Congratulations! You just received the phone call saying the hiring manager would like to have an onsite interview with you. You immediately start thinking about questions you want to ask the hiring manager, preparing answers for questions they may ask you, and getting familiar with the company. Now it is time to consider one of the most important parts of the interview: your attire.
It’s been said a million times that first impressions can make or break the job interview, and this is becoming even more important with so many types of industries, company cultures, dress codes, etc. They may have even told you that it is better to be overdressed than underdressed, but this old adage may not be as sound as it once was. Since business casual has become increasing popular, some managers may not want to consider you for the position if you are too overdressed or underdressed. So what should you wear to the job interview?
With so many resources on the internet, you should take time to research the company’s culture, values, and dress code. If you notice that the workplace is still on the conservative side, you will want to wear the traditional suit and tie for males or a pant suit or skirt for females. On the other hand, if the company is on the informal side and they tend to wear jeans and a tee shirt to work there are several options. For males, it is recommended to wear khakis or nice pair of jeans (darker wash, no holes and not faded) and a nice button down or polo to an interview. Moreover, women can still lean towards a nice pair of jeans and top but it is also recommended to wear slacks and a nice top or casual dress.
With so many options, how do you know when it is appropriate to wear the jeans to the job interview? This should come down to the position that you applied to. If you are interviewing for a managerial role or business-facing position, such as a project manager or business analyst, it is recommended to wear khakis and a button down or polo for men or slacks and a nice top or casual dress for women. If you have an interview for a technical position and will not be business facing, it is appropriate to wear jeans and a nicer top or casual dress to the job interview.
If you are worried about looking too underdressed, wear a business casual outfit. Remember, you are going on a job interview and need to impress the hiring manager but also need to make sure that you look the part and look like a good culture fit. Dress to impress so you can get the job offer you want!