Pitch Perfect

What makes job interviews so stressful? 😵‍💫 I think it’s the fear of the unknown - we want to make a good impression, but often have no idea what to expect, and can only guess what will count when it comes to our evaluation.

On top of feeling nervous about potential questions, candidates often stress out about choosing a suitable outfit for the interview 🤔 There are no universal rules when it comes to this, but I wanted to talk about the general approach to “what’s right or wrong.”

A couple of days ago, I came across a comment under a post with career advice (in the second picture) that showed how different the “standards” can be in our imagination. The author seemed almost offended that someone giving career advice dared to show up in a hoodie. Is it really that big of a faux pas?

As usually, a lot here depends on the industry you’re seeking a job in. If you’re applying for a position at a law firm where your regular dress code would be a suit and tie, it would only make sense to dress accordingly for the interview as well. At the same time, if you suit up for an interview at an IT company, you might end up feeling awkward in the room with your potential manager wearing a hoodie 🤷🏻‍♀️

Here’s how I’d approach this when preparing for the meeting:

▪️Consider the industry in general - is it a suit-and-tie kind of crowd or a more relaxed one?

▪️Think about whether the job could have any dress code requirements on a daily basis. If so, aim for what the dress code would potentially be.

▪️If there aren’t any official requirements, research the company’s website and social media to get a feel of what its employees usually wear around the office.

▪️If you still have no idea what to expect, ask the recruiter. Remember, recruiters aren’t the only ones who get to ask questions 😜 There’s nothing wrong with doing your best to come well-prepared.

▪️Finally, wear something you’ll be physically comfortable in. It can get hot when stress kicks in, you might have to sit in the same chair for a couple of hours (and who knows how comfortable that chair will be 🥵) - opt for something you won’t have to worry about, so you can fully concentrate on the conversation.