What to wear to a job interview can be a difficult decision. You want to make a great first impression at the interview and have carefully planned what to wear. The problem is, Mother Nature didn’t get the note that her perfect job interview outfit didn’t take into account a rainy day.
Then what do you do?
Well, you still want to show up dressed for a job interview, looking sharp and poised for success. Although interviewers may not remember what you are wearing, they should remember that your appearance was polished and professional. At the job interview, you will be evaluated on both what you wear and what you say.
Here’s a quick guide to “job interview clothes” for a rainy day:
Clothes – The default dress code for a job interview is conservative or business attire. Wear a pantsuit or dress pants on a rainy day. You will protect your legs so that they do not get wet and it will not be so noticeable. Stick to darker neutral colors like navy blue and black because you’ll still look classy even if you get a little wet. I usually recommend a white dress shirt or blouse or a light pastel color like pink, blue and green. But for a rainy day, I recommend staying away from white because you’ll end up with a see-through shirt if it gets soaked.
Shoes – You should never wear open shoes or sandals to an interview and a rainy day is no exception. Wear conservative pumps and be sure to select a pair of heels that aren’t too high, as you’ll be navigating wet and slippery ground. Trust me, there will be puddles everywhere and your goal will be to do your best not to trip and fall in the parking lot, building entrance, or lobby.
Accessories – If it rains, your best accessories will be a nice umbrella and a matching raincoat. It’s hard to look professional when you’re holding a multicolored polka dot umbrella and wearing a bright red raincoat. Stick to dark neutral colors like black and navy blue to match your job interview attire.
Hate – Your job interview hairstyle is the first to be done on a rainy day and the most difficult to fix again when you leave the house. Choose a simple hairstyle that is easy to fix in case it is also a windy day. It can make or break your entire look. Again, you want it to be polished, not messy and out of place when you arrive. Choose to pull your hair back into a ponytail instead of letting it down if you can.
briefcase – You’ll already have a lot to carry with an umbrella and a raincoat on your hands, so keep your bag small. Stick with a leather bag or briefcase, as it dries easily and gives you a professional look no matter what the weather.
Your job interview attraction, even on a rainy day, only needs a couple of tweaks to make it work. Sounds pretty simple, right?
