What To Wear To Your MBA Interview

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What to Wear for Your MBA Interview

The MBA interview is a prime opportunity to make a lasting impression on B-school admissions committees. How you show up to the interview matters—including what you wear.

Karen Hamou, an admisisons consultant at Fortuna Admissions, recently offered a few tips on how to dress for success on interview day to make a strong final impression.

CONSIDER THE SETTING

If you’re attending a structured on-campus interview, business formal attire is a must.

“For men, this means a suit and a tie,” Hamou says. “If you’re not comfortable in your tie at some of the additional events on campus, you can always take it off, but if you go without you might regret it (especially if your interviewer is wearing one). For women, it can be a pantsuit, a skirt suit, or my personal favorite, the dress-and-jacket combination. It’s more modern with a little bit of flair, yet still appropriate.”

If your interview is a meeting with an alum at a coffee shop, your attire can likely be more casual. The timing of your interview, Hamou says, can give you context on what to wear.

“If your meeting is at 6 p.m. and your interviewer is coming directly from their Wall Street job, chances are that they will be in a suit; you will want to be as well, to subtly signal you are ready to be part of their milieu,” Hamou says. “If you’re meeting near a Silicon Valley tech campus, where many employees swear off ties forevermore, business casual will probably suffice.”

BE CONSERVATIVE WITH ACCESSORIES

Hamou recommends keeping accessories, such as jewelry and footwear, as subtle as you can.

“One of your superpowers may be strutting in five-inch stilettos, but practical, on-trend shoes will be more comfortable,” Hamou says. “The spread of business casual has led to equally casual footwear at work and birthed the concept of ‘dress sneakers’ for men. Comfort is great, but make sure your shoes look subtle and somewhat like business dress shoes. Avoid bright, flashy colors that attract attention.”

SET THE SCENE FOR VIDEO INTERVIEWS

If your MBA interview is virtual, be sure to set up the environment where you’re joining the call. The more proper your space, the more professional you’ll come across.

“Do you have pictures on the wall or clutter behind you? Sunlight shining in from behind you making the interview feel more like an interrogation? Does your office or home look like a total mess? In short, tidy up, and keep things simple – a white wall behind you always works well. The fewer distractions, the better,” according to Clear Admit.

Sources: Fortuna Admissions, Clear Admit

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