Use your company and industry research to determine what attire is the most appropriate for the interview. You are still proving yourself, so be thoughtful and show you are taking the opportunity seriously. Reach out to your career coach with any questions regarding your professional attire. The following general guide applies to many fields and organizations, but it is appropriate for your attire to reflect your personality, culture, religion, and/or gender identity.
Business Formal
Business formal may be the standard dress code for many industries, but would be considered too formal for jobs or internships that are performed primarily outdoors:
- Suit with coordinated jacket and pant/ skirt
- White or light color and subtle-patterned dress shirt, blouse or top
- Closed-toed shoes with no more than 1-2 inch heels
Business Casual
May be too casual for an interview in some industries, but may be appropriate for some settings or interview activities (particularly for jobs that are performed outdoors):
- Sports jacket or cardigan with coordinated slacks or skirt
- White or light color and subtle-patterned dress shirt, blouse or top
- Closed-toed shoes with heels under 2 inches
Other elements to minimize distractions include:
- Minimal accessories
- Small to medium size bag
- Natural makeup
- Well-groomed appearance
Elements typically not appropriate for an interview include:
- Denim with holes or rips
- Athletic clothing
- Tight or revealing clothing
- Logos and provocative statements or images
- No strong colognes, perfumes, and body sprays
Resources:
Need free or low-cost professional or business casual attire? Check out:
- The UNL Career Closet: go.unl.edu/careercloset
- Lavender Closet: go.unl.edu/lavendercloset