What to Wear | UNH Career and Professional Success

First Impressions

Your appearance is important because it is the interviewer’s first impression of you.

Be professional, neat, clean, and well-groomed
Being overdressed is better than being underdressed
Clothes should be clean and wrinkle-free
Test-drive your outfit to ensure you are comfortable walking, sitting, standing
Research the industry and company as some companies are more conservative

What to Wear: for Women

Suit

Item	Advice	Example
Style	Suit separates can either come with pants, skirt or a dress Stick to matching pieces of consistent material and style	"Guide to Basic Women's Suiting" "How Should an Interview Suit Fit"
Color/Pattern	Solid dark colors such as gray, navy or black are the best options for an interview Plaid, pinstripe or patterned suits are not interview appropriate
Fit	Custom tailored suits are ideal, but in some cases hard to obtain last minute The back should lay flat and not pull or bunch Shoulder pad lines up with edge of shoulders Sleeves are not too tight or to loose The buttons on the front should comfortably button and not pull or tuft Cuffs should rest less than half an inch above the wrist	"Fit Tips for Women's Business Wear"

Tops

Item	Advice	Example
Style	Collared shirt either long or short sleeved Dressy blouse in a comfortable material Always have a conservative neckline	"10 Things to Know About: Wearing Button-Down Shirts" "What to Wear Beaneath a Suit Jacket"
How to Wear	Tuck shirt or blouse into skirt or pants

Bottoms

Item	Advice	Example
Skirt/Dress	Length should conservative at an inch or two above the knee, but nothing more Should be fitted but comfortable to sit and walk in Be aware of the slit and make sure it does not pull open Always wear pantyhose	"How Should an Interview Suit Fit?" "Fit Tips for Women's Business Wear"
Pants	The bottom hem should be rest on top of the shoe without being too high or sweeping the floor Pants should be fitted but comfortable to sit and walk in Not too wide or skinny	"Fit Tips for Women's Business Wear"

Shoes

Item	Advice	Example
Style	Pumps or flats are good choices Platforms, sandals or strappy heels are not appropriate	"What Type of Shoes to Wear on a Job Interview"
Color	Should be in a dark color coordinating with you suit/outfit
Heel Height	Must be comfortable to walk in Should be under 2 inches

Accessories

Item	Advice	Example
Jewelry	Simple jewelry and a watch are acceptable No long or distracting jewelry
Portfolio	A portfolio (leather or otherwise) is a must Bring extra copies of your resume in this portfolio	"What Should I Take to My Job Interview"

Grooming

Item	Advice	Example
Hair	Neatly styled hair out of your face Wet hair is never acceptable Sunglasses should not be worn as a headband	"Is Your Hair Holding You Back?"
Makeup	A minimal natural look is always better Neutral tones are acceptable Stay away from bright eye shadow, blush or lip products No shimmer or glitter Caked on makeup is a don't	"Makeup Tips for Your Job Interview"
Body	Shower Wear deodorant, but avoid wearing perfume Clean and trimmed nails Neutral nail polish	"5 Hygiene Tips on what to do Before an Interview" "Grooming Advice"

What to Wear: for Men

Suit

Item	Advice	Example
Style	A single breasted suit is more appropriate than a double breasted suit Two or three button jacket with the bottom button unbuttoned	"Understanding Common Suit Features"
Color/Pattern	Solid dark colors such as gray, navy or black are the best options for an interview Plaid, pinstripe or patterned suits are not interview appropriate	"Understanding Common Suit Features" (bottom of page)
Fit	Custom tailored suits are ideal, but in some cases hard to obtain last minute The back should lay flat and not pull or bunch Shoulder pads should line up with the edges your shoulders Sleeves are comfortable, not too tight or loose Cuffs should rest an half an inch above the wrist allowing a bit of your long sleeved dress shirt to show	"How a Suit Should Fit"

Shirt

Item	Advice	Example
Fit	Long sleeved, collared shirts are a must Collar should fit your neck without being too tight or too loose Always tuck the shirt in	"How a Shirt Should Fit"
Color/Pattern	A solid, neutral color is best Solid white is the most common and safest choice	"Understanding the Dress Shirt"
Material	A cotton material will allow you to breathe

Tie

Item	Advice	Example
Style/Knot	Conservative is the way to go Keep the knot simple	"Learn How to Tie a Tie"
Color/Pattern	A simple color or pattern to compliment the suit and shirt The tie should be a darker shade than the shirt	"How to Match Shirt and Tie Patterns"
Width/Length	Width should not be too wide or skinny Length should not be too long or short The bottom tip of the tie should reach the belt/waistline	"Necktie Length"

Pants

Item	Advice	Example
Style	Pants are to be worn on the top of the hips Pleated or non-pleated, non-pleated is preferred	"The Pleated vs. Plain-front Debate"
Color/Pattern	Match the pants with the jacket A suit (jacket/pants) should be bought as a set whenever possible
Length/Fit	The "break" of your pants is the crease that forms at the bottom of your pants when it reaches your shoes There should be some break but not too much	"How Pants Should Fit"

Shoes

Item	Advice	Example
Color	Shoe color should coordinate with the suit Black or brown shoes are the most common	"A Visual Guide to Matching Suits and Dress Shoes"
Style	Shoes should be clean and polished
Socks	Always wear dark dress socks Socks should match the general color of the shoe ex. brown shoes = brown socks Do not wear white socks with brown or black shoes

Accessories

Item	Advice	Example
Amount	Accessories should be at a minimum
Belt	A belt to keep your pants at your hips Coordinate the color with your shoes
Watch	Wear a watch if you have one Only wear a watch is you feel comfortable wearing it Make sure the style matches the outfit Not too casual like an athletic watch or something too fancy and distracting
Portfolio	A portfolio (leather or otherwise) is a must Bring extra copies of your resume in this portfolio

Grooming

Item	Advice	Example
Facial Hair	Facial hair should be shaved or minimal and well groomed Clean up sideburns and back of neck for a clean look
Hair	Neat, brushed and away from face if its longer Avoid "Faux Hawk" or spiked hair Stay away from bright colored hair dye	"How to Style Your Hair for a Job Interview"
Body	Shower Wear deodorant, but avoid wearing cologne Clean and trimmed nails	"Essential Grooming Tricks" "5 Hygiene Tips on What to do Before an Interview"

A video about how to dress for success at the UNH Career and Internship Fair, as well as Interviews and Networking events.