

1. Don’t be too ‘out there’

I know – you’re supposed to ‘stand out’ at an

interview.

But dressing outlandishly is probably not the best

way to do it, especially if you can’t back it up with
any real substance – often it just comes across
that you’re trying a little too hard to be different.

Instead, wow us with your intellect, passion and

interesting personality.

Wow interviewers
with your personality,
not with your fancy
dress! #interviews
CLICK TO TWEET

2. Don’t be too boring

This is where you have to strike a balance.

You don’t want to come across too weird and

wacky, but you also don’t want to look like you’ve
got no personality whatsoever.

You can jazz up any outfit with a splash of colour

to accessories or your tie or socks.

But again – don’t go too far (no purple suits).

For a visual guide on what to wear to an interview,

check this post out from Cultivated Culture.

A bright purple suit

will definitely make
an impression – not
necessarily a good
one #Interviews
CLICK TO TWEET

3. Make sure you are

comfortable

Interviews are nerve-racking enough; is it really a

good idea to add the strain of an ill-fitting and
restrictive outfit into the mix?

Rigid suits, overly tight pencil skirts and itchy

jumpers are all common sources of discomfort.

It’s guaranteed to show in your body language in

the form of fidgeting, stiffness and/or visible
frustration.

What’s your go-to

interview outfit?
#Jobs #Careers
CLICK TO TWEET

4. Especially your shoes

I know I’ve already talked about comfort, but

shoes really do deserve their own section.

Ladies; just don’t do it to yourself!

Your new 6 inch heels may look fabulous but

tottering about and falling over do not.

Basically, just don’t wear anything that you don’t

feel comfortable or able to walk in.

(At Coburg Banks you have to walk up three

flights of stairs to get to our boardroom…)

Flats are also absolutely fine.

Your new 6 inch

heels may look
fabulous but
tottering about and
falling over do not.
#Interviews
CLICK TO TWEET

5. Make sure everything

is neat and clean

Always make sure your outfit is ready a couple of

days before your interview – just in case. You
don’t want to wake up on the morning to find an
unwashed, crinkled up shirt and scuffed shoes.

Your outfit should be clean (obviously), ironed and

removed of all fluff and bobbly bits – NO HOLES.

Your shoes should be polished.

Make sure your outfit

is ironed, clean & rid
of all those little
bobbly bits!
#Interviews
CLICK TO TWEET

6. Don’t overdo the fragrance

Try not to overdo it on the aftershave and/or

perfume – there is (definitely) such a thing as too
much.

A couple of spritzes should do the trick – you

don’t want to suffocate interviewers in a small
room.

Are you wearing too

much
perfume/aftershave?
#Jobs #Interviews
CLICK TO TWEET

7. Be wary of jewellery and/or

tattoos

It is fine to wear some sort of accessory during an

interview – just don’t overdo it. (Do you really
need a ring on every finger?!)

You should also be aware that some employers

will be put off by visible tattoos and piercings (like
nose, lip and tongue).

It may not be right, but unfortunately it’s true.

(Click here to read more on the topic.)

Should tattoos really

be an issue to
employers?
CLICK TO TWEET

8. Get grooming

I’m not going to tell you how you should wear

your hair, how much gel to apply and whether you
should wear make-up or not.

Just make sure your overall appearance comes

across professional and tidy.

Your hair should definitely be neat and your nails

should NEVER be dirty!

“Appearance rules
the world.” Friedrich
Schiller
CLICK TO TWEET

9. Never, ever, ever…

…opt for jeans, trainers, a t-shirt or (goodness

forbid) any sort of tracksuit as something to wear
at a job interview.

(Or a clown suit, for that matter).

10. Play it safe, suit up

The safest outfit you can wear for an interview is a

suit.

Think about it; if you underdress, you might look

sloppy, indifferent or even lazy.

If you overdress, your interviewer will know that

it’s just a part of the normal, interview protocol – in
fact, that it’s etiquette.

You can always jazz things up with the tips we’ve

given above (nice accessories, a different colour,
patterns) – but sometimes it’s just best to keep it
simple.

We’re interested in your personality – let that

shine through.

(You’d be surprised how much clothing can impact

your attitude and career – click here to find out
why you should be suiting up more regularly).

Play it safe. Suit up.

#Interviews #Jobs
CLICK TO TWEET

First impressions do count…

There you have it! What to (and not to) wear at a

job interview.

Of course, the most important thing that you

should wear to an interview is that big, friendly
smile!

Recruiter Pro Tip

After their initial first impressions of what

you’re wearing and how presentable you
are, the next thing your interviewer will
probably notice is your body language.

That’s why things like good posture, a firm

handshake and a big smile are so
important.

If you’d like some tips on how to improve

your interview body language, click here.

Next, it’s time to start thinking about interview

questions and how to answer them.

Need more tips on interviewing, job-seeking and

your career in general? Click here to subscribe to
this blog today. We’ll send over a short email each
week with our latest post.

Good luck

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About Mark Wilkinson

Mark is one of the founders of Coburg Banks

and heads up the permanent recruitment
division of the business. Every day he helps
companies with their recruitment projects,
sourcing the very best individuals for their
vacancies. He understands recruitment
inside-out.

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