NISTA · GUIDES

What to Wear to a Job Interview

One rule covers most of it

Dress one notch above whatever people wear at that company day to day. Not five notches, not the same. One. A full suit at a seed-stage startup signals you don’t get the culture, and a hoodie at a law firm signals you’re not taking it seriously. Both miss for the same reason, just in opposite directions.

What that looks like by field

• Finance, law, consulting. A real suit, and for men, a tie. This one hasn’t changed. The only update is fit: skinny suiting reads dated now, so go for a cleaner, slightly relaxed cut.
• Tech. Business casual, and a blazer is optional. The trap is dressing like the employees do on a Tuesday. The interview is a step up from that, so a clean shirt and good trousers beat the company hoodie.
• Creative. Show taste. Fashion-forward business casual, current but not experimental. One considered piece against a calm base does more than a head-to-toe trend moment.
• Healthcare, education, government. Classic and conservative business casual. Safe is the right call here.

The quiet outfit-killers

Brand-new shoes you haven’t walked in. Strong fragrance. Jewelry that jangles. Anything wrinkled. None of these come up in the interview, and all of them register anyway. Lay the whole thing out the night before and actually try it on.