Dressing for Interviews
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118452)
Gainesville, Florida
January 25, 2016 4:42pm CST
In my position of authority at work, I hire hundreds of employees on an annual basis. Some positions are front-line or entry-level positions, some are mid-level, and some are at the management/executive level. Interestingly, one thing I find common among every interview process--regardless of position being applied for--are that people wear business suits/formal dress to the interview. It's a common thread among all applicants, regardless of age, skill, experience, etc.
I find this very interesting. Now don't get me wrong, there's absolutely nothing wrong with dressing nice for an interview; however, I tend to think that for many positions it is quite unnecessary to dress so formal, especially if the position you are applying for is one that doesn't have dress requirements or formal dress requirements for the job.
I understand that applicants want to make a good impression during an interview, so dressing to some level of professional appearance is a must during interviews, but to me that doesn't necessarily mean wearing a suit or a formal dress.
If you're interviewing for a position that requires you to dress like that on the job, then yes...dress formally. If you're applying for a lifeguard job at the local public swimming pool, then formal dress is a little overkill!
The professional business world is partly to blame for this, as we "demand" that interviewees dress professionally and in formal wear. Why do we do this? At the end of the day, I am more interested in a candidate's ability to do the job, not in their ability to dress nice.
In my line of work, we require almost all of our employees to wear clothing/uniforms with the company name/logo on it, so we provide all the necessary clothes/uniforms. And since that's the case with our company, why, then, do we still expect candidates to dress formally during the interview process?
What are your thoughts on this?
12 people like this
11 responses
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
15 Dec 17
@moffittjc I agree with you! In Fact the whole dressing up thing for an interview seems unnecessary to me. Personally, clothes don't mean a thing to me. Clothes don't show a person's morals, personality or work ethics when being in a job interview. Actually sometimes people can be downright fake with everything when trying to win a job. 
People KNOW you got to dress nice for an interview. So they do. Doesn't mean they are like that all the time. Clothes don't mean nothing. You could see a man walking down a street wearing flip flops and boardshorts and people would probably judge him thinking he doesn't do much with his life. Meanwhile he is the sweetest guy who has his own business that he did all on his own.
Then you see a dude who wears a suit carrying a briefcase who is just some egotistical knowitall jerk who isn't approachable and can't hold down a job.....geez where did that come from? lol
People KNOW you got to dress nice for an interview. So they do. Doesn't mean they are like that all the time. Clothes don't mean nothing. You could see a man walking down a street wearing flip flops and boardshorts and people would probably judge him thinking he doesn't do much with his life. Meanwhile he is the sweetest guy who has his own business that he did all on his own.
Then you see a dude who wears a suit carrying a briefcase who is just some egotistical knowitall jerk who isn't approachable and can't hold down a job.....geez where did that come from? lol2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Dec 17
@Daljinder Exactly! Plus....I FEEL that if you dress as yourself then you are showing who you are. Who walks around in suits and formal dress nowadays? 2017. Not 1950....though that would be awesome.
Have you seen those dudes who wear pants that are literally hanging off their butts? Like pull them up for goodness sakes!
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
16 Dec 17
@VivaLaDani13 *grimace* I HATE those type of pants. Again why wear it when you are gonna show half your underthings or your butt to the whole damn world?
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
16 Dec 17
@VivaLaDani13 LOL! I would have loved to attend interviews in jeans but nope! They want you to dress formally for an interview where you "might" get a job. Meaning having to spend hefty sum to first buy a crisp suit.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
26 Jan 16
In my different positions formal dress was what you wore to an interview to show you can dress nicely. What if you were put in the position to show clients around you would want someone who is dressed appropriately. It is respect for the interviewer and the job.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
29 Jan 16
@LoriAMoore I've heard that phrase, and the other one I hear a lot is, 'dress for the position you want to eventually want to get." Either way, it's good advice!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
That's why, anytime I have ever had to go for an interview, I called ahead of time and asked what the dress requirements were, or what their expectations for dress were, so that I could dress appropriately. I've had interviewers tell me that business casual was perfectly acceptable. In fact, that's how I dressed for the position I am currently in!
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
26 Jan 16
I was from the professional world. People should dress nice for a job interview to show that they respect you and want to put in effort. I agree that people do not need to wear a full blown suit to an interview. A nice pair of pants/slacks with a button down shirt will work for almost any position offered in Florida. I noticed that if you go to a professional office you need to be in your Sunday best, but if you are going into a factory/plant a nice clothes should be worn, not necessarily the suits but still pants or skirts.
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
26 Jan 16
@moffittjc I'm pretty sure people down there don't even own formal clothes. They go to church in button shirts and khaki shorts. LOL You sound like a good human resources employee.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
I think you explained it very well! I like your version of dressing up in Florida! lol There are many here who think tank tops and sandals is as dressed up as we should ever get. I can tell you, down in Key West (and the Keys in general) I don't think I have ever seen anyone dressed formal!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@mommaj Funny you mention dress attire for church, because during the summer months I do wear khaki shorts to church! I've even seen people in flip-flops before at church!
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51532)
• Philippines
26 Jan 16
How can you know if they are serious if they're not wearing formal attire? this would make them relax more and not take the interview seriously.
@Letranknight2015 (51532)
• Philippines
26 Jan 16
@moffittjc they can't help it. I know i've applied jobs in the past, just can't help it.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@Letranknight2015 I agree. Even I get nervous in interviews, and I'm upper management! That's why I do everything I can to put the person at ease when they come in for an interview. I'll offer them something to eat or drink, or try to say something funny to get them to laugh, or ask them how their day is going. Anything to help them take their mind off the fact that they are so nervous.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
I think the biggest problem I see in interviews is that people are too nervous. I do everything I can to make them relax. When they are nervous they don't give as good of answers to the interview questions. There are other ways to tell if they are serious about the interview or not.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48447)
• Canada
26 Jan 16
@moffittjc Not everyone can afford expensive attire but if one put's their best foot forward and presents well, then it is up to the way they handle themselves at the actual interview that should make or break the outcome of it.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@Juliaacv That's what I look for in a candidate! They may not have a $300 suit, but did they iron their shirt and press their pants? Did they take the time to put on their tie correctly? Do they come in with a firm handshake, make eye contact, speak politely and confidently? There are many other things that you can look for in a candidate other than what clothes they are wearing.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
I was taught that too. But my question is, why? Why do we have to dress in our Sunday best? What does me dressing formally have to do with my ability to do the job? What if I can't afford a $300 suit? Why should I be penalized?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
I agree. I think people should dress business casual, since probably 80-90% of professional positions dress that way normally. Unless you are required to wear a formal suit to work, you shouldn't be required to wear one to an interview. For me, I'm looking more for how their clothes look (tucked-in, not wrinkled, etc) than what they are actually wearing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@paigea We interviewed several people for a maintenance position last week, for a position that will be working in our parks mowing grass and trimming trees. One of the candidates came to the interview in what looked like a very expensive suit. I thought it was complete overkill. And interestingly enough, that candidate didn't even do well in the interview.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35702)
• Canada
26 Jan 16
@moffittjc My most recent interview was for substitute teaching. Teachers have to be ready to sit on the floor at circle time, supervise on the playground and get messy with paint. I didn't wear a business suit to the interview.
@1creekgirl (40529)
• United States
26 Jan 16
I think maybe it shows they're serious enough about wanting the job to put some effort into how they'll look. Of course, if they're applying for a job as a life guard, I hope they wouldn't show up in a swimsuit! 
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jan 16
Surprisingly, I've never had anyone show up to a lifeguard interview wearing their swimsuit! But on the flip side, I've had lifeguard applicants show up to the pool to do their swimming skills without bringing their bathing suits! Go figure!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
26 Jan 16
First impressions count. People make their determinations subconsciously in the first few seconds of seeing someone. It is, therefore, despite your thoughts on the subject, a good idea for people to dress in a traditional way for interviews.
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 16
While I agree, as an interviewee I wouldn't be game to dress casually in case the interviewer wasn't of the same opinion as you. I guess dressing formally shows respect for the company etc.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
I totally see your point. I would contact the company before my scheduled interviews and ask them how they expect me to dress. Sometimes they will tell you to dress business casual instead of formal. But I understand showing respect.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jan 16
@moffittjc I can see that 'formal' is a bit over the top for many positions.
1 person likes this
@paigea (35702)
• Canada
26 Jan 16
This subject is an endless discussion on the mystery shopper forum. Many assignments say one should be dressed in business casual. Some people think it is never business like to wear sandals or flip flops. Others (read Florida) think other wise.
Others think business casual makes no sense if you are trying to behave as a typical customer at casual places. It goes on and on.
And then we are often asked if the employees were dressed in business casual. Again there is an endless discussion on what that looks like. 
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
There is no right or wrong answer in my opinion, I just thought it would make interesting discussion. Should someone interviewing for a job of picking up litter on the side of the road have to wear a suit to an interview just the same as a candidate interviewing for the CEO position of the company? I just thought it was interesting that so many people feel dressing up in a suit is the only acceptable way to interview. I just think there could be varying degrees of acceptable dress styles, depending on the situation.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@paigea But regardless of how one dresses for the interview, I still think they need to look sharp!
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
25 Jan 16
Most people, for any position here, would dress smartly.
Certainly dressing informally is a bad idea.
I've interviewed my fair share of people and first impression counts.
I wouldn't care if they were interviewing for a litter picking job, if they've dressed smartly it shows they've made an effort.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
I think you may have hit the nail on the head! You are suggesting that they dress smart, which may not necessarily mean formal. Correct me if I'm wrong in interpreting your view.
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
26 Jan 16
@moffittjc by smart I mean, at a minimum, a button up shirt and smart trousers and shoes.
If someone came for any position dressed in a suit it would be absolutely fine.
If someone came for a "lower" position in a t shirt or similar it wouldn't be a good thing.
@moffittjc (118452)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@Mike197602 But if they came for a lower position dressed in a t-shirt, they wouldn't be dressed "smart" like you said! You can never go wrong in a suit, I just don't think it should be the standard attire for every single position one could interview for!
