Let Us Dress You For Your Internship Interview

By Jessi Stickel on February 10, 2016

Before most college students graduate, they will intern for a company they wish to work for or within a field they want to pursue.

Considering many college students have never had a professional job before, it may be difficult to know or decide what to wear to an internship interview.

“You can never be overdressed or over-educated.” — Oscar Wilde

Here are helpful tips for college students that can’t decide what to wear to their first interview for an internship.

GIRLS

Business Casual

http://www.business-casualforwomen.com

There is nothing wrong with going to your internship interview dressed in business casual clothing. This rule is especially true when the company you are interning for is not the “suit-and-tie” type.

However, you should look professional. Never wear jeans on an interview or your first day (unless authorized by your employer). Some companies may look down on jeans in the workplace, and you definitely do not want to be the odd one out or lower your self-esteem during the interview.

The woman in the picture above serves as a great example of business causal wear for an interview. She is wearing black dress pants instead of a skirt; she is not wearing jeans. Her button-up blouse complements her light sweater perfectly, and she is wearing fashionable flats that are professional, avoiding the ever-uncomfortable high heels.

Professional and Classy

http://lolobu.com/

As I mentioned before, you can never be overdressed when going to an interview. If you feel comfortable in a dress or skirt and blouse with high heels, go for it. It is always better to be a bit more fancy looking than being the girl that is way undressed for the workplace.

You should try to look your absolute best; however, being comfortable is very important as well. If you are going to feel insecure in a dress or do not have much practice walking in heels, do not wear them. Confidence is key in interviews and first days on the job!

The woman in the picture above shows a great example of a professional and classy outfit. The colors are neutral, which you can never go wrong with and her pencil skirt is the perfect length for staying classy.

Adding “Pop” to Plain

http://www.fenzyme.com

If you are feel more comfortable wearing simple colors such as all black, there is a simple fix for what may look like a dull outfit. Adding a large or flashy piece of jewelry can make any plain outfit pop. This could be a bright colored necklace, a flashy watch, stacks of bracelets, or even rings.

The woman pictured above has a wonderful combination of business casual with her tight black slacks and simple black blouse. Her high heels and fashionable necklace turn her plain outfit into very chic interview ware.

GUYS

Business Casual

https://lookastic.com

Guys can never go wrong with wearing khakis, pretty much wherever they go. It is fairly normal for young men to dress business casual in a workplace, depending on the company, of course.

For men, a nice pair of khakis pairs well with a simple or designed button-up short sleeve or long sleeve shirt, along with a stylish jacket.

Layers work great when wearing khakis because it makes the outfit look more professional, like the man’s clothing in the picture above. This way you will feel confident, while still looking great on that internship interview. However, note that business causal for men does not mean tennis shoes.

Professional

http://www.stylemepretty.com

If you are pretty certain that the company you are going to intern for has a professional setting, it is best to wear a suit and tie. Even if you get to the interview and not even your interviewer is wearing a suit, hey, at least you’ll still look great. Again, it is better to be overdressed than under-dressed for an interview.

The man in the picture above looks great in his suit and the color grey works great for when you are not trying to look too professional. Notice the navy blue tie adds a pop of color without overdoing it.

His Oxford shoes pair well with the suit as well; the brown or even black will go with almost anything. Wearing an outfit like this gets you to look ready for the part of being serious and ready to take on the job.

In-Between

http://costinm.tumblr.com

This man dressed in an outfit in between business casual and professional, which is great to do when you maybe do not own a suit yet, or are unsure about the workplace dress code.

He is wearing khakis, but adds a tie to his white button-up which makes him look relaxed and professional. You can also add a nice watch to an outfit like this, to add more style. The key is to be comfortable enough to be confident while looking the part as well.

Do not focus an extreme amount on the way you look. Although it is important, the skills you are bringing to the table are far more important to your potential future employer.

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