Interview clothes for men aren’t complicated but do require some thought.
If you landed an interview for tomorrow, would you immediately know what to wear? And would you assume it has to be a suit? If your answer to my first question is yes, good for you, but I still suggest you keep reading. If your answer to my second question is also yes, I strongly suggest you keep reading.
It’s all about confidence
Looking your best for an interview is crucial to doing your best on an interview. How we look has a direct impact on our confidence, especially around others. It’s just common sense then, that how we feel about ourselves around others has a huge impact on how we perform in a job interview. That’s a long way of saying you should dress for success.
Interview Clothes for Men Don’t Have to Include a Suit
The first thing is to familiarize yourself with the organizational culture of your potential employer. It is important and there’s more than one way to do that.
Check how they represent themselves on social media, and by all means, take another look at their website. If employees are pictured, what are they wearing? Are they dressed traditionally and conservatively, as one might if employed by a law firm, or are they in jeans and T-shirts?
If they’re wearing suits and ties, you’d best wear a suit and tie, too.
If the attire is jeans and T-shirts, your best bet is to dress a notch or two more professionally than that. One rule of thumb is to dress just a bit more professionally than will be expected of you on the job.
Showing up for an interview at a construction site in a suit and tie will make you a fish out of water and possibly rub your interviewer the wrong way. But show up for that same interview in a pair of quality jeans, a button-down shirt (no tie), a dressy-casual jacket, and some good-looking work boots, and you’ll be on your way to a successful interview.
If the job calls for mostly office work and is a step up from the jeans and T-shirt look mentioned earlier, think about what you might wear on a typical workday and then step it up a notch. If the job calls for working with clients, wear what you might if you were meeting a potential client for the first time.
Personal grooming is a must!
And by all means, pay attention to your grooming. Make sure your nails are clean and trimmed, get a haircut if you need one, maybe even a mani-pedi if it helps you feel your best when you meet that potential employer.
If in doubt, dress up, because the old saying is true: You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Happy job hunting. We are here for you!
Need more executive job search advice?
Join Our Discussion
For more insights and a community of like-minded professionals join our LinkedIn group Resume Help and Advice for Professionals and Executives
