Hi Warren!

Dressing for the interview used to be much easier. Everybody needed one solid, conservative interview suit or dress, and you were good to go. However, with the advent of “Casual Fridays”, Silicon Valley style tech companies, and a wider variety of company cultures, the decision is no longer quite so easy.

The simplest and safest approach is still that traditional, conservative one. After all, I’ve never heard a hiring manager say, “Well, he was a talented candidate, but dressed TOO nicely for me to hire him.” However, on a more subtle, psychological level, there may be a more effective strategy.

Being overdressed can send a signal to the interviewer that you don’t really understand the company or its culture. Remember that your goal is to get the interviewer to see you fitting into his or her team. If you are dressed in clothes that nobody would actually wear to work there, then the interviewer has to mentally “re-dress” you to picture you on the team. (And to be honest, I don’t want anybody mentally undressing me in an interview!)

In addition, you want to dress in a way that will make YOU feel comfortable and confident in their environment. A friend of mine, John, once wore an expensive suit to an interview at a game company, only to find that the producer interviewing him was wearing shorts, sandals, and a “Howard the Duck” t-shirt. John admitted to feeling particularly self-conscious and awkward when they went out to lunch together at a nearby restaurant, looking like a very mismatched pair. (Nonetheless, John did get the job.)

Your smartest strategy is to dress like the most competent, best-dressed member of the team, on the best day of the year. But how can you determine what that means? There are several options:

• If you have a friend or colleague working there, ask him or her.
• A day or two before the interview, drive by the office around quitting time. Park within discreet view of the exit and observe what employees there are wearing.
• When all else fails, ask for advice from the recruiter or HR representative scheduling your interview. They are usually eager to help a sincere job seeker.

One other important principle to keep in mind. No matter what you wear, make sure it does not draw attention to itself. Remember that you want to keep the focus on your talents, skills, experience, and potential contributions. Anything that makes them notice what you are wearing is an unnecessary distraction from your main focus - you.

So, do your research on your potential employer’s dress code, and go in dressed to impress AND to fit in. Good luck, Warren!

Job Coach Jeff