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Original poster

Interview clothes ? (grad scheme)

5 replies

Hadroncollideer · 22/10/2026 08:39

Asking anyone who is a recruiter what do young women - ie early 20s - wear to interviews these days?

Asking as DD is hopefully going to have interviews coming up. Public sector.

I know things have got a lot more casual in the last 10-15 years but does this extend to interviews?

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Original poster
Hadroncollideer · 22/10/2026 09:57

Thanks, she does have smart trousers and shoes. And various blouses, no jacket.

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CharSiu · 22/10/2026 09:44

DS GF has just had interviews for jobs, she was successful fortunately. She popped in after one and was wearing really good quality black wide leg trousers and a white top with gilt buttons that were very detailed, it was also a thick material, she had bought new loafers. It was still summer so no need for a jacket or cardigan.

Her hit rate for converting applications to interviews was very good. It’s the amount of interview levels these days that’s the big change since I was young, four stage interviews. DS had the same for his graduate apprenticeship but I could understand that as it’s costly for companies.

Original poster
Hadroncollideer · 22/10/2026 09:28

Thanks yonem (that autocorrected to honey 😆)

That does sound good that you're trying to put ppl at ease. Appreciate its different online, am thinking that some will be in person.

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MiddleAgedDread · 22/10/2026 09:25

I think a suit would be overkill for that environment but I'd expect them to be fairly formally dressed - smart trousers/skirt and a blouse or smart top, or a dress, shoes not trainers, no midriff showing type of attire.

yonem · 22/10/2026 09:20

I’m not a recruiter but I do interview for our grad scheme. I’m pretty sure we tell grad scheme candidates they don’t need to wear a suit for interviews as a way to make the interviews less scary, anything office appropriate is fine. We also conduct our interviews online so worth bearing in mind most of the outfit isn’t visible in that case anyway. We have a fixed set of questions that we assess candidates against and what they are wearing doesn’t come into it 😊