What To Wear To An Interview:
“Dress for the job you want” is an age old expression that’s been used time and time again when someone wants to give vague advice about what you should wear when you meet the manager of your (potential) future company. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean you should show up dressed head to toe like the boss that you’re meeting but it is fairly good advice. Whether you’re applying for the bowling alley or Wall Street, you should always want to present yourself to the world that you matter and that you’re dressing to succeed in life. I’ll get into a little more detail so you know exactly what you should/shouldn’t wear.
Now when it comes to an interview, you want to have a nice dress shirt, tie that matches, a pair of clean slacks and a pair of shoes that don’t have holes (dress shoes are preferred) as the bare minimum. Now a nice blazer would go a long way but isn’t always 100% necessary for an interview. Keep in mind you want to match but not wear the same color in different shades. A crisp white button up, a tie with a design that isn’t too flashy (stripes or polka dots are my favorites), a pair of dark blue/black slacks and a pair of oxfords is my go to but it’s personal preference for each interview. Remember to keep things fitted! Fitted shirt and fitted slacks look much cleaner than your dads old baggy shirt and a pair of pants you found at a thrift store. I’ll get into cheap options for clothing further into this blog post.
For those that don’t know too much about style or color combos let me give you some options that are my go-tos:
Light Blue/White shirt, dark blue slacks, dark blue patterned tie (nothing too flashy) and brown/tan shoes.
White shirt, black slacks, plain black tie and polished black oxfords.
White shirt, grey slacks, maroon patterned tie (once again not too flashy go with a polka dot or striped tie) and tan or black shoes.
All of these can go great with a blazer and if you wondering about a black button up, I personally hate black buttoned ups but if you feel confident in them you shoot your shot (go for it)!
Cheap Alternatives to going to the thrift store:
1) If you can fit into most sizes H&M is my go-to because everything is almost dirt cheap and they have every color and style imaginable. You can get an entire outfit from there for around $100 (even cheaper with sales) and they have dress shoes as well. Make sure you try everything on together to get a better idea of what you’ll look like for an interview and make sure everything fits professionally. That means no bellies sticking out, your slacks reach your feet and your arm sleeves aren’t too tight or too loose.
2) Another great go-to is FrankAndOak.com, one of my personal favorites for online shopping. They have everything you need head to toe and they have personal stylists that can help you pick exactly what size you need to make sure everything fits the first time you receive your package. Like I said make sure you stick to the basics on shirts and slacks so you can mix and match for multiple interviews without having to pay a fortune.
3) There’s also options like Gap or Old Navy. For all you millennials that think these brands are old and worn out, go back into one of these stores and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the quality of the products within the last year or so. Both of these companies have really stepped their game up from their old american flag t-shirts that everyone’s seen at their 4th of July barbecue.Pop your head in real quick and take a look around to see the chino pants, cleanly designed button ups, and get yourself some dress socks with cute little dogs on them as an ice breaker (works every time with me).
I hope this blog post helps and please message me with any advice, I’d love to be helpful for anyone that will take my advice serious.
Keeping it simple with your outfit while staying professional
Wear stylish dress socks, lets them know your serious while still having your own personality.
Wear a suit if you want to but it’s not always necessary.
Don’t wear baggy shirts, slacks, or blazers. Look clean cut.
Don’t go too crazy with your patterns, keep it simple and clean.
Don’t show up in a bow tie. Didn’t mention this in the article but seriously don’t attempt this style it’s not worth it.