What to Wear to a Job Interview

There's no universal answer to what you should wear to an interview, and that's the point. The right choice depends on the company, the role, and the culture, and getting it right takes about ten minutes of research, not a wardrobe overhaul. The general principle: dress one level above what you think the day-to-day is. If staff wear jeans and T-shirts, you wear smart-casual. If smart-casual is the norm, go business casual. It signals effort without looking like you've misjudged the room.

How to Research the Dress Code Before You Decide

Start with the company's own website. Team pages, About sections, and event photos often show staff in their usual working clothes. LinkedIn is equally useful: look at photos on the company page and browse the profiles of people who work there, especially in your target department. Glassdoor reviews frequently mention culture and office environment, and a quick search for the company name alongside "dress code" or "office culture" often turns something up. If you're still uncertain, ask the recruiter. It's a completely normal question and they'll appreciate that you're thinking ahead. Something like "I want to make sure I pitch it right on the day, what's the usual dress for the office?" is more than enough.

Smart Formal: When It's Still the Right Call

Law firms, investment banks, traditional consulting houses, and senior roles in regulated industries tend to expect formal dress. For men, that means a well-fitted suit and tie, in darker colours. Charcoal, navy, and dark grey read as serious without being severe. For women, a tailored suit, a smart dress with a blazer, or a coordinated separates set all work well. The key word in all of this is "fitted." An expensive suit that doesn't fit reads worse than a cheaper one that does. Don't wear something for the first time on the day of the interview, either. The last thing you need is to be pulling at a collar or breaking in new shoes while you're trying to concentrate.

Business Casual: What It Actually Means in Practice

Business casual is probably the most common level for office-based roles outside the sectors above, and it's also the most misunderstood. It doesn't mean smart-casual, and it definitely doesn't mean what the company wears on a Friday. Think blazer, smart trousers, and a clean shirt or blouse. Clean shoes that aren't trainers. Nothing creased, nothing with logos. The standard you're aiming for is "deliberate." Every item should look like you chose it on purpose, not like it was the first thing you found that was clean. You can be more conservative than the company culture and it won't hurt you. Turning up in a blazer when everyone else is in chinos costs you nothing.

Startups and Creative Agencies: A Different Kind of Trap

The temptation with creative or tech companies is to underdress on purpose, as a way of showing you get the culture. This usually backfires. Showing up in something that's too casual, too niche, or too try-hard reads as awkward rather than culturally fluent. A clean, well-fitted outfit in smart-casual territory works far better than an over-thought "casual" look that's clearly strategic. You're still going to an interview. The people interviewing you dressed for work this morning, and they're assessing you. A clean pair of dark trousers, a fitted top, and neat shoes covers almost every situation in this sector, formal or informal.

Video Interviews: Don't Take a Shortcut Here

A common mistake with video interviews is treating the dress code as optional below the waist, or relaxing the standard because you're at home. Dress the same as you would for an in-person meeting. It matters more than it seems, because how you're dressed affects how you hold yourself, how you project, and how you come across on screen. Smart clothes have a way of making you sit up straighter and speak more clearly. And if you need to stand up unexpectedly during the call, you won't be scrambling to stay in frame.

Practical Details That Make More Difference Than You'd Expect

Fit beats expense almost every time. A well-fitted high-street suit reads better than a designer one that's too large. Shoes should be clean and appropriate to the outfit, not an afterthought. Keep accessories minimal and unfussy, nothing that catches the eye or makes noise when you move. Check the whole outfit the evening before, in good light, with shoes on. Not the morning of. Morning nerves and a missing button are a bad combination. If you're genuinely unsure about the company's culture, the recruiter is your simplest resource. They field this question regularly and they'd much rather tell you now than have you show up uncomfortable.

What Not to Do

Don't wear something brand new to the interview. Stiff fabric, uncomfortable shoes, or a fit you haven't tested all create distractions you don't need on the day. Don't underdress as a deliberate signal that you're "not corporate." Interviewers read that as a lack of care, not a personality trait. And don't overdress for a creative or informal culture to the point that you look visibly uncomfortable in your own clothes. The goal is to look like yourself on a good day, dressed appropriately for the context. That's a lower bar than most people think.