{"id":6472,"date":"2026-08-06T15:38:30","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T15:38:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=6472"},"modified":"2026-08-06T15:38:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T15:38:30","slug":"in-a-post-pandemic-world-job-candidates-are-caught-between-suits-and-hoodies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=6472","title":{"rendered":"In a post-pandemic world, job candidates are caught between suits and hoodies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By CATHY BUSSEWITZ<\/strong>, Associated Press<\/p>\n

NEW YORK (AP) \u2014 The matching blazer and pants Dani McEwen wore to a job interview at an insurance company felt like a smart choice, until she noticed most of the employees had on T-shirts and jeans.<\/p>\n

Read more Post-deadline prognosis: 10 questions for SF Giants the rest of this disappointing season<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe first thing that went through my mind was that I probably looked like I was trying way too hard and maybe seemed too uptight,\u201d McEwen, a student at Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio, said.<\/p>\n

With virtual interviews and casual work environments proliferating, job candidates are having a hard time figuring out what to wear when they meet potential employers online or in person. Polished suits and other types of professional business attire \u2014 the typical recommendation of career advisers in years past \u2014 no longer are the default option when interviewers may show up in hoodies and shorts.<\/p>\n

The disconnect between long-established conventions and the less-rigid workplace settings of a post-pandemic world is confusing many job applicants who want to dress to impress.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the last six years has proven anything, it\u2019s that everyone and everything has become slightly more relaxed,\u201d said Christina Adamo, a personal stylist at the Neiman Marcus store in Paramus, New Jersey. \u201cThat especially goes for dress codes, in great part because of the transition a lot of companies have had to hybrid and remote work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wearing a well-tailored suit is still frequently prescribed when interviewing for executive positions and jobs in fields such as law and finance, stylists and staffing recruiters said. But it\u2019s worth exploring an organization in advance to get a sense of the culture, or asking the hiring manager or recruiter directly about the dress code. Getting it right, or wrong, may impact your performance, especially during a face-to-face meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you walk in and you\u2019re already feeling out of place in the atmosphere, your answers just aren\u2019t as good,\u201d said McEwen, 20, who manages a student career closet of donated suits and work attire at her university. \u201cMost of what matters about your interview outfit is that you feel confident about it. It puts you in the mindset that you\u2019re going to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Research the way people dress at the company and then take it up a notch<\/h4>\n

One way to scope out an organization\u2019s style vibe is to check its social media accounts or website to see what employees wear. For example, the career section of The Walt Disney Co.\u2019s website features photos of an attorney, a writer and a maintenance technician employed by the company. After learning how employees in your line of work typically dress, prepare to look a little more polished than that for your interview, experts advised.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you were to look at a company\u2019s LinkedIn page and they\u2019re using words like \u2018We\u2019re fresh, we\u2019re innovative, we\u2019re the new kids on the block, we\u2019re here to shock the industry,\u2019 then you know that the dress code is going to be more casual than if they\u2019re saying \u2018We are a traditional historic brand with traditional values,\u2019\u201d said Samantha Harman, a London-based personal stylist and author of \u201cJust Get Dressed,\u201d a personal style guide for women.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going for a more senior role, think about refreshing your style so you don\u2019t look dated, Harman, 37, said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want anyone to think that you have a dated skill set because you want to be seen as someone who\u2019s innovative, who\u2019s going to have lots of new ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes, even after doing the research, candidates find they\u2019re dressing up more than their interviewers. Molly Tyndale, 22, wore a blouse and suit jacket to an online interview for a business development position after she was told by the company that the dress code was \u201cbusiness professional.\u201d She was surprised when one of her interviewers showed up wearing an athletic T-shirt.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf I, as the candidate, had joined in a T-shirt, that would almost certainly be an automatic no,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Create a first impression that conveys accomplishment<\/h4>\n

A wardrobe can be a personal branding tool for your career, Harman said. Hiring managers for senior positions are increasingly asking, \u201cDoes this person look like somebody we can send out if there\u2019s a crisis and we need somebody to talk to the media? Or does this person look like they could host our next internal conference? Do they look like we could put them on a stage?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

To convey quiet confidence as a publicist in Los Angeles, Dylan Thomas Cotter wears a dark blue tailored suit to job interviews or meetings where he\u2019s trying to land a new client. In public relations, \u201cif something goes south, we need to immediately look like we\u2019re capable to handle that,\u201d Cotter, 43, said. \u201cBut also, when we make our first impression on behalf of our clients, we can make or break their business if we\u2019re not good at what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want to be perceived as a leader, think about watching fall fashion shows to see what colors will likely be trendy in the spring, and wear those colors before that season, Harman suggested. Browsing through Vogue magazine can show you what colors or silhouettes are popping. \u201cAlways look at shoes and bags, because they have interesting updates that could look quite cool,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

People on a budget can explore thrift stores or community organizations that offer donated career clothing.<\/p>\n

Wear clean clothes that fit well for any job interview<\/h4>\n

While formality levels vary from one workplace to the next, some interview-dressing guidelines almost always are worth following.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure everything is nice and clean and presentable,\u201d to convey that you\u2019re taking the opportunity seriously, said Jamie Close, a Charleston, South Carolina-based corporate recruiter at HireQuest, a staffing and recruiting firm. \u201cThen you\u2019ll feel more confident about yourself as well because you\u2019re not worried about ill-fitting clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t buy something new and wear it for the first time to an interview, Close advised. \u201cMake sure you\u2019ve worn it somewhere before so you know how it feels when you\u2019re sitting down or standing up and you\u2019re not constantly fidgeting with your clothes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interviewing for a job in the skilled trades, \u201cwear what you wear to work, but wear that nice, clean version,\u201d Close suggested. \u201cClean boots, a nice collared shirt, ready to work. But not like you just walked off of a work site.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make as much effort for online interviews as in-person meetings<\/h4>\n

Dress for a virtual interview the same way you would for an in-person meeting, experts said. Even if the camera will only show your head and torso, Harman suggests wearing shoes because they can signal to your brain to behave in a different way.<\/p>\n

For virtual interviews, wearing solid colors is a good choice, because those tend to look better on camera than busy patterns, Adamo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want to show up as the best version of yourself and that includes dressing the part,\u201d Adamo said. \u201cWhile many would suggest \u2018waist up\u2019 dressing since your top half is doing most of the work, I recommend treating it as if you were going in person. It helps put you in the right headspace, and feeling confident in what you\u2019re wearing is the most important part.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more 7 incredible Bay Area things to do this weekend, Aug. 7-9<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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