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Should you wear a suit or sport coat to an interview?
1. Should you wear a suit or sport coat to an interview?
On One Hand: Look Like a Professional
A suit conveys professionalism, seriousness of purpose and respect for the organization and the
people doing the interviewing. A suit is the universally accepted and understood "uniform" of the job
seeker. You'll never be asked why you wore a suit to an interview, but you might be asked why you
didn't.
On the Other: Consider the Culture
A sport coat might be appropriate when interviewing at a business that not only maintains a casual
atmosphere but also has a company culture that stresses nonconformity and openly rejects
"corporate types." If you walk in to the business and see everyone wearing jeans and T-shirts, a sport
coat might be appropriate.
Bottom Line
Unless you have been specifically told otherwise, wear a suit. There is no penalty for dressing
professionally, but the risks of dressing too casual are high. Sure, a company might allow its
employees to come to work in shorts and flip-flops, but you're not an employee yet.
Source:
MSN Money: How to Dress for an Interview
CareerBuilder: How to Conquer the First Impression