How to Dress for an Online Interview as an Older Adult

nterviews are an integral part of the job search process, and online interviews can be a great way for employers to screen candidates.

If you're nervous about your upcoming interview and want to make sure that you're dressed appropriately, keep reading!

Dress like you're going to an in-person interview.

At most companies, the dress code is business casual, so no need for a suit or tie. However, if you don't feel comfortable dressing more casually, this isn't a bad idea either. You want to look professional and put together during your interview—so go ahead and wear something that makes you feel confident!

Don't wear pajamas.

Just because your body is only visible from the waist up does not mean that you have to be half-dressed.

Psychologically, getting fully dressed in business attire will put you in the right frame of mind for a job interview.

This small mental trick is incredibly beneficial when you’re interviewing from home. By getting fully dressed—with accessories and shoes included if you wish!—you’ll be helping yourself get prepared for your interview.

Look at the company's website and social media pages to get a sense of how employees dress.

If a company is open to social media, check out their pages to see how they present themselves. If the images on their website show mostly casual employees wearing jeans and t-shirts, it's likely that you'll be able to wear similar clothing in an interview.

If the company's Facebook page shows mostly business casual attire, follow that lead by dressing up in your interview by wearing a button down shirt or blouse.

Avoid patterns and busy prints.

When you're dressing for an online interview, it's important to avoid patterns and busy prints.

If you've got a personal style characterized by bold colors and unique patterns (and maybe even some sparkles), that's fine! Just make sure they don't clash with the rest of your outfit so as not to distract from what really matters: telling the hiring manager why he/she should hire you.

If a patterned shirt or blouse is your favorite item of clothing, there are plenty of ways to incorporate pattern into your outfit in a subtle way—just avoid wearing something that's too distracting.

Avoid white clothing.

Another mistake you want to avoid is clothing that is too bright.

White clothing, especially if it's a light color like khaki or cream, will make you look washed out and older.

Wear dark colors such as navy blue, grey, or black.

These colors are more flattering than bright colors because they make you look thinner and younger in pictures or videos.

If you prefer brighter colors, choose them from a subdued palette such as pastels or muted reds and oranges rather than bright reds or yellows; these will draw attention away from your face which can make it appear too pale or washed out in photos/videos).

Choose accessories wisely.

In addition to following the tips above, you'll want to carefully choose the accessories you wear.

• Keep jewelry to a minimum and avoid rings if possible.
• Wear a watch if you have one. Choose one that's simple and not gaudy or flashy; this is not the time for an expensive Rolex or Breitling!

Try your outfit on well before the interview, taking photos to see what you look like on camera.

It may seem obvious, but you’ll want to make sure your outfit is comfortable and appropriate before the interview. Try it on well before the scheduled time and take pictures of yourself in the outfit, so that if you don’t like how you look on camera, you can change it in time for your interview.

Look at the camera, not the screen when you talk.

The most important thing that you can do to ensure that your interview is successful is to look at the camera, not the screen when you talk. If you're looking at the screen, you'll be looking away from the interviewer. Looking away from her will make her feel like she's invisible and unimportant—and it won't help her get to know more about who you are and what makes you tick as a candidate.

By turning slightly toward the camera instead of looking directly into it (or at least facing it), they will feel more connected with who they are talking to and therefore be more likely to hire them based on their interaction with them during this virtual interview process.

Dressing professionally will help you feel more confident during your interview.

When you feel confident, it's easier to sell yourself and show off the skills that got you the interview in the first place! We hope these tips will help you feel more at ease during your interview.

Learn More:

• For more interview tips and tricks, check out our class: Successful Interviewing‍