Beyond the Suit: How to Dress for a Job Interview

The all-important job interview outfit. While sharp style alone won't ensure success, a slick, professional look can help to make a fantastic first impression and give you the confidence boost you need to stay cool, calm and collected. 

The classic, suave suit is an obvious choice for job interview attire, but in many modern workplaces, a full suit can be too much, even for the interview.  So, what should you wear instead?  From sharp shirts to the right footwear, this guide provides you with our best interview clothing tips for men so you can dress for success.

If you’re lucky, the company you’re interviewing with will provide you with a dress code for the interview in advance. It will usually be one of the following:

• Casual

• Smart Casual

• Business Casual

• Business Professional 

If your interviewer hasn’t provided a dress code, it can feel a little trickier. You can try to find the company’s dress code via their website and dress accordingly. However, if this isn’t provided either, we suggest scrolling through the company’s social media to see what the employees wear and err toward the smarter side of the styles seen.  

Our corporate dress code guide can explain these types of dress codes in further detail. As a brief overview, though, business professional is the dress code seen in law, government, and other formal workplaces. For a business formal interview, a full, matching suit is required.  

However, for other interviews, we’ve outlined some ideas below. 

Materials Made to Last

Creating a smart casual interview outfit is tricky. You’re attempting to strike a delicate balance between looking put-together and professional without seeming overdressed or as though you’re trying too hard. Luckily, we do have a smart casual style guide which can give you a helping hand. 

A shirt is always a strong choice, as it always looks smart whether it’s paired with tailoring or more casual elements, such as jeans. For a smart casual look, short-sleeved shirts which stop at the mid-bicep are perfectly acceptable for a summer interview, and laying a smart jumper over your collared shirt is a fantastic look in winter.

For your lower half, try a combination of chinos and loafers. Chinos are the perfect in-between to tailored suit trousers and jeans, while loafers sit perfectly between trainers and brogues in terms of formality.

You can wear jeans for an interview at a casual workplace or with a smart casual dress code, provided they are styled correctly. Choose dark-coloured, fitted jeans rather than baggier, relaxed fits, and pair them with smarter clothing items such as brogues and a button-up shirt. 

If your interview has a business casual dress code, create an outfit that’s one step down from the traditional business suit. 

Choose tailored trousers and brogues, and pair them with a smart shirt. Adding a blazer is often recommended. However, to avoid the impression of a full suit, choose trousers and a blazer that complement one another without exactly matching, such as two tones of the same colour or pairing black trousers with a deep blue blazer. 

Regardless of the dress code, all job interview outfits should follow the criteria below for the best first impression. 

Accessories for a Traditional Touch

A proper fit goes a long way when it comes to looking suave and professional. So, make sure you consult our size guide to check that your interview outfit is just right for you. 

Remember, the shoulder seam of your shirt or blazer should meet your sleeve exactly where your shoulder meets your arm, and your trouser legs should have a minute crease as they stop above your shoes.

Your clothes shouldn’t wrinkle or sag anywhere, but they should be comfortable to move freely in.

Accessories for a Traditional Touch

Taking care of your clothes demonstrates pride and attention to detail, two traits favoured by all employers. So, make sure your interview outfit is clean and ironed, and your shoes are polished and shiny.