Don’t Wear THIS to Your Job Interview | 20/11/2025 | Stephen Says

I’m a sales representative for a furniture company. I like my job, but I get calls from recruiters like you (and sometimes from companies directly) about other opportunities and if the brand interests me, I always feel like I should interview.

Mostly, they are lateral moves but with better brands, however lately I’ve even gotten a chance to interview for one or two leadership opportunities. I’m in my mid-30s, I call on architects and designers. I like to think I dress hip, but I consider myself an old soul. I wear sports jackets way more often than my colleagues. I also have some tattoos but nothing too visible.

I’m trying to get a handle on how to dress for an interview these days. I’ve noticed when I’ve interviewed with luxury Italian brands, most of the gentlemen wear ties and the women are very well-dressed as well. Yet, when I interview with companies like MillerKnoll or Steelcase, it seems no one even owns a tie. The common 'thread' is everyone dresses nicely, and no one is too big on brands showing. But I’m always conflicted and I never feel like I’m dressed right.

Since I’m in my thirties but tend to think a little old school, I still believe when dressing for an interview, I need to get more dressed up than my everyday business attire. But it seems there’s a downside to that - a recruiter shared with me that the company interviewing me recently thought I looked “too corporate.” What’s the protocol on how to dress for an interview today? Either on Teams or in person? What’s your advice?

Signed,
Fashion Dilemma

Dear FD,

The most important thing to remember when dressing for an interview is to do your homework on how the people in the role you’re interviewing for dress on a day-to-day basis.

Here’s how I tell people to do it: go on LinkedIn, to the company you're interviewing with, find someone in that exact role you’re interviewing for and find the manager that you would be reporting to. You can get a sense of who they are and what that person ‘looks like.’ Don’t judge by the profile picture (which generally always looks the same and by that, I mean “professional”), first connect with them and then scroll through their thread. Usually, you will see photos of them at trade shows, sales meetings, presentations, events -- that is how you can get an idea of how they dress at that company. Also, if you look on their Instagram or Facebook, you may also get a sample of how they dress for work. Check X too, all it takes is a little bit of internet sleuthing.

Alternatively, in some cases, if you’re dealing with an HR person first (or a recruiter) you can just ask them directly, “How should I dress?” Keep in mind, whether the interview is in person or on Teams, you should look the same. No matter how you dress in terms of clothing, here are some additional tips on how to accessorize:

• Men and women should both avoid excessive jewelry. It is distracting, especially rings.
• For in-person interviews, footwear matters. Men should wear socks – bare ankles with loafers are not charming. Avoid overly casual shoes (e.g., Sketchers).
• Tattoos are generally fine, but gratuitous face piercings may not be the best idea.
• Avoid too much cologne or perfume – interviewers need to breathe!
• Check hygiene: breath, hair, face, and overall neatness before the interview.
• Turn off your phone before entering the interview space.

Since there is no set dress code anymore, getting dressed for an interview is now more of a challenge than you would expect. There are so many types and versions of “professional dress” in today’s workplace, getting dressed for an interview now requires research into the culture of the company you’re interviewing with. Really, it could be just as simple as asking the HR person or the recruiter. Everyone gets it because every company has a different vibe, not to mention it shows respect and also that you’re serious about wanting the job. I always say traditional fashion rules exist for a reason, so err on the side of tradition because everyone can appreciate a classic dresser.

One last tip – if the interviewer tells you it’s casual Friday and they’re dressing down, that doesn’t apply to you. You don’t work there, yet. It’s still an interview for you!

Signed,
Stephen

Stephen Viscusi is the founder of www.viscusigroup.com, an executive search firm that specializes in the interior furnishings industry. Hires made through The Viscusi Group are guaranteed a one-year free replacement.

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