This week I was asked to present to a group on what to wear for an online interview, so it makes perfect sense for me to also document my thoughts here!
Let’s face it, interviews are generally a high pressure situation and a great example of how first impressions really can count. My previous career within HR, meant I conducted many hundreds, possibly thousands of interviews over the years so it’s a space I know well.
So what should you wear if you have an online interview on the horizon?
I’m going to start by saying wear exactly what you would wear as if you were attending the interview in person. This means the whole outfit from head to toe (nope, slippers are going to cut it!). Why? Well there’s the obvious benefit that your interviewers will see that you are taking the situation seriously - even though they probably aren't going to be able to see you from the waist down! But the less obvious impact is that of a psychological one for you. It’s the concept of enclothed cognition which is a term coined by Adam and Galinsky. They proved that clothing has an impact on “a persons mental process and the way they think, feel and function in areas such as attention and confidence”. Therefore, when you wear more formal clothes it generally helps you feel more authoritative and more powerful, so by dressing in full interview attire you are literally stepping into the feeling of enhanced ability.
Secondly, when choosing your clothes I would do a little research on the culture of the company and look to reflect that within your outfit. Your choice will vary depending on the company and or industry. Is it it a more traditional company and role, or a more creative one? For a traditional company culture I might favour neutrals and plain fabrics whereas a more creative culture would steer me towards colour and prints. A company like Apple veers towards the minimalist vibe so I might select a sleek, clutter free outfit whereas Aardman are hugely creative and I would feel able to be far more expressive with my choices. This is also a great opportunity for you to really determine whether you think you are a great fit for the company. If you feel you are going to have to dress is a way which is totally incongruous with your personality in order to ‘fit in’ you might want to question whether that role is actually right for you.
Having touched upon colours and neutrals above, it’s worth pointing out some very specific colour tips. Large amounts of white really plays havoc with the exposure, meaning when your laptop camera is trying to adjust the exposure on your face, you could end up glowing! If you want to wear white, choose cream or ecru instead as they work well.
Laptop cameras also have a hard time picking out textures, folds and seams on black fabrics so if you wear a black top it could end up looking like a black blob with your head just floating above it! Navy is a better option and from a colour psychology perspective is also softer and more approachable.
Red and orange are also problematic in large amounts as they can ‘bleed’ onto the screen and give off a reddish haze. If wearing red makes you feel powerful and passionate, try layering a jacket over the top or bringing in a pop of red with your accessories.
Green is an obvious no-no if you’re going to use the green screen option to use a digital backdrop! If you’re wearing green in front of green screen, your clothes will become invisible and you’ll end up as a floating head.
Lastly on colours, do not wear the same colour as your backdrop. Many people will have a wall behind them which will typically be magnolia so wear something that contrasts with that. If you choose a cream top and have a magnolia wall behind, again, you are not going to stand out.
In fact, you might want to consider your backdrop as an accessory to your outfit. It’s another way of communicating a little more about you as a whole person so if you are musical, perhaps have your guitar on show in the background?
Although a few choice props are good, try to avoid anything noisy, shiny or distracting. By this I mean jangly bracelets, huge earrings, very strong lip colours, very low necklines and so on. This is because they all create focal points and will detract from the message you’re trying to get across. We want your interviewer to focus on your words and therefore be convinced you have the right skills and capabilities for the role, not that enormous cocktail ring being waved around every time you move your hands!
As you’re likely to be nervous, sweating is a very real possibility, so to minimise this, choose natural fibres such as cotton, linen, silk or hemp. These will allow your body to breathe whereas synthetics such as polyester and nylon hold the heat in so are best avoided.
Lastly, practice makes perfect so have a dry run with a friend. Put your chosen outfit on, get online and ask your friend for constructive feedback on how you look on screen. You could even ask me as I offer a free 30 minute consultation and would be happy to help.
So good luck, and go for it!
