Practical Interview Dressing Tips for Guys

There are a lot of articles with dressing tips floating around on the internet, but this one tries to be practical and easily understandable. I have included some detailed pictures and once you read this guide the pictures can highlight all the tips in just one glance.

I have prepared this guide primarily on my own. I do not take a lot of dressing tips unless I am really confused about something. I believe that putting your own efforts and dedication to look good for interviews does show in your dressing.

So aside from reading lots of tips about what should look good in an interview, try to use your own mind as well, and think what would you want to wear which might make you stand out while meeting all the requirements of a formal and decent dress.

Here goes my #StyleGuide:

1. Be formal, and by being formal I mean that every clothing item should be formal. Even seemingly hidden and less important items like socks should be decent and formal. A bright and flashy belt can ruin the entire look of an expensive suit. So special attention should be paid to small items, and everything should have decent colors and patterns.
2. Wearing a full suit is the best thing you can wear in an interview. But being practical and considerate of our surroundings, wearing a coat/jacket in the scorching heat of July when you have to travel on public transportation can be a huge problem. So when it is unbearably hot and you think it would make you rather counter productive, then skip the coat.
3. Get a tailor made suit. I cannot stress in words the importance of a good fitting. Tailor made suits are not that much expensive in some countries but even if they are marginally expensive I would urge you to invest in a tailor made suit rather than buying 2 ill fitted suits. You can get a ready to wear suit if you have a very good physique but for the rest, I would strongly suggest a tailor made suit.
4. Choose a necktie based on your body size. Guys like me who have narrow waists and bodies do not look nice in normal sized neckties. A normal necktie can cover almost half of the body of a slim guy. A slim necktie is a huge improvement for narrow body types. And it also makes you standout from the crowd. So pick a necktie which would suit your body.
5. Do not put heavy items in your pockets which would make them droopy. Try to shift heavier items to your hand/shoulder bag. Ideally the shirt pocket should be empty and there should only be a phone in either of the front pockets of your pants and a wallet in the back pocket. Too many items in your pockets ruin the looks.
6. On the colors front, I suggest formal and decent colors. I do not have any other tip like most people suggest to wear dark color shoes/coats/pants etc. You can wear light colors and stand out from the rest but the colors should be decent. There is a difference between dim,light brown and bright,flashy brown. So pick decent colors.
7. Pay special attention to your body as well. Hair should not be too long, nails should be properly trimmed and filed, facial hair should be shaved in ideal conditions or trimmed, and a shower is a must on the day of the interview. Also do not forget to brush your teeth after eating and before leaving for the interview.
8. Do not wear anything if you are having second thoughts about it. A bright color, a piece of jewellery or anything which might not fall directly into formal dressing guidelines. You can always consult Google. But you can have a hunch yourself as well. So it is better to be safe rather than being sorry.
9. Everything should be neat and pressed. Collar should be buttoned up and tie should be comfortably tight. Sleeves should be properly buttoned and should not be rolled up in any situation. And most importantly the necktie should have a good knot and the length should be just near your belt. Too long or short tie lengths can look really awkward.
10. While girls apply light makeup, guys should also apply light moisturisers if needed. If you are having dryness on your face, especially after shaving or it is dry and cold outside, then apply a good moisturiser on your face and hands. Those dry patches on your face in winter can look really bad in person.

Picture Examples

You can see a few examples of a good dressing in the following pictures:

In this picture, you can have a decent idea about the style your suit should have. Things have changed a lot since the nineties, but I have seen some people who still have the same suits hanging around.

This picture details everything you should look for in a good suit and a good fitting. You can have these tips in mind specially if you are planning to buy a ready-made suit. All suits are not made for the same purpose, some are more useful for weddings, some are good for casual occasions and some are made specifically for interviews and corporate needs. So buy a suit which would suit your interview requirements well. Do not go for an exotic looking dress, it might look cool but it won’t work for an interview.

The “New Suit” also has a very decent and uncommon color. I always prefer to wear a decent but unique color to my interviews. Most of the people wear dark or black colors and while they look great. I prefer to have my clothing a few shades lighter.

This picture highlights the difference between types of fittings in suits. You can have an idea in the first glance what should your fitting look like. The standard fitting is the best and will be comfortable for you while looking properly fit. The suit should not be so slim and tight that there are creases forming all over it, and it also shouldn’t be so loose that you can easily see spare fabric hanging around in your pants and jacket. So get a good fit for your suit. It matters a lot.

I have included this picture specifically to highlight the need for a slim necktie (ignore the rolled up sleeves).

You can see how balanced the tie is looking on this tall and slim physique. Aside from the tie, the shirt, pants, and the belt are also perfect. I always have very similar fitting for my shirts. This shirt is not too fit but it definitely is not loose. This is a perfect fit for a slim guy.

You can also have an idea that you can look good without wearing a jacket. Specially in the summers, if you are planning to skip the jacket then this picture can serve as your guide. You need to pay extra attention to your dressing and it’s fitting in this case.