You’ve been shortlisted, and an interview time has been set. But what should you wear? Something casual like jeans and a shirt, or super smart like a tailored suit? We’ve asked two New Zealand personal stylists for their best tips, plus included a few of our own in this handy guide on what to wear to an interview.

 

Help! What Should I Wear to an Interview?

First impressions are important, but even more so at a job interview. You’ve got past the first hurdle, which most likely was submitting your CV, maybe a telephone interview. Now it’s interview time and one of the factors the interviewers will take into consideration is your personal appearance. You want to appear professional, responsible and trustworthy. You want to show that you are taking this opportunity seriously and if successful, that your new employers can rely upon you to dress suitably at work.


The clothes you wear will depend on the type of job you are applying for and on the culture of the organisation. If you’re interviewing to be a software developer at a tech start-up, you will probably dress a little differently than if you are interviewing for a Finance Manager role at a large corporate.


If in doubt, often the easiest thing to do is to ask.   Call or email the HR Manager to find out what the appropriate dress code is.  Or you could check out the company’s social media pages to see how their employees dress.  This will help you to make sure you get it right and don’t either underdress or overdress.


Whatever you choose, don’t forget to ensure it is clean.  Check your outfit over beforehand for dirt and stains and make sure there are no loose threads or missing buttons.  Oh and remember to polish your shoes!


Top Tips from NZ Fashion Stylists on What to Wear to an Interview 


We talked with Auckland personal fashion stylists Caitlin Taylor from Chasing Cait and Emma John from Sisterhood of Style. We asked for their top tips on choosing clothing to wear to a job interview.


Personal Stylist Emma John from Sisterhood of Style recommends wearing a favourite piece of clothing that you feel comfortable in. “A great outfit for women at the moment would be a pair of wide legged (perhaps cropped) trousers and a silk shirt tucked in, matched with a pair of heels and a bright lipstick. Add your personal signature through accessories like earrings and belts.”


Caitlin Taylor from Chasing Cait said, “Choosing the right outfit is an important part of any job interview. You want to look professional, but that doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone. Do your research on the industry, if it’s more creative, turning up in a plain suit might not make the best impression, but if you're interviewing for a job at a bank, those bright pink heels might not be ideal.


The most important thing though, is to be comfortable and confident in what you are wearing. Once you get into that interview room, you need to focus on your interview, not fidgeting with the clothes you are wearing. Confidence is the key to looking your best every day, so it shouldn’t be any different for a job interview - if you look good, you feel good so own your style.”


If you’d like more advice on picking an interview outfit, don’t hesitate to contact either Caitlin or Emma! For help on preparing for your interview, give us a call here at Career Insights.