Since you’re reading this post, you’ll surely agree with me that deciding exactly what to wear to a startup interview to look more professional can be pretty confusing. Making a great impression and achieving a successful interview depends on two factors, especially in a startup company.
The first one is how well you get to answer the interviewer’s questions. Apart from that, the way you dress and present yourself is another factor that influences your success in a startup interview. That said, here’s a burning question; how exactly can you dress professionally for a startup interview?
Make a quick check online to understand the company’s dress code. Interestingly, there are several approaches you can employ to get the job done, such as directing a quick email to the company’s HR or watching the office tour video on their official website.
What is the best way to dress professionally for an interview at a startup? What not to wear for a startup interview? What is a startup casual, and what exactly does it include? As you read through the rest of this post, you’ll find answers to these questions and more.
How To Dress Professionally For A Startup Interview
How to dress professionally for an interview can differ depending on a couple of things, such as your sex (men or women) and the office dress code of the company you’re looking to dress.
Irrespective of who you are, the general rule of dressing for an interview says you must put on anything that matches the company’s culture you’re looking to interview.
For instance, if you’re going for an interview at a repair, landscaping, plumbing, or construction startup company, dressing casually may be accepted. I’m saying that because the nature of their work requires the employees to dress casually on most working days.
The office dress code of startup companies in the following industries; sales, education, retail, tech, real estate, and small businesses, is usually startup casual. Since that’s the case, it’s safe to say that startup simple is one of the best ways to match your dressing with the company’s culture.
However, many startup companies out there only allow their staff to dress professionally or conservatively. Some of them include accounting firms, law firms, financial institutions, high-level governmental organizations, and corporations. To make an excellent first impression at any of these startup companies, you need to dress in a way that aligns with their culture.
With all that has been said so far, if you’re still confused about what to wear to your forthcoming interview, one way to find out is by sending a quick email to the startup’s HR department. Another practical approach to finding out what you need to wear to look professional for a startup interview is watching the company’s office video on the official website. That’s not all; you could also run a check on some of the company’s employees’ profiles to find out the office dress code.
What Are Women’s Business Professional Dress Codes For A Startup Interview?
As a woman, coming up with a dress code that matches the company’s culture you’re going for an interview for can be confusing. If you also feel this way, you might have to stop worrying too much about it. Fundamentally, as a woman, there are two different ways to dress up for a startup interview; professional business suit and professional business dress.
- Business “professional suit” for women
A professional business suit is the most common dress code that you can choose for yourself as a woman. Speaking of women’s suits, they are usually a combination of a blazer and a skirt or a pair of trousers.
When choosing the best blazer for a startup interview, ensure you only go for a neutral color, grey, and navy blue. In addition to that, you can choose a wool material or any other seasonless fabric. Also, make sure you choose a blazer with sleeves that end at your wrist.
Furthermore, if you’ll be wearing a skirt alongside the blazer, ensure you only choose one that is long enough to reach the top of your kneel. As for a pair of trousers, ensure you opt for the one that fits you perfectly (not too tight or too loose).
- Business “professional dress” for women
Apart from going on a blazer and skirt or a pair of trousers, you can always choose to wear a professional business dress for the startup interview. You could even pair your dress with a blazer. However, while taking this move, ensure to opt for a good color combination.
If you have a black dress at home, as long as it’s not too light or short, you can always wear it for your interview. If you’re worried about not being professional with just that, you can pair the dress with a jacket. That’s not all; as a lady, you also need to use a pair of shoes and a handbag to complete the dressing.
If you’re thinking of wearing a black skirt for the interview but worried whether or not it’s acceptable, you need not worry anymore. As long as it’s not too short, black dresses are always suitable for startup interviews. All you need is to match the skirt with a lighter top, a handbag, and an appropriate pair of shoes.
Furthermore, when it comes to picking a top or shirt for your black skirt or pants, ensure to stay away from anyone with flashy colors and logos.
As for shoes, the best you can do is to choose those that are closed toes. It’s also essential to stay away from high heels shoes. Instead, go for neutral-colored shoes that are about 3 inches high.
What Are Men’s Business Professional Dress Codes For A Startup Interview?
As a man, what you need to wear to look professional for your upcoming startup interview depends on the company’s dress culture. Suiting up is undoubtedly the best option for corporations, accounting firms, law firms, or financial institutions. It’s pretty simple; make sure you dress conservatively or professionally.
Just because suiting up is conservative doesn’t mean your dressing is proper. That’s so because it’s not all types of suits that are generally acceptable for interviews.
That said, the correct type of suit for a startup interview should not have a flashy color. Instead, the case could come in a navy-blue color or grey. Furthermore, depending on the season, you can always opt for a blue or light grey suit.
If you don’t have a grey or navy blue suit, a black case is also acceptable. However, it would help if you kept in mind that this color isn’t the best option, and you should only go for it if you don’t have the type of suit mentioned above.
Speaking of the fitting shirt, it should be plain and come in white or light blue. Furthermore, keep in mind that if it’s too flashy, it’s not appropriate for the startup interview.
That’s not all; you also need to blend your dress with the right tie. A good connection is anyone that has a solid and straightforward design. Also, stay away from using a tie with a flashy color. If what you have is a tie with stripes, you can also use it for the interview.
Of course, you know your dressing isn’t complete yet without the mention of shoes. Interestingly, men have many options when it comes to choosing a pair of shoes for startup interviews. You can always go for shoes with a burgundy or brown color. Of course, a couple of black shoes is also acceptable for the discussion.
What Not To Wear To A Startup Interview?
For startup interviews, there are a lot of things that are not appropriate for you to wear. You can check below to see a list of some of them:
- Avoid dressing casually
Dressing casually is one of the many things that you need to avoid by all means when going for a startup interview. This is especially true if the company that invited you for the interview is a corporate firm, law firm, accounting firm, government institution, or financial institution. It’s essential to stay away from casual dress, as it’s generally unacceptable in these organizations.
Have you ever heard of the term “startup casual”? If you haven’t before, the first thing you need to know is that it’s different from the casual dress code.
A startup casual is a work attire that is more of a business every day. For this type of dress code, your clothing doesn’t have to be flashy, and in addition to that, your dress must fit (not too tight or loose). Above all, a startup casual is the dress code used by startups in the sales, education, retail, tech, real estate industries.
The only exception to using a casual dress is if you’re going to be interviewed at startups in any of the industries mentioned above. However, if you’re not so sure about it, you can always stick to wearing a suit.
- Avoid wearing flip flops and Eskimo boots
As you already know, when it comes to dressing up for startup interviews, the type of shoes you need to wear matters a lot. It would help if you stayed away from some shoes, such as flip flops, Eskimo boots, Nike designer shoes, and sandals.
Don’t get it twisted; some sandals are generally accepted for interviews. For instance, you can always wear dress sandals or open-toed high heels. However, if you’re going to be going with heels, ensure it’s not too high. At least, the heels shouldn’t be higher than 3 inches.
New shoes have a way of making people feel uncomfortable. So, it’s advisable to stay away from using new shoes, especially if it makes your feet feel uncomfortable.
- Avoid headwear at all costs
Speaking of headwear, it’s first essential to understand that they come in different types. Headwears can be your beanies, earbuds, earphones, and hats. That said, ensure you avoid all these items when going for a startup interview.
However, if you’re using your headwear for religious or cultural beliefs, you may put it on. I’m sure the startup firm will reason with you in this case.
Tips On How To Dress And Look Professional For A Startup Interview
Before dressing up for a startup interview, there are a couple of things to consider to be sure you’re doing the right thing.
- Get familiar with the company’s office dress code
One of the things you need to do before you go for the startup interview is to find out about the company’s dress code. As earlier mentioned, the best way to dress for an interview is to wear anything that matches the company’s culture that will interview you. It now comes down to how you find out the dress code of the startups?
It’s pretty simple; one way to find out is by looking for the profiles of some of the company’s employees. All you need to do is check their pictures to see their dress codes. Furthermore, sending a quick email to the company’s recruiting department to ask for their dress code is also a practical approach.
- Wear what suits you
This is just a reminder of what I mentioned earlier; it’s essential to wear a dress that matches its culture. After determining the dress code, pick the right dress or attire and ensure that whatever you choose suits you well. By that, I mean the type of cloth you’re wearing much not be too short (for ladies), too flashy, too tight, or too loose.
Conclusion
Dressing professionally is the first step to looking professional. When you dress well, your confidence will show through, making a good impression on potential employers.
But what does dressing professionally mean? The answer to this question varies depending on the company and workplace culture, but typically it means wearing appropriate clothing for business. It’s essential to get creative with your outfit choices, so you don’t look like everyone else at your interview!
Quick Answers To Frequently Asked Questions
Is dress pants suitable for a job interview?
The type of outfit for a job interview should be appropriate to the company’s dress code. Plus, what you wear can also depend on the position you’re trying to get, so it’s always best to do some research beforehand.
Can dress shoes be part of my interview outfit?
Yes. It is customary to wear black dress shoes for an interview; it can be with or without socks, depending on what you are wearing on the rest of your body.
Can a shoe be a different color to the other at a casual interview?
Yes, the shoes can be of different colors. Generally, it is seen as best to match them if possible, though.
Can you wear a dress shirt as part of your interview attire?
Yes! Most of the time, interviews are conducted in a conservative or business-casual style of dress. So as long as you wear your interview attire to an interview, you should be fine.
Do chinos go with casual attire for a job interview?
Yes. Chinos are a casual yet conservative type of trouser, perfect for wearing to a job interview. They can be worn with a dress shirt and tie or even a more casual polo shirt without detracting from your appearance. And while khakis might be a little bit more stylish, they’re not nearly as versatile.
Does a pencil skirt go with business professional attire?
Yes! Pencil skirts are usually considered part of an office-appropriate look because they conflict less with the shape of your legs than other types of pants or skirts. Some people may find them too date-y, but pencil skirts are typically seen as professional. Remember to buy a higher quality skirt, since you’ll be wearing it for years at work (that is if you like it enough).
Should I wear a button down shirt as business formal?
A button-down shirt is best worn with a matching tie and cufflinks, preferably one that’s monochromatic or tonal. Some people prefer to wear just the button-down shirt without the tie, but this largely depends on what you plan to do after hours or who you’ll be seeing socially during your day. French cuffs are also worth considering for an urban business casual look.
Collared shirt at a business casual attire interview?
If the company is business casual, it should be alright. But if they are strict about what to wear during their interview process, you might have other problems come up! This is easily solved by doing a Google search for the company’s dress code to find out their preferences regarding interviews.
Can you wear a bow tie as part of your business suit?
You can. However, because it is a broader tie, the bow tie should only be worn with an outfit that has a wider collar and where there is ample room for both the hand and neck to fit below the knot. The width of the stitch in your suit’s lapel should also match or come close to matching your bowtie for this style to work well.
Does facial hair go good with business casual outfit?
A lot depends on the length and thickness of the whiskers. If they are short, designer stubble, it will add to an air of sophistication if left alone or trimmed in a shaped style to match one’s facial features. Longer thick whiskers may require some basic clean-up with a trimmer from time to time to interfere with any collar space that may be in use during a business casual affair.
Are a blouse and dress slacks considered as business attire?
That depends on what business you are in. For example, it’s considered less appropriate for someone in an office to wear a blouse and dress slacks since that would likely be personal attire not suited to the work setting.
Nail polish in darker colors in a navy suit good for a business casual interview?
The answer to what is considered appropriate business attire depends on what your job entails.
Is a casual outfit or a skirt suit better as a job interview attire?
A casual outfit is better for less formal job interviews. For example, if the interviewer says “come in business casual,” business casual would be best. If they don’t mention anything or an informal company or something like that, then a casual shirt and pants would be perfect.
Are black dress pants and a suit jacket good for an interview?
Pants and a jacket should work well for an interview, as long as they’re conservative enough to be appropriate. Black is a safe bet because it tends to go with everything from skirts and dresses to ties and other shoes. Keep in mind that different industries have different dress codes, so do some research ahead of time if necessary! Interviewers usually want you to be neat, tidy, and very professional-looking.
