Advertisement

What not to wear to a job interview in 2019: 13 career-killing clothes and styles

  • The days of absolutely having to wear a suit or dress to a job interview are over, but that doesn’t mean anything goes
  • Yoga pants, wrinkled shirts or ripped denim, for example, shouldn’t be in your interview wardrobe even for the most casual workplaces

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Jeans are common in casual offices, but ripped jeans are a definite no-no for job interviews. Photo: Alamy

Your interview outfit should be professional and well put together. It won’t necessarily be the most stylish outfit you’ll ever wear, but it should communicate confidence and a good work ethic.

Advertisement

The days of absolutely having to wear a suit or dress to a job interview are over, says Marc Cenedella, CEO of Ladders, a US-based careers site for six-figure jobs. Cenedella suggests reaching out to your recruiter, company contact or the HR team to get a sense for what people at the company typically wear to work.

“You can always be direct and ask, ‘Will I feel out of place in formal business attire?’” Cenedella says. “If they answer ‘not at all’, you know it’s expected.”

Regardless of the typical level of dress in the office, some decorum during the interview is still necessary. Yoga pants, wrinkled shirts or ripped denim shouldn’t be in your interview wardrobe even for the most casual workplaces.

Here are 13 things you definitely shouldn’t wear to a job interview:

Advertisement
Don’t think you can get away with unironed clothes. Photo: Shutterstock
Don’t think you can get away with unironed clothes. Photo: Shutterstock

1: Anything that’s wrinkled or wrinkle-prone

Advertisement