At Uni I Lived In Jeans And A Tee, What Do I Wear For An Interview In The Corporate World?

Posted On 17 Jun 2020

At Uni I Lived In Jeans And A Tee, What Do I Wear For An Interview In The Corporate World?

17 Jun 2020
At Uni I Lived In Jeans And A Tee, What Do I Wear For An Interview In The Corporate World?

Candidate Resource, EST10 Team, Interview Tips, News & Events

At Uni I Lived In Jeans And A Tee, What Do I Wear For An Interview In The Corporate World?

Our MD, Roxanne, was recently a virtual guest lecturer at the University of Wollongong for the students of the Public Relations and Marketing Cohort.  She discussed life after university and transitioning in to the workforce; while I watched and listened intently to the students questions, I thought it might be helpful to write a short blog about what to wear for an interview as a graduate!
Why it is important to put some thought in to how I am going to present at an interview?
You may have heard of the saying, ‘You never get a second chance to make a good first impression’, and this is true when meeting a potential employer.  Of course they are going to be much more interested in your experience and personality, and ensuring you are a good cultural fit for the company.  But, think about if they like two candidates and are not able to decide which one would be better in the role, they will start to breakdown the finer details.  Did one of the candidates have scuffed shoes or was their shirt not ironed?  It might seem trivial, but when you work in a company you are a representative of that company, so employers do take account of how you present, whether it is a casual tech start-up or a more formal legal firm.
So, what should I wear?
In the admin support arena, our specialty, a role usually fits in to one of two categories, business formal and business casual.  If you are applying through an agency, a good consultant will be able to guide you on which look is more appropriate, but if you are applying directly, you will need to do some research to identify which look is the most appropriate for the role, industry and company.  And if you are not sure, it always better to err on the side of caution – and take the more formal route.
Now what do I mean when I say ‘business formal’?  This look would be a suit or a skirt with a blazer, on the other hand, ‘business casual’, does not need a blazer or a tie, it may be a pair of dress pants, or a shirt (ironed of course) paired with a pencil skirt.
Do I need to buy something new?
No, this doesn’t mean you need to rush to the shops, you may already have the perfect pieces already in your wardrobe.  As a graduate, employers will take in to account you may be on a budget, so they will not expect you to have the latest fashion pieces, but they will expect you to look polished and put together.
If you are going to look at buying something, I think the most versatile piece you can have is a classic blazer, and this advice is for both men and woman!  Also, when you start to  build your work wardrobe, start with a simple colour palette and classic cuts, that way you will be able to intermix and it will give you more options!
What else do I need to think about when I am getting ready for my interview?
What else do I need to think about when I am getting ready for my interview?
This is the one time when it is okay to be a little vain!  I would suggest taking a good long look in the mirror, from head to toe.  Are your shoes polished?  Is your hair tidy?  Is your shirt ironed?  Don’t wear flashy jewellery, and keep make-up and nail polish natural, it is definitely not the best time to try out Lady Gaga’s latest look!
That first interview can be extremely daunting and not just for a recent graduate, so don’t think you are alone if you feel nervous.  The interviewer will appreciate the effort you put in to your presentation and it shows them that not only are you taking the process seriously, but that you have the ability to identify what is suitable for a given situation and prepare for it.
EST10 TIP – Try your outfit on a couple of days before the interview!  This allows you to make changes if any are needed and then you can relax the morning of the interview, rather than wondering what shoes to wear, or if your blue shirt still fits!
About the Author
JAMIE O’REILLY – EST10 Consultant