Interview questions are stressful enough. Why worry about how to dress for an interview on top of that!? When it comes to dressing for an interview, I recommend creating a modifiable uniform that makes you feel confident! Personally, I have a fail-safe interview dress code that I’ve been using since I applied to medical school.
95% of the time, I wear a dress and blazer for interviews. Even more specifically, I have 3 white and black dresses that I wear in rotation. I mix and match my favorite blazers with those dresses to create multiple options of looks that don’t require a lot of thought. That way, I can spend most of my time prepping for the interview questions, instead of focusing on outfits!
Below is an example of how I make 3 very different looks, using the same dress!
STARTING WITH THE BASICS
As a lot of people probably do, I tend to sweat a lot during my interviews so I make sure to pick colors and fabrics that don’t show the sweat. Sweat stains are a sure way for me to lose confidence on an interview day. So a black blazer is a great cover up for any pit stains that would otherwise be visible.
A tan blazer is another safe option for an interview day. Additionally, the cropped fit and 3/4 sleeves of this blazer add a subtle pizazz to an otherwise conventional look.
ADD A POP OF COLOR TO SHOW YOUR PERSONALITY
For interview days when I know I’ll be less stressed, I use a colorful blazer to showcase my personality and love of fashion. I allocate the colorful blazer for less stressful scenarios because they’re not as good at hiding sweat stains as my black blazers. So these only get worn when I don’t think I’ll be sweating too much haha. I would, however, be aware of the norms of the institution at which you’re interviewing before whipping out your own periwinkle blazer. I have (successfully) worn this jacket in business meetings and interviews, but I usually tend to reserve it for slightly more causal employer encounters such as coffee chats.
USE STATEMENT JEWELRY TO KEEP THINGS INTERESTING
I almost always wear a statement necklace to interviews because they help boost my confidence. I often get compliments when I wear necklaces like these. The kind gesture of a compliment on an interview day can help to relieve tension. My jewelry has also sometimes served as a nice icebreaker and conversation starter on interview days.
WHETHER YOUR GO-TO UNIFORM IS A DRESS AND BLAZER, AS IT IS FOR ME, A PANTSUIT, OR SKIRT SUIT, CHOOSE SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE NOTHING CAN STOP YOU.
As I go into residency interview season, I’ll definitely rely on my interview uniform so that I don’t have to think about how to dress for an interview. That way, I can focus on sharing why Psychiatry is the right field for me, while I feeling like a confident MD to be.
What’s your interview dress code? And what are your thoughts on colorful blazers and statement jewelry for interviews? Let me know in the comment section below!
Peace and blessings,
Atasha Jordan, MD (to be)
Photo credit: Serena Shin
