Dressing up for a video interview is no rocket science.
Are you familiar with the saying, first impression is the best impression? Guess what - it applies to a Zoom or Skype interview too!
The choice of shirt and trousers, whether they are pressed or not, are your sleeves rolled up or buttoned etc tell a lot about your personality, especially when the employer cannot feel your physical presence. While attending a video interview, the first thing that captures the attention of your potential employer is your appearance and home setup. How you dress and present yourself in your 20 to 30-minute Zoom call showcases your professionalism and work ethics as a future employee, even if you have to work from home in the longer run. You might possess great skills and have a top-notch resume. But if you don’t sell yourself appropriately, you are likely to fail in leaving a lasting impression.
The right choice of clothing and the background are important part of making a good impression.
Making personal connections during video interviews can be challenging. The one way you can make up for that is to dress appropriately, as you would for a face-to-face interview. Here’s why dressing well for a video interview matters.
WHAT TO WEAR? (MEN)
1. Long sleeved solid shirt which is pressed, sleeves rolled down and buttoned.
2. Trousers which match the shirt. It can be tempting to wear shorts or pyjamas because the employer only sees your top half on the Zoom call. But wearing a pair of trousers completes the look and gives you the feeling of a real face-to-face interview.
3. Neat hairstyle. Employers can understand if you haven’t had access to the hairdresser for a while. But try your best to look neat. Use hair wax or hair gel to comb your hair properly before the interview. Most importantly, avoid fiddling with your hair repeatedly during the interview.
4. Limited or no accessories. A watch should do.
5. Ensure that your nails are trimmed and facial hair is groomed - nothing more than a light stubble. Clean shave if possible.
Video interviews are much more flexible when compared to a face-to-face interview. Men can avoid blazers, tie, shoes, socks, a fresh perfume, a folder for your resume etc.
WHAT TO WEAR? (WOMEN)
1. A solid shirt
2. Matching skirt or trousers
3. Natural and minimum makeup
4. Minimal to no jewellery and accessories. Only watch
5. Hair should be tied back or styled neatly
6. Ensure that your nails are trimmed
7. Nail polish that are neutral would be appropriate
Video interviews are much more flexible when compared to a face-to-face interview. Men can avoid blazers, tie, shoes, socks, a fresh perfume, a folder for your resume etc.
Dressing up for the video interview can be tricky, especially when you are unsure what all you need to make the right impressions. Here’s a quick checklist you can tick off.
• Avoid wearing flashy colors. Pick neutral solids like black, white, blue etc which are easy on the eye and for the camera.
• Ensure that the clothes are neat, clean and pressed
• We cannot reiterate this more. Avoid the temptation to wear jeans, shorts or pyjamas to the interview
• Prepare in advance by keeping all your things ready a day before your interview, this will save a lot of time in the last moment.
• It is better to know about the company that you are interviewing with, this gives an idea about the appropriate dress code. If you were interviewing for a top-tier government job, you’d want to put on a little extra effort by donning a suit or blazer.
