What to Wear: Job Interviews

These days, there’s more to dressing for an interview than you think, and it varies by industry and company. What you wear to an interview is crucial, despite the fact that we’d all like to think our resume speaks louder than our pencil skirt.

It’s during the first interaction that people size you up based on everything from your handshake to your shoes. Whoever’s hiring you needs to be able to visualize you in the position they’re trying to fill.

So, how do we know what’s appropriate and what’s not? It’s really about understanding the company culture.

Below are 4 different outfit ideas based on the type of field you are interviewing for.


 The creative job:

(writer, editor, photo editor, film, graphic designer, art director)

  • Choose basics in polished cuts.
  • Be comfortable. Trying your outfit on before the interview to know how your clothing reacts in different situations.
  • Shoes should be closed toed, pants should be black or dark denim, and accessories kept to a minimum.

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The client-based corporate job:

(law firm, real estate, public relations, sales, marketing, advertising or account executives)

  • Be well groomed. Don’t wear too much makeup and have your hair clean and simple.
  • Stick to polished classics like shift dresses, blazers, and walkable heels.
  • Invest in a nice blazer.
  • Keep colors conservative. Nothing too vibrant, bright or distracting.

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 The fashion job:

(Fashion editor, buyer, stylist, designer, merchandiser, assistant, sales)

  • Keep clothes simple and instead make accessories the focal point.
  • Have stylish shoes, a sharp bag and modern jewelry displaying your great taste.
  • Don’t try to be too fashion-forward.
  • You want to appear professional while communicating that you’ve got a grasp on what’s going on in fashion right now.

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The finance job:

(banking, consulting, hedge funds, accounting, insurance, research analyst, stock analyst)

  • Wear a dark, two-piece pants suit or skirt suit. Lighten them up with a white or softer colored blouse and conservative accessories.
  •  Impress with a slim-cut style with a basic, well-cut blouse and modern black pumps.
  • Don’t wear colorful or patterned pieces, they may distract.

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For more fashion inspiration follow my Style Board on Pinterest, and tweet your interview looks to @_mal21.

xo, Mal.

See more fashion posts by me at Wearable.

Photos via: The Spicy Stiletto | See Jane | The Classy Cubicle | Blame it on Fashion | Getty