The one rule: dress one step up
Find out what people wear in that office on a normal day. Then dress one step more formal.
- They wear T-shirts and jeans? Wear a shirt and neat pants.
- They wear shirts and neat pants? Add a blazer.
- They wear blazers? Wear a suit.
This shows that you care, and that you fit in.
How to find out what they wear
- Ask. Send the recruiter one line: "What is the dress code in your office?" This is a normal question.
- Look at photos. The company website and its social pages show what people really wear.
- Think about the job. A bank is more formal than a design studio.
- Still not sure? Go more formal. You can take a blazer off. You cannot add one you did not bring.
Our guide to office dress codes explains what each dress code means.
What to wear, by kind of office
| Kind of office | What to wear |
|---|---|
| Formal: banks, law, consulting | A dark suit, a plain shirt or blouse, and leather shoes. A tie if most people there wear one. |
| Most offices | A blazer, a shirt or blouse, neat pants or a knee-length skirt, and closed shoes. No tie needed. |
| Casual: startups, tech | Dark jeans with no rips, or chinos. A shirt or a plain knit top. Clean sneakers or loafers. |
| Creative: design, media, fashion | A neat, simple outfit, with one thing that shows your taste. A good jacket, a color, a nice bag. |
| On video | The same as in person. A plain color near your face. Check how it looks on camera first. |
Colors that work
- Safe: navy, gray, white, light blue, beige.
- A small touch of color is fine. A scarf, a tie, a top under a blazer.
- Skip: loud prints, very bright colors, and big logos.
Pick a color that looks good next to your face. Our guide on what colors suit you shows you how.
Fit and small things
These matter more than the price of your clothes.
- Fit. Nothing too tight, too loose or too short. Sit down in the outfit and check.
- Ironed. No wrinkles, no stains, no loose threads.
- Shoes. Clean, and easy to walk in. Do not wear new shoes that hurt.
- Hair and nails. Neat and clean.
- Perfume. Very little, or none.
- Bag. One simple bag that holds your papers.
Interviews in India
A plain shirt with neat pants is the usual choice. A plain kurta set or a simple saree is also fine in many offices. Banks and big consulting firms often expect a suit.
In the heat, pick cotton or a light wool mix. Carry your blazer and put it on when you reach the office. See our guide to office wear in India.
What not to wear
- Wrinkled or stained clothes.
- Flip-flops, gym clothes or shorts.
- Clothes you keep pulling at.
- Strong perfume.
- Noisy or very large jewelry.
The night before
- Try on the full outfit, with the shoes.
- Check for stains, loose buttons and loose threads.
- Iron it and hang it up.
- Clean your shoes.
- Pack your bag: copies of your CV, a pen and water.
- Check the weather. Take an umbrella or a coat if you need one.
Then stop thinking about clothes. You are ready.
Let an app help you choose
Ukti is our app. You take photos of your clothes. Open your closet in the app and pick the occasion. "Big meeting" is one of the choices. You can also type it in your own words, like "job interview at a bank".
Ukti builds three outfits from your own clothes and scores how well each one suits you. You can see a picture of you wearing the outfit before the day.
