What to wear for an interview

[TheFoz]

I have an interview next week for a professional position. What do you think of either of these dresses? Or should I look for something else?

(They are both ankle length)

Skirt suit or trouser suit fit professional
Position. Always. You need a blazer at least x

Neither really say interview to me - I mostly see dark pants with a shirt or dress in more muted / classic colours (but I’m in financial services so you may be different)
best of luck tho!

What type of employer and role? If it is a formal role in business I wouldn’t wear a busy dress and a more neutral colour would be appropriate. However it depends on the role and industry.

IMO you need something plainer, not ankle length, more structured. Shorter dress, skirt or trousers, probably with a jacket. Though in my job people don't generally dress up too much for interviews these days- as long as they look tidy and clean, and aren't in casual wear, we don't really notice. But guess it depends on the profession you are in.

What industry is it?

I wouldn't wear leopard print to an interview and I don't exactly know why...but somehow would worry I'd look a bit unprofessional. That's quite silly though as I see colleagues in leopard print a lot and don't think anything of it.

The other one isn't as flattering imo but it is more interviewy as the neckline is higher and it isn't animal print.

If you have something more neutral in your wardrobe I'd go with that. I usually do navy or black 😴. Safe / boring but it's an interview so I wouldn't usually opt for safe/boring

WOULD usually opt...*

Definitely not the leopard print. The second dress is better, but not entirely suitable unless you have nothing else.

What sort of industry is it?

I'd also opt for something more neutral, dark tailored trousers and skirt, beige or stone or even white, cream or pale blue shirt depending on colour of trouser or skirt or plain neutral dress, jacket, not too much jewellery, shoes without too high a heel; but it does depend on the industry. If it was a post in an arty sort of industry then I'd dress totally differently. I gather from friends in London that a lot of women are currently wearing a lot of very neutral colours even when out for leisure.

The first will be fine with a jacket.

I love them both, but not for an interview. Trouser suit, or knee length dress, blazer and court shoes. I haven't had a face to face interview since precovid they have all been in teams. Good luck

I'd go for block colour wide leg trousers (M&S have great options), flat shoes & a patterned top or smarter shirt under a jersey blazer/jacket - soft, smart tailoring. It's what looks good on my figure (5ft 11, 12 top/14 lower) and I'm most comfortable in when I need to look professional. Good luck with the interview!

What’s your situation, @TheFoz - and what do you mean by ‘professional’?

If you’re in Law, Accountancy, Medicine I imagine you already know the culture of the workplace you’re interviewing for. Teaching might be more flexible - though the dresses you show might raise an eyebrow at a more traditional independent school interview.

On the whole, unless it’s a brand and t shirt culture, I’d suggest something plain and structured. Maybe a trouser suit if in person, or a smart shirt / blouse if on Zoom. Or a plain shirt dress for either.

(I wrote jeans and t shirt …)

As others have said, it depends on norms in your profession, but they don’t look like interview outfits to me. Normally I would wear a dark suit, but last time I wore a plain navy dress from Me and Em.

Look here is the thing with interviews; you need to convey to the company that you have researched the organisation and understand the culture. The very first way you do that is how you present yourself.

How are the other people dressed that work there, not everyday but on important client facing days? Find that out and put together the absolute best, smartest version of that.

What type of company and what job?

Neither of them. They're both too casual and unstructured. Trousers and shirt would be better. Or shorter, more structured dress with a jacket or even a cardy.

Sorry to get personal, but do you have a weak core? It looks like your posture is putting some strain on your body.

Sorry, but I echo what others have said. The animal print is a definite NO. The other is equally busy, the neckline isn't flattering and both are very distracting and busy to look at. Something more structured, professional and more muted in pattern is more suitable.

What is your body shape? I'm hourglass and a pencil skirt suits me with a structured jacket and V necked blouse. They can then be worn separately in future.

Without know the industry, its a bit tricky to advise, but I think you need a plan B.

People always say suits for interviews, it's so dated I've not seen anyone wear a suit for an interview in about 10 years unless the are going for law finance etc in which case you'd already know that's what you need to wear. I'm senior civil service and I'd say the second dress is fine paired with a jacket.

But @headcheffer the OP said for a professional position. Which naturally leads people to assume a traditional profession. Those dresses would be an odd choice in my former profession - where a plain dark suit or dress would still be the normal thing for an interview.

And suits nowadays are not the same as they were in the 80’s. Plenty of people wear them in all sorts of colours and shapes without any feeling of constraint.

Obviously if the OP meant a different, more relaxed workplace, then there will be different dress codes. But a loudly patterned maxi dress would still be an odd choice for a formal interview.

I never wear a suit but plain bottoms and plain top or atleast simple patterned one

I do not wear heels or make-up though

@WhatWillIWear I had an interview at a fairly traditional independent recently. Several staff were in dresses very similar to the first and the Head was in a blue checked shirt, red tie and off white trousers. It's a case of knowing your audience.

Yes, those are the sort of clothes I’m accustomed to seeing independent school staff wearing, @Cyclingmummy1. But I’d assume they each dressed slightly more formally for their interviews.

🤷‍♀️

It's been a long time since I taught in a private school but I agree. I'd expect more formal and less busy prints for an interview.

And not the leopard print, or ankle length.

Every school I have ever worked in teachers wore suits so it would be a minimum expectation for an interview

I haven't worn a matching business suit since I was a graduate and work at the intersection of media and tech, both industries not exactly known for formal attire, but I still think those dresses are wrong for an interview. I can wear jeans to work, but for an interview in my sector I would wear smart trousers and a blouse with non-trainer shoes.