It’s an age-old question that doubtless all of us have asked ourselves: “What do I wear?” You can be asking the question of a dinner party, a date or even just a day at school or work. However, one of the most pressing ones is, “what do I wear to the interview?” I have gone on nearly ten interviews so far in my life and, to be honest, it never gets easier for me. Some people have a knack for fashion and know what is appropriate to wear for this and for that, their endless wardrobe full of clothes appropriate for any occasion. Others, however, rely heavily upon others’ advice and the advice of the web.
So, if you struggle with finding the appropriate attire for a traditional interview, how can you be expected to know how to dress for an online interview? However vexed you may be, the answer is quite simple. You should treat an online interview the same as if it were a traditional, in-person interview: dress to impress and be professional. Of course, what you wear depends on who you are interviewing with as well. Take a look at the following tips on how to dress for an online interview and remember, just because this is an online interview does not make it any less important or professional.
One Thing to Watch For
Perhaps the only thing you should be a bit weary of is how the colors you choose to wear look on your computer screen. All monitors are not the same, so if you choose to wear a vibrant or intense color, it may be unappealing to the interviewer. To avoid drawing a lot of attention to your attire, make sure to sit in front of your web cam before the interview so you can see how the colors look on screen. If they look odd or hurt your eyes, wear something else.
Corporate Jobs
If you are interviewing for a corporate position such as one with a bank or an insurance company, you will want to dress in professional business attire. Men, you should wear a suit and tie. Make sure the suit is dark and doesn’t draw too much attention. Ladies, you too can wear a suit for this kind of position and should pair it with a modest blouse underneath. Since you can’t see your bottom half, a suit jacket will suffice but be careful not to get up or reveal that you aren’t professional from the waist down. To avoid this all together, dress in professional attire from head to toe and you won’t have to worry about it at all. Plus, it may work towards reminding you that this interview is just as important as an in-person one and dressing in full business attire may easily help you slip into professional mode.
Assistant Position or Entry-level Positions
For these kinds of jobs, you should dress professionally, but you do not need to overdress. For example, men don’t need to wear a suit but can rather wear a nice button down or a dressy sweater. Keep it business and professional, but you don’t have to bust out the big guns for this one. Women can wear a dressy blouse or a nice button down shirt. Again, the pants don’t really matter since they won’t be in view but remember to be smart about what you choose to wear.
When it comes to make-up, ladies you should wear the minimal amount and consider pulling your hair back to exude a more professional demeanor. Perhaps the most important piece of advice you can take away from this article is that sitting down in front of your camera before you begin recording is necessary and important. That way, you aren’t met with any surprises once you are virtually face to face with your interview. Be prepared and good luck in the interview!
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