HOW TO CHOOSE A SHIRT FOR A JOB INTERVIEW ?

HOW TO CHOOSE A SHIRT FOR A JOB INTERVIEW ?

Formal occasions are numerous: professional life, family events, weddings, cocktail parties, public speaking... You need to have the right shirt at hand, the one that will be the most in tune with the event of the day. But if there is one event for which you absolutely must not make a mistake, it is the job interview. Objective: to feel good in your outfit and therefore confident for the D-day, especially if it is the company of your dreams...

Here are our tips for choosing the shirt best suited to the context.

1. The main principles

The goal: to blend in with the style of the company you are applying for. Appear as natural as possible in spite of the challenges that await you, give off a feeling of confidence and ease without overdoing it.

The right shirt: prefer basic colors such as light blue, white, pale pink.

Choose smooth, quality fabrics such as poplin, threadbare, twill, dobby or herringbone. Refer to our article "Cotton in all its forms" which presents the precise characteristics of each of these weaves.

Poplin shirt: the classic weave, the most used. It is very tightly woven and of good quality, with a smooth, dense and durable appearance.

End-on-end shirt: close to poplin but with a mottled aspect, woven from yarns of different colors. Lightweight fabric suitable for warm seasons.

Twill shirt: "twill fabric", with the appearance of oblique stripes in steps. Thick, supple and easy to care for fabric, more suitable for cold seasons.

Dobby shirt: a fabric with relief and subtlety that lends itself to dressy occasions.

Herringbone shirt: soft, silky fabric, easy to iron, worked and dressed cut.

Do not forget the weight of the fabric and the fineness of the thread. They must be sufficient to ensure the quality and thickness of the fabric: between 80 and 150g/m2 for the weight and around 100 for the titration. Opt for a weaving with a double twisted yarn.

Pair your shirt with dark pants, a plain or patterned jacket, black or brown leather shoes. If you are a company with a formal style, opt for the inevitable suit and tie duo. Avoid fashionable and sad black, prefer a navy blue suit that is more youthful and versatile.

For a creative start-up, opt for a more casual shirt. Keep in mind that you still need to be a little more elegant than if you had been working in this company for three years. You need to show your interviewer that you are taking this interview seriously and that you have dressed accordingly. He will be more flattered and you will already gain points.

Finally, of course, your outfit and in particular your shirt, which will be noticed immediately when you shake hands, must fit you perfectly. A perfect fit, a perfect cut: a sleeve cut that corresponds exactly to the break in your shoulder, a sleeve length that is just one centimeter longer than your jacket. Go to the alterations department if you think it's necessary, you won't regret it!

The little extra to make sure you feel really good on the big day: wear these clothes several times beforehand, to make sure you are really comfortable in this outfit and not have any problems when the time comes: shirt too tight, collar too tight...

2. The interview in a formal company

The outfit will not be exactly the same if you are a beginner, a junior or on the contrary a senior, experienced person.

For a young graduate, you should wear a sober suit, a light blue shirt in poplin or threadbare, a plain tie in silk or wool and leather shoes, ideally dark brown for a younger style. This ensemble will avoid any faux pas and will give you great versatility. Attention: the color of your shoes must match the color of your belt if you wear one.

For a senior, with several years of experience behind you, who is aiming for a position of responsibility, you can go for an outfit with more character. The budget will not be the same, your look must be in line with the team you wish to join. Focus on high quality materials and accessories, without appearing pretentious, that's the subtlety of things. Nice watch, possibly cufflinks and clutch. For the shirt: twill, dobby or chevron. It can be pale pink for more character than a light blue shirt.

3. Interviewing in a creative start-up

Creative companies, i.e. web, design, graphic design, communication agencies, fashion or sports brands...that want to be cool and relaxed.

In this case, find out beforehand about the prevailing spirit and adapt your outfit to it: sneakers in the case of a sports brand, leather shoes otherwise, raw jeans or chino, plain shirt in poplin or threadbare and navy blue jacket. The important thing is to have an impeccable look: not a crease, not a wrinkled shirt. 

To learn about the company's dress code and culture, walk around the office hours in front of the office and observe the people coming out. This will give you a good indication of what to wear while keeping in mind that you will need to be a little more dressed up for the interview.

To conclude, here are the essentials to remember: know the environment of the company you are applying to, adapt your outfit a notch above the style, choose quality materials in all cases, wear your outfit a few days before to make sure you look good, and be impeccable on the D-day.

These tips will make you feel relaxed and confident, which will allow you to give your best during the interview!