What to wear to an interview

The other day I was at work and saw a guy come in to our store to inquire about possible openings with our company. This happens on a regular basis but what struck me as odd was his choice of outfit for approaching a manger of the store for which he wished to work. Normally dreadlocks, tattoos, and piercings don’t really bother me. (to each his own) The problem was with what he was wearing. Evidently when he woke up he decided on shorts and flip-flops. He chose to finish off the ensemble with a black t-shirt that simply read, “I hope they serve beer in Hell.” Now there are many problems with this outfit besides just the poor choice of t-shirt but instead of ripping this guy a new one I’ll take the high road and just explain what proper interview/job inquiring ensembles should look like. The clothing choices you make when deciding what to wear to an interview will greatly be determined by the job you are applying for. My general rule of thumb is to wear at least one level above what the job requires as a uniform or dress code. This means you need to observe what current employees normally wear. That’s right, you have to do a little research. If the company requires jeans and a polo as uniform/dress code then khakis paired with a button-up shirt is the bare minimum required by my rule. Personally I would still wear slacks and a tie but this still allows you to be taken seriously. If you really want the job then thats the general idea. Don’t just take this rule at face value though because theres no way a tux is required to interview for a job that requires a suit and tie everyday. When at the suit and tie level a basic match of the dress code of the company is just fine. If it happens to be a conservative firm then keep the shirt/tie combination simple and classy. If its a creative/young firm then feel free to wear some interesting color combinations between your shirt, tie, and pocket square. The best rule of thumb is, when in doubt, keep it simple and classy. Follow these simple rules when preparing for an interview and you’re sure to look well put-together and prepared for your new job.