First impressions are valuable, especially in an interview for your dream role. You made a significant impression with your resume, but making an even better impression in person for an interview is arguably even more essential. It’s no secret that looking presentable is critical, and that starts with what you wear.
To many, the color they choose to wear to an interview doesn’t cross their mind. In reality, colors hold huge importance. While it might not be a make or break regarding whether you receive a job offer or not, it’s better to impress the interviewer or hiring manager right off the bat — for the right reasons.
Once you’re mentally prepared for your interview, you’re going to want to think about what you’ll wear. To make an excellent impression, here are four of the best colors to wear to an interview and why — and which colors you need to avoid entirely.
1. Why you should wear black to your interview
Black is simply a powerful color choice as it implies strength, authority, and a sense of leadership. It’s sophisticated and classic. If you wear black, the interview or hiring manager will likely take you more seriously.
You can rarely go wrong with black. Black is a stylish and elegant color, yet professional and formal.
However, on the topic of seriousness, it can also be seen as intimidating. If you’re hoping to blend in for an entry-level position rather than stand out for a higher-level job, you may want to forgo wearing black or too much black. In this scenario, it might be better to combine it with another subtle color.
Black demands attention, and it can be seen as a dramatic and distracting color. As the color black communicates leadership qualities, it can sometimes create a barrier between the interviewer and you.
For the most part, though, black is classic for a reason. It works and matches any other color, too.
2. Why you should wear white to your interview
White is another classic color and stands in stark contrast with black when thinking of the impression they both give. Like black, white is a safe bet if you’re undecided on what color to wear to your interview. It shows the interviewer that you’re organized, reliable, honest, and also a perfectionist.
White is also a professional yet stylish choice where you can easily add personality through accessories such as a tie, earrings, or a watch. This can be a way for you to show the interviewer a hint of your character. You will also feel more like yourself, allowing for you to be comfortable and less anxious.
However, avoid wearing too much of this color if you’re hoping to go down the route of “less is more” and want to be remembered more for your qualifications and less for your outfit. Since white can be a little more challenging to keep clean, you may want to layer your white selection with a darker color. The last thing you want is an untimely coffee spill in the cab on the way to the interview.
Overall, white is a fantastic neutral color, especially for an interview. Better yet, why not combine both black and white clothing elements?
3. Why you should wear blue to your interview
The overall impression of the color blue is a good team player, someone honest, calm, and confident. These are some great qualities for the interviewer to see in a potential employee. Whether you decide to wear navy or even a pale blue, you’re going to make a great first impression.
Navy can be close in color to the powerful black, so it’s highly likely you’ll invoke a similar sense of sophistication and confidence — but in a less intimidating way. It can be said that blue isn’t as aggressive as wearing black, yet it’s professional all the same. Blue is a universally liked color, so if you decide to opt for navy or another shade of blue, you’re highly likely to create a positive response from your interviewer for a potential employee.
This allows you to show confidence and reliability before your interview even begins. Apart from being ideal for conservative professional jobs, navy color sets an excellent tone for any position as it gives a sense of intelligence, wisdom, and level-headedness.
4. Why you should wear gray to your interview
Gray is another great versatile neutral color. If you didn’t notice by now, it’s the neutral colors that are proven to be most effective, especially since they can be paired with other colors and are more subtle options.
Gray is practical and will portray you as a logical, intelligent, and savvy candidate. It’s a fitting alternative for black or white and works just as well for a job interview. There are many suitable shades of gray you can wear in your interviews, such as a light gray or a dark charcoal gray. These can all work well in different ways, too, depending on the kind of impression you want to give for your interview.
For instance, soft ash, stone, or light gray will portray a clean, organized, and trustworthy candidate. A dark charcoal gray can be just as powerful as black and present you as a confident and dependable candidate for your interview.
However, gray can often be seen as somewhat of an isolated color, which on the one hand, can portray you as a self-sufficient and independent individual and capable of working on your own — which is necessary for some jobs. Gray can sometimes be also seen as dull, which, in turn, can make you seem isolated, reserved, and too independent to work within a team.
Overall, gray shows independence, practicality, neutrality and portrays you as an analytical professional. Gray would be a fantastic choice to consider if you are going for positions that require analytical skills.
Although there are standout color choices you should wear to your next interview, there are also colors you should avoid where possible.
Why you should avoid wearing yellow to your interview
Yes, yellow is a happy and optimistic color, but you should avoid wearing it for your job interview. You’re probably a fun person who loves to socialize, but yellow is too much of a distraction as it’s a loud and overly bright color for an interview.
It doesn’t show feelings of trust or reliability, and honestly, wearing it can just be a little too overwhelming during a first interview. If all the interviewer can remember about you is your yellow outfit instead of your wonderful responses and resume, can you blame them?
Why you should avoid wearing brown to your interview
Overall, brown is a lovely neutral color to wear, but try avoiding it for your interview. Brown is a little too safe and can be seen as dull when you’re trying to make an impression. Wearing brown to your interview can make you seem as though you’re dependable but also too passive or unable to adapt to change.
This can leave a negative impression on the interviewer because it may seem as though you aren’t excited or enthusiastic enough for a new fast-paced position. It also depends on the company you’re applying to. If it’s a fast, up-and-coming startup, the color should match — and brown doesn’t.
Why you should avoid wearing red to your interview
Wearing red can portray you as powerful. However, because it’s such a high-energy color, it can overpower a room, especially one where you’ll be getting interviewed. This isn’t what you want to achieve in the interview.
More often than not, red can be seen as aggressive and rebellious, which aren’t great qualities to imply when you’re going for an interview. Red can be just as overwhelming as yellow as it gives the impression of dominance and can deter your interviewer. Therefore, it’s a risky choice for your interview, and you should try to avoid it unless it’s used subtly with other dark combinations.
Why you should avoid wearing orange to your interview
While orange can reflect creativity, it’s primarily associated with unprofessionalism which can create a negative impression from the get-go. If an employer’s first impression of you is that your outfit is unprofessional, it can be challenging to convince them that you’re the right fit for the job where you’ll have to be professional.
When in doubt, go for neutrals. If anything, the color of your outfit should complement the resume that got you an interview in the first place. To secure that interview, set up a profile on VanHack. Create an engaging profile and stand out from others to increase your chances of landing your ideal job.
If you need more help with the interview, the VanHack Premium Academy can help you get prepared with practical interview answers.