How to Dress for Zoom Interview Success
First impressions are important!
Zoom interviews during the pandemic became the norm. If you have a video interview coming up, you need to plan for it. The clothes you wear don’t have to be formal but should be both professional and video-friendly. Research the company website and photo events to learn about the culture of the company you’re interviewing with to get an idea of what’s appropriate to wear.
So how do you dress for video-interview success?
Choose your shirt wisely. A classic button-down shirt or blouse is a good option. Avoid bright colors and busy prints. The safest choice is to wear white, light blue, light gray, or another light color, providing the color doesn’t disappear into your background—for example don’t wear white if a white wall is in the background.
Dress up head to toe: It can be tempting to not put too much focus on what you’re wearing off camera—for example, to wear sweats—but this is a mistake. Dress up head to toe to get into the right frame of mind and make the right impression.
Don’t over accesorize: Keep it simple when it comes to jewelry. Limit rings to one or two and choose smaller, classic earrings. A silk scarf is a nice option for a professional look. If you do wear a tie, make sure it isn’t too bold or distracting. A classic striped or solid tie will do the trick.
The right colors can help convey your confidence, professionalism, and ability to fit into an organization’s work environment.
- Blue: shows that you’re confident, trustworthy, and a team player.
- Black: implies leadership and sophistication.
- Gray: you’re logical, and analytical. Gray is a great color to wear as a suit or dress; it allows you to look powerful but is not quite as domineering as a black suit or dress.
- Brown/tan: Brown is a neutral color that evokes feelings of calm. It is a great solid, neutral color for an interview.
- White: makes people think you’re safe and organized. Crisp and clean, white is a great color for shirts and blouses. The color conveys truth and simplicity and adds a bit of brightness without being too overwhelming.
First impressions are important!
Planning your outfit for an interview can improve your chances of getting the job. For an engineering interview, in particular, it’s important to maintain a well-kept appearance to reassure your prospective employer that you’re professional and suited for a career at their company and in the engineering field.
But figuring out how to dress can be a challenge. In many cases, engineers aren’t going to work in traditional professional business attire environments. Formal suits just don’t tend to be the standard, so you don’t necessarily have to go that far for an interview.
Here are some tips to follow when deciding what to wear for an interview:
Research the company’s work environment – This will help with deciding whether to wear business casual or business professional at your interview. At times, you can learn quite a bit about a company’s dress code, even if you aren’t an employee. By looking at the company’s website and social media pages, you might be able to see pictures of employees’ attires.
Choose elevated casual: It’s a balance between traditional business attire and business casual, making it appropriate in all but the most formal environments. One of the universal examples of smart casual that works for both men and women is slacks or dress pants, a button-down shirt or collared shirt, and a coordinating blazer or sport coat. Pair that with dress shoes and a matching belt, and make sure any other accessories are somewhat subdued. When choosing your interview attire, opt for appropriate colors such as gray, black, tan and blue. Extend these colors to every item of your outfit. These colors help you look professional and keep you from wearing bright colors or wild patterns that can distract your interviewer and present a more casual look.
Keep it clean, simple and neat The night before your interview, determine whether or not your outfit needs ironing. Iron any items that appear wrinkled ahead of time.
Choose a simple and neat hairstyle. Men should also ensure neat and tidy facial hair. Keep your beard and mustache neatly trimmed, combed and styled. If you wear makeup, opt for a simple look. Ensure it’s low-key and natural overall.
Don’t over accessorize: Keep it simple when it comes to jewelry. Limit rings to one or two and choose smaller, classic earrings. A silk scarf is a nice option for a professional look. If you do wear a tie, make sure it isn’t too bold or distracting. A classic striped or solid tie will do the trick.
If you are in any doubt about the company’s culture, it is best to dress conservatively, with neutral, solid colors. For more information on how to pick the right colors for a zoom interview, read the following article.
Taking the time to think through your attire helps you ensure a clean, tidy and professional appearance that gives the impression that you’re prepared and put together. Keep in mind that your appearance essentially reflects you and your work ethic. Therefore, the more you prepare for your engineering interview, the greater chance you have at gaining employment in this industry
A final note
When it comes to video interviews, remember that the focus should be on your message, skillset, and why you’re the perfect fit for the job, not on what you’re wearing.