By Stefanie Ju
Staff Writer
We’ve all felt that nervous, nagging feeling in the back of our head as we are preparing for an interview. Not only are there resumes and qualifications to worry about, but the issue of choosing an appropriate inter-view outfit has become increasingly difficult in the ever-evolving business world. Everyone has a common understanding of the importance of appearance for a first interview—your interviewer will make a preliminary assessment of you based solely on a first impression. However, because different industries and companies prefer very different styles of outfits, it is important to research the company you are meeting with, and dress accordingly. This mindset also applies to other events within the same industries. When choosing an outfit, you must consider the type of industry the company is in, and the type of event you are attending.
The type of industry you are interviewing or attending an event for should greatly influence the type of outfit you choose to wear. In general, being under-dressed sends out a signal to your potential employers that you did not take this meeting seriously; your style of dress may be noted as unprofessional, and the person you talk to will remember you as the “underdressed, sloppy candidate”. However, if you are overdressed, you may also send the wrong message to potential employers in certain industries. They may think that you are stuffy and lacking in creativity. With this judgment already made, it may be harder to let them know that you are truly creative and qualified for the job. Overall, it is best to dress appropriately so that you can do the talking, not your outfit.
Professional
In more traditional industries like investment banking, accounting, and consulting, potential employers expect a very conservative manner of dress. Companies are usually looking for uniformity and an employee’s ability to stick to schedules and plans, and this is reflected in strict dress codes. For events in this industry, it is very important to make sure your outfit is within this dress code, which usually entails a professional pant or skirt suits in neutral colors.
Women
Business Casual
For more casual settings in this industry, make sure to follow the same guidelines when it comes to hair, nails, makeup, and jewelry. However, a matching pant or skirt suit is no longer necessary. This does not mean that you may dress casually—remember the industry. A simple blouse and casual pants or skirts will do the trick. You can also deviate slightly from the solid black and blue colors from business professional meetings. Another option is dark khaki pants or a shirt with a dark purple trim.
Formal
For women in an interview or dinner situation, a skirt or pantsuit in any dark color is necessary. Remember to make sure that the pants fit properly (not too tight) and the skirt is around knee length, without any scandalous slits. A neutral blouse should also be worn under the jacket. Only deviate slightly from this to allow a little personality to show through; perhaps you would choose a brown suit instead of the typical blue or black. You can also add a limited amount of tasteful, conservative jewelry—such as a pearl necklace or set of diamond earrings. Moderate, closed toe shoes are also recommended—nothing too high or flashy. Classic black pumps are the most versa-tile. Also, make sure to keep hairstyles neat and professional. This means that hair should be a natural color (no colorful streaks!) and either worn down and sleek or up in a simple bun. Nails should also be neat—stick to neutral colors when getting a manicure.
Men
Business Casual
For men in a business professional situation, companies usually expect to see a suit and tie combination. It is best to stick with navy blue, black or grey. Men are also expected to wear a neutral long sleeve shirt underneath their suit jackets—white is the safest bet. Also, ties should not be too gaudy; usually a solid color or very basic pattern is best. Socks should be dark, and shoes should be professional—usually leather. Be sure to remember to wear a very limited amount of jewelry, or none at all. A watch is probably the largest piece of “jewelry” suggested. Also, it is important that haircuts are neat and aftershave is not too overpowering.
Formal
For men meeting in more professional settings in these industries, slacks and a dress shirt should suffice. Throw in a tie if you feel the need to really impress your potential employers, other-wise they are not wholly necessary. Slack colors are also not as limited as in other industries. Usually for marketing or PR offices, khakis and lighter, neutral-color slacks can also be worn even in more professional settings. Shirt colors are not as limited, either. For interviews, it is not recommended that you wear a very bright, outlandish color. However, a blue or forest green shirt paired with dark pants will still send the right message to potential employers. The same unwritten rules about haircuts, after-shave, and jewelry still apply to these industries’ interviews and events.
In more casual situations in this industry, it is still important for men to dress neatly. As previously mentioned for women, this usually means that you may deviate only slightly from a business professional outfit. The suit jacket may be unnecessary, but that does not mean you should not wear a shirt and tie combination with slacks. However, the color spectrum of appropriate clothing has broadened slightly. Instead of wearing a solid white shirt, perhaps you want to try a lighter blue. Instead of wearing solid colored ties, maybe you will wear one that is slightly more patterned. Keep in mind that if you do want to deviate from a white shirt, black slacks, and solid color tie, that your changes should be small. Do not think that just because it is a more casual environment, that means you should wear a bright pink shirt and tie that has UCLA written all over it in bubble print.
Other Industries
In industries like marketing, public relations, and advertising, what to wear is usually less clear. In these cases, the safest bet would be to casually clarify the company’s general dress policies when you are first contacted for an interview or about attendance at an event. Generally, these industries require and look for less traditional, ultra-conservative outfits. In these industries, creative drive and individual work are usually emphasized, so tweaking your outfit from a solid pant or skirt suit may be necessary. However, it is still important to stay professional and neat looking.
Women
For women in more professional settings (interviews, etc.), there is a larger selection of clothing than in more conservative industries. Neat slacks and skirts are still necessary—they should be of appropriate length (to the knee) and fit correctly (not too tight). However, instead of always sticking to black, it is also safe to wear khaki, darker blues and browns, and some patterned slacks. Dressy blouses and shirts are also very important, as long as they are also appropriate for work. Make sure they are not too frilly, patterned, or in any other way distracting. Do not display any cleavage whatsoever, and as a rule of thumb, stick to shirts that cover your shoulders as well. Tasteful and simple dresses can also be worn—make sure they are not too brightly colored or patterned. You still want the attention to be focused on what you are saying rather than on the bright pink flowers on your shirt. The same unwritten rules about hairstyles, makeup, and jewelry also apply in these industries. In terms of jewelry, you are not simply limited to pearls and diamonds. However, do keep your jewelry pieces very simple and classic, and outfit permitting.
Men
For men meeting in more professional settings in these industries, slacks and a dress shirt should suffice. Throw in a tie if you feel the need to really impress your potential employers, otherwise they are not wholly necessary. Slack colors are also not as limited as in other industries. Usually for marketing or PR offices, khakis and lighter, neutral-color slacks can also be worn even in more professional settings. Shirt colors are not as limited, either. For inter-views, it is not recommended that you wear a very bright, outlandish color. However, a blue or forest green shirt paired with dark pants will still send the right message to potential employers. The same unwritten rules about hair-cuts, aftershave, and jewelry still apply to these industries’ interviews and events.
Casual events in this industry vary greatly. Because marketing and public relations companies are overall already a little more casual in dress, it can be difficult to gauge how they would like you to dress when meeting for an informal lunch or event. Thus, it is important that you inquire about the type of setting you will be placed in and what is appropriate in terms of attire. Sometimes the person you are meeting with will want you to wear informal clothing—jeans and a top. Other times, they will want you to dress in business casual clothing.
No matter what company you are meeting with or what industry it falls in, it is always important to look neat and appropriately dressed. Hair, makeup, and jewelry should always be understated. Colors should be solid and not too bright, so as not to draw away attention from your qualifications. Lengths and fits of clothing should be appropriate. It is also important to inquire with the potential employers that you are meeting with as to what they expect you to wear, or what their general company dress code is. Sometimes, companies will vary from the norm, and you want to make sure you dress accordingly. This way, you can walk in to an event confident in yourself, and allow your qualifications and personality to shine through.
