What to Wear to a Job Interview

The safest universal rule for interview attire is to dress one level above what the company's employees wear day-to-day. If the company is casual (jeans and t-shirts), wear smart casual. If the company is business casual, wear business formal. If the company is business formal, wear formal.

This approach signals that you take the opportunity seriously without looking out of place. It's almost always better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed — being overdressed reads as respectful; being underdressed reads as indifferent.

Where to look for clues:
- Company website and social media (team photos, office images)
- LinkedIn profiles of employees, particularly in the team you're joining
- Glassdoor reviews often mention dress code
- If you have a contact at the company, it's entirely acceptable to ask: "What's the typical dress code for the office?"
- The recruiter — asking them what to expect is professional and practical

Finance, law, consulting, and banking: business formal is the baseline expectation. For interviews in these sectors, assume formal unless told otherwise. For men: dark suit, white or pale blue shirt, conservative tie. For women: tailored suit (trousers or skirt), formal blouse, or a conservative dress.

Corporate and professional services: business formal to business casual. Smart, tailored clothing — blazer, trousers or skirt, well-fitted shirt or blouse. Avoid overly casual pieces.

Marketing, PR, media, and creative agencies: smart casual is common, but creative industries often tolerate (or expect) more personal expression. Research the specific company — a boutique creative agency and a large media conglomerate have very different cultures.

Tech companies and startups: smart casual to casual, depending on the company. At early-stage startups, jeans and a smart top may be genuinely appropriate. For larger tech companies, err toward business casual for the interview. Tailored jeans with a blazer is a safe middle ground.

Healthcare and education: professional and conservative. For clinical or teaching environments: neat, professional attire that demonstrates you understand the setting.

Retail, hospitality, and trade roles: smart casual is usually appropriate. Clean, neat clothing that looks professional — you don't need a suit, but you should look polished.

Consider:
- Well-fitting, freshly ironed or steamed clothing — fit and condition matter as much as style
- Neutral colours for an interview setting (navy, grey, black, white, beige) — safe and professional
- Comfortable shoes you can walk in confidently — heels you can't walk in signal discomfort
- Minimal, understated accessories — a watch, simple jewellery; nothing distracting
- Well-groomed hair — whether styled formally or more casually, it should look intentional

Avoid:
- Strong perfume or cologne — some interviewers are sensitive; err on the side of none
- Clothing with visible logos, graphics, or slogans
- Anything revealing, overly casual, or wrinkled
- New shoes you haven't broken in — painful shoes affect your composure
- Overly bold patterns that distract from the conversation
- Excessive jewellery or accessories that make noise or draw attention

Video interviews have their own considerations. The camera sees you from roughly the chest up, which changes the calculus slightly.

Dress as you would for an in-person interview — at least from the waist up. It's tempting to wear professional attire on top and something casual below, but this creates risk if you need to stand up, and more practically, it affects your mental state — how you dress influences how you perform.

Background awareness: your attire competes with your background for visual attention. A cluttered background draws attention away from you; a clean, neutral background lets your attire do its job.

Colour on camera: bold, saturated colours often look more intense on screen than in person. Patterns can create a strobing effect (moiré) on some cameras. Solid colours in medium tones — navy, burgundy, forest green, charcoal — work well on video.

Lighting: poor lighting affects how your attire reads on camera. Ensure your face is lit from in front (window or ring light), not from behind.

When in doubt, the safe default for almost any professional interview is:

Business casual with one formal element. Tailored trousers or a smart skirt/dress, a well-fitted shirt or blouse, and either a blazer or a clean, structured jacket. Smart shoes. Minimal accessories.

This works for most industries and registers as professional without being stuffy. It's hard to get wrong.

A note on authenticity: if you're applying to a company where you know the culture skews very casual and you'd find it odd or uncomfortable to wear a suit, you don't have to. The goal is to look polished and intentional — not to perform a version of yourself that doesn't match the company you're joining. That said, "polished and intentional" is the minimum. Always aim above your current everyday default when interviewing.