What to wear for a Zoom interview: tips and examples

So you got an interview. That’s great! But then you discover you’ll be meeting via Zoom (or some other online meeting platform). Should you be worried about what to wear? Not at all. While your usual interview attire might need a little tweaking, you don’t have to worry about a complete wardrobe overhaul. Learning what to wear for a Zoom interview is pretty straightforward, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know to look your best and hopefully, land the job.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

• How should you dress for a Zoom interview?

• What looks good on a Zoom interview?

• What is the best color to wear for a Zoom interview?

• Zoom interview attire for males

• Zoom interview attire for females

• Interview attire to avoid

How should you dress for a Zoom interview?

Just like an in-person interview, you want to wear clothing that is neat and professional. There is some leeway when it comes to more informal environments, like startups or nonprofits, but you still want to dress to impress. The best thing to do is to research the company and see what you can find out about its dress code. Remember, when in doubt, it’s better to overdress than underdress. In general, there are four kinds of dress codes:

1. Business Formal consists of suits, skirts, pantsuits, and ties. Think cufflinks and high-end accessories. 

2. Business Professional is generally what we think of when we consider “business attire.” This means suits, ties, tailored dresses, pantsuits, and dress shoes.

3. Business Casual means slacks, khakis, polo shirts, blouses, or dress pants. There is also a subdivision of this called “Smart Casual” that includes business casual attire plus a wider range of patterns, accessories, jewelry, high-end casual shoes, and scarves.

4. Casual is just that—casual. People in a casual workplace wear jeans, collarless shirts, sneakers, or dresses. 

Your outfit will probably be either business professional or business casual, depending on your research and your particular industry. Basically, you’d dress for a Zoom interview the same way you’d dress for an in-person, right down to your shoes. True, the odds are pretty good your feet won’t be seen on a Zoom call, but it will change how you comport yourself. Also—and we can’t stress this enough—please wear pants. If you have to get up for any reason during the interview, it would create an extremely awkward moment if the hiring manager sees you wearing Homer Simpson boxers with your blazer and tie. 

What looks good on a Zoom interview?

What looks good on a Zoom interview is anything that makes you feel confident and professional (within reason, of course!). Your clothes should be clean, pressed, and free from stains or tears. A patterned tie or jazzy scarf can add a little personality without being distracting. Make sure your hair looks good, and don’t forget about your nails, especially if you’re the type who makes frequent gestures. If you wear makeup, check it on camera before the interview and make adjustments, as you may look a little more washed out than you do in person. The most important thing is to feel comfortable in your clothes, as this will help you project confidence and feel better about yourself. You certainly don’t want an itchy shirt or scratchy tag bothering you during the interview!

What is the best color to wear for a Zoom interview?

There’s no one “best” color to wear, as it really depends on your personality and career field. Of course, you can never go wrong with a neutral such as black, gray, or beige, but make sure your background is a lighter color so you stand out. If you enjoy wearing colors, jewel tones like dark blue, plum, or emerald green are flattering for most people. And if you like pastels, that’s fine too, unless you have a very pale complexion, in which case you might look washed out.

But there are a few colors you want to avoid. 

Don’t wear white, as it tends to reflect light and throws off the color balance of your computer’s camera. If you wear a white shirt with your suit, make sure you’re wearing a jacket to break up the reflection. And you might want to stay away from orange, at least if you're interviewing in the U.S., as a recent survey found that orange was the color most associated with being “unprofessional.”

Zoom interview attire for males

When it comes to men’s interview attire for Zoom, stick to simple and classic picks. Depending on whether you’re going Business Professional or Business Casual, you can’t go wrong with a white or light blue dress shirt, with or without a tie. A jacket or sports coat is good if you’re dressing up a bit, but make sure that when you sit down, you pull down the jacket in the back and sit on the hem to avoid it “hunching up” in the back. A nice polo shirt or other collared shirt would be appropriate for a Business Casual Zoom interview. 

Also, take into consideration your background when you're "on camera." For example, if your walls are white, you might want to avoid wearing a white shirt, or you risk looking like "The Great and Powerful Oz"—a big, floating head. Your shirt should have some contrast with the background so that you stand out and keep the interviewer's attention. Good options for Zoom interview attire for men or those who prefer a more masculine style include:

Zoom interview attire for females

In general, female-presenting people have a few more options when it comes to interview attire. If you're interviewing for a job in a more business-professional environment, stick to solid color blouses, a skirt or dress slacks, and tasteful jewelry. You can throw on a jacket if you choose. You can wear a top with a subtle pattern, but avoid busy, oversized patterns, which can be distracting and might look distorted on camera. If you’re a dress person, that can work too, just make sure it’s comfortable and isn’t a bright color. 

For more Business Casual environments, a collared shirt is always appropriate, although you can ditch the jacket in favor of a solid-color cardigan, for example. You can wear dress slacks or khakis, but avoid jeans. If you’d like to wear a nice scarf with a pattern, make sure to keep the rest of your clothing items understated, since you don’t want them to compete for attention. Simple, minimal jewelry is always appropriate, but if you’re in a creative field you can get away with bolder pieces such as hoop earrings or a slightly larger bracelet. Either way, you’ll want to avoid flashy, jewelry or dangly earrings. Avoid anything revealing, and keep your shoulders covered. And obviously, if you wear a headscarf for religious or cultural reasons, that’s completely appropriate for any dress code.

Zoom interview attire to avoid

There are a few pieces of clothing you’ll want to avoid, no matter if you’re masculine or feminine-presenting:

• Anything with Neon colors

• Patterns such as dots or herringbone, can "jump around" on the screen and potentially irritate your interviewer

• Shiny fabrics or anything with a shimmer or sparkle

• T-shirts with controversial or cartoon graphics

• Hoodies or other athletic/leisure wear

• All-black clothing

• Baseball hats or other types of hats 

Need help polishing your interview skills? Career.io’s Interview Prep tool will provide you with real-world questions and AI-generated feedback to help you build your confidence and ace your next interview.

Key takeaways

1. Just like an in-person interview, for a Zoom interview, you want to wear clothing that is neat and professional. 

2. Your Zoom interview outfit will probably be either business professional or business casual, depending on your research and your particular industry.

3. Good Zoom colors include neutrals such as black, gray, or beige, but make sure your background is a lighter color so you stand out. Also, jewel tones like dark blue, plum, or emerald green are flattering for most people.

4. For both men’s and women’s attire, stick to classic, tailored items in solid colors such as collared shirts and dress slacks.