Interviewing With Confidence: Clothing Edition

Written by Olivia Wendel (C’26); Edited by Ria Saraswat (W’25)

When you step into an interview, it's normal to have a few butterflies in your stomach. To have gotten to this point in your application process, you have undoubtedly put in the work curating a well organized resume, compelling cover letter, and perhaps even coffee chatted a potential future colleague.

The grueling process of building an impressive list of experiences and effectively communicating them has paid off, and now you have the chance to discuss the importance of this work, along with showing off a bit of your charming personality. However, in order to maximize the effectiveness of this face-to-face opportunity, confidence is critical.

If you feel in need of an injection of confidence into your interviewing persona, nothing has quite the same effect as a flattering outfit and set of accessories that you feel comfortable in. I speak from personal experience–the summer before my senior year, I had an interview with a professor I was unbelievably excited to work for. As I was sitting outside of her office waiting to be called in, I glanced down at my sleeve and discovered that the condiments in the sandwich I had made earlier that afternoon had quite noticeably made their mark. Yikes– remind me to never eat mustard again. With seconds to spare, I twisted my sleeve to move the stain out of direct view, which required my hand to continuously hold my sleeve. Moments later, I was called into her office, and while I was able to answer her questions and ultimately land the role I had applied for, I was a nervous wreck. My first day on the job, the professor mentioned her surprise at my seeming self-consciousness.

Of course, I have full faith that no one reading this article would make the same mistake (allowing the remnants of a previous meal to accompany them to an interview), dressing confidently goes far beyond my example.

Regardless of what you wear, it’s important to plan ahead. Picking out a few outfit choices the night before your early morning interview will help avoid panic the day of, allowing you to show up confident rather than frazzled in an unironed shirt.

With this in mind, it's critical to select clothes that are both stylish and comfortable. Your new workwear trousers might be fresh-off-the-runway level chic, but if they are too tight and/or difficult to sit in, you may end up focused more on trying to sit comfortably, rather than answering the interviewer’s questions confidently. A similar situation can arise when a new pencil skirt or dress poses a flashing risk that demands a substantial amount of brain power to prevent.

In planning your outfit, it’s important to accommodate the formality expected by the company in combination with allowing your personality to shine. Many Penn students will be applying to corporate roles, but it’s important to recognize that the business formal dress code doesn’t have to trap you into a drab black suit you feel suffocated in. If you’re big on patterns, a subtly patterned suit or blouse can elevate your look and feel more yourself. The same goes for more bold colors– though it’s important to avoid letting the color become so bold that it distracts from you and what you offer as a candidate.

Along with mixing up your suit style or incorporating a new button up color and pant cut into the equation, a favorite accessory can further boost your confidence. Many women enjoy having hair down during an interview, but if you find yourself obsessing over an out of place curl or constantly having to push a strand back out of your face, you might opt for a metal claw clip or pearled barrette. For scarf lovers, a patterned silk scarf can be a masterful final touch (bonus points if you have a blazer in a matching color).

Lastly, though many interviewers are choosing to opt for Zoom, some still prefer in person. In that case, select a relatively formal shoe, be it your favorite leather loafer or pump, with an emphasis on comfort. Do yourself a favor and avoid wearing new shoes you haven’t gotten a chance to break-in; nothing detracts from a confident aura more than the feeling of blisters developing with each step.