How to Dress for a Job Interview

Here at CF, we’re passionate about helping students succeed in their future careers. Previously, we talked about business dress code basics. Today, I want to go over what to wear to an interview for either a job or internship.

An old cliche applies to the interview process: you need to dress for success! It sounds stupid, but it’s true: what you wear to an interview is just as important as what’s on your resume. First impressions matter so it’s important that you look the part because it’s what recruiters are going to remember.

Here’s how a first impression works, according to a study from former UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian:

First impressions are formed in 7 seconds. 38% of a first impression is based on inflection and tone of voice (how you say things), 7% is based on what you actually say, and a whopping 55% of a first impression comes from NONVERBAL cues. In short, more than half of every first impression is based on how you look!

Your appearance makes or breaks you in the hiring manger’s mind. If they like what they see, you have a way better chance of getting the job. Even if you say all the right things, if your appearance offends the person doing the hiring, chances are you won’t be getting the job.

So how do you know what outfit will make a good impression and what ensemble will have the recruiter firing mind-bullets at you for a half hour while she pretends to listen to what you’re saying?

Table of Contents

Table of contents

1. Deciding What to Wear to a Job Interview
2. Job Interview Dress Code Basics
3. Sample Job Interview Outfit Ideas
4. Job Interview Hair & Makeup Tips

First, Be Prepared

The first step in figuring out what to wear to your interview is to do some research!