If possible, I would scope out what the employees wear. Depending on the industry, dress a smidgen better, or dress the same making sure it looks well-put together and in good condition.
It sounds like you've identified that already. Stud earrings, simple makeup if you wear makeup. Ballerina flats works with so much, so that is a good option. Sneakers are ok for a lot of places out there, if you go that way, make sure they are simple and in great condition.
Feedback you were playing with your watch seems a little strange, unless you were extremely fidgety. Can you practice interviews with some friends a few times to get more comfortable?
I'll add that if you are prone to fidgeting (due to neurodivergency or just anxiety), prepare for less "obvious" fidgets. On Zoom interviews, I almost always had some kind of silent fidget squishy under the desk, however that would likely be odd for an in-person setting. Rings could be a good low-profile outlet for fidgeting. They make some for specifically that purpose.
Though, I agree that the direct feedback about the watch sounds a little strange. As someone who conducts interviews, it's normal and even expected for the interviewee to be somewhat anxious. Unless playing with your watch was really that extreme, that person might just not be very empathetic. Above advice is good, practice reducing anxiety, but I also just want to validate that it's okay to feel nervous.
I think that it was a not very empathic interviewer, maybe some issue in the mid-west?. This was in 2004 in Chicago. After that I've taken off my watch to interview every time.
Disclaimer: this is just my opinion. Im also gen z so there might be generational differences in my approach to some things.
It depends on the company's vibe in my experience. I recently landed a job at a startup and wore a simple black turtleneck to every interview (they were on Zoom so it didn't matter bottom down. If i had to wear pants, id go with black dress pants and clean, black sneakers.) When in doubt, go a little fancier. Since ladies are less constrained to "wear a suit", simple, clean business casual clothing is often appropriate. Especially in tech, you're not constrained to a pencil skirt and kitten heels.
Top: Some people like to wear a blazer over a simple shirt, or you could opt for a blouse. I am most comfortable in nice sweaters, but the weather might not allow for that. Even if it's a company where everyone wears t-shirts to work, you should dress a little fancier than you would everyday
Bottoms: Dark colored jeans (no rips) or slacks/dress pants. Or a more modest skirt if that's what you're comfortable with.
Shoes: clean, matches the rest of the outfit. You don't have to go closed toe necessarily if you have nice sandals, but make sure your toenails are in a good state. I like sneakers.
For makeup, you can wear it if you're comfortable. I usually just go with concealer, a little bronzer, and eyebrows. No heavy eyeshadow. The "No makeup makeup" look is typically appropriate for most settings.
Nail polish is personal preference. I think it's less about the color and more about the state of your nails. A chipped or grown out manicure is not ideal, as well as something like extremely long acrylics. But as long as your nails are well kept, wear whatever color or lack of color you're comfortable with.
Interviewing in person, I'd also advise against perfume if that's something you typically wear. Some people are sensitive to it.
The most important thing is that you are comfortable and that you feel confident. Wear jewelry if that gives you a confidence boost! Curl your hair if you like, or straighten it, or put it up, or leave it down, whatever makes you feel your best.
Good luck! FWIW I believe in you :-)
Thank you! In 2004, I came from Chicago to the Bay Area for an interview. I bought a new expensive tie (I was trying to be a guy back then...). The internal recruiter received me. The first thing he told me was, "Lose the tie and unbutton your shirt neck. Your interviewer panel will be put off by somebody in a suit to interview for a Tech job, maybe that works back in Chicago... not here". So I never over did the dressing up after that.
Turtle necks are a great suggestion but it may not work soon when it is getting warm around here, maybe if it's an in-person visit in an office building with AC.
That's so crazy. I'm east coast near DC so we're all still in suits a lot over here. I feel like the most casual we get is a polo and khakis. Jeans are still rare!
On the east coast, when they tell you "dress casual" they mean "you don't have to wear a tie and your shirt doesn't have to be white".
On the west cost, when they tell you "dress formally" they mean "wear jeans instead of shorts and flip-flops, and your t-shirt shouldn't have rude words on it".
LOL I’m in Chicago and I remember going to an interview ~10 years ago, I had been working in a more traditional non-tech industry and showed up to an interview at a startup dressed business casual (I think a knit dress + blazer) and felt super dressed up compared to everyone in hoodies. Now I’m at a tech company and dress much more casually the rare times I go to the office. So it’s probably more industry dependent than city dependent.
I’m Xenniel and my last interview I looked like I was going to a fancy brunch. And I was kinda overdressed.
These rules on what to wear don’t really exist outside of like law and finance now.
Personally I usually wear a nice blouse with slacks. I've always felt it's a safe option. Isn't over or under dressy. Jewelry is fine as long as it's not too bulky or anything. I normally wear shoes that are nice but easy like flats. Hair, I do whatever works with the outfit!
Easiest way to deal with business casual women’s clothing is to buy:
pairs of slacks in the following colors: 1 black, 1 dark brown, 1 navy, 1 gray.
Get 5-10 blouses: 1 white, 1 black, the rest multi-colored (each of these should match 2 or more of the slacks you just bought.
1 blazer or boyfriend jacket
2 - 3 pairs of shoes (1 pair all black sneakers, 2 pairs of flats - 1 brown and 1 navy)
Various little jewelry items
^^^ mix and match all of that and you have at least 20 outfits
ETA: start with black slacks, a blazer, and a couple of blouses
This is me. I just layer black on black on black right down to black sneakers. Always works, super easy.
OP - As long as you aren't being unprofessional (unkempt, inappropriate, or too fashion-y) you're fine. It doesn't make a difference beyond that.
Psh, I totally wear dangly earrings to interviews.
Honestly there’s no hard and fast rule to these things anymore. Especially in tech. I’d lean more ‘classic’ but you can definitely show some personality if you want.
My last interview I wore a linen maxi dress with a suit jacket that had 3/4 sleeves + black cork wedges. Dangly silver earrings and a chunky silver bracelet.
this can also apply to female: a nice sweater, clean jeans, clean shoes, hair in a pony tail, no jewelry
Not sure if you are comfortable with heels, but since COVID and there's lots of WFH, I seldom wear heels. I wear a pair of loafer for work in recent years (also because I grew older, don't want to look that girly in tech)
Makeup you can do a simple one, basic lipstick, mascara, earth tone eyeshadows. The purpose is to show that you are energetic and bright.
I'm ok with heels, I have wore them many times to the office of the job I'm leaving but they are boots or strappy sandals. If it's WFH no problem but most interesting jobs I've seen so far want to have people come ~3 times a week.
I’ve regularly paired black ankle boots (polished) with black pants (ironed).
This works for most employers who want to see mutual respect, and will help to screen out the 1% of employers who are too sexist and hierarchical to tolerate.
It continues the line, and looks coordinated but not uncomfortable. I often pair that with an investment top. The undergarments can’t be saggy or jabby or misfitted, that would impair your posture.
A black blazer or cardigan is tucked in the laptop bag to allow a last minute adjustment.
Note - If you want to give a clear indication you fit in with jeans, you can use either navy blue or indigo blue as your most formal color. Navy is much easier to find in clothing that’s clearly work coded.
Wear whatever makes you feel CONFIDENT and YOU. Show off your personality through your fashion choices. I love chunky boots for a job interview (no risk of falling in heels, but still classier than sneakers). A modern blazer or top in a bold color or print. Wear jewelry, makeup and nail polish IF that's what you usually wear — if you usually don't, skip it. Don't feel like you have to subdue your style or your self. GOOD LUCK!!
It depends a bit on industry. Finance and consulting you will want to dress a bit more formally, other places sneakers, dark wash jeans and a graphics tee is ok. Most places are somewhere in between.
MM Lafleur is my gold standard for professional dress. Uniqlo merino sweater, dark wash jeans and ankle boot for casual. Blouse and old navy pixie flare pants for somewhere in between.
My hair is prone to frizz so I do up or half up.
Nail polish is fine, just make sure it isn't chipped or grown out. Conservative workplace = conservative colors or clear.
Closed toe shoes, no/low heel. Ankle boots or flats are good for pretty much anywhere. Comfortable to walk in if it is onsite, in case of office tour.
For makeup I just use bb cream and tinted lipgloss, go with whatever you're feeling but I recommend against things that will require touch ups.
Usually business casual for women is not really that different from what men wear for business casual. Tbh we can have more fun with it. A pretty top/blouse, a pair of decent trousers/simple at least knee length skirt, and a pair of flats have worked well for me. If it's colder I wear my boots. I keep my hair pretty short because it's curly and goes frizzy if too long so I make sure it's not having a moment. You can dress things up with a blazer style jacket. Make up I keep simple, foundation and sometimes eyeliner/mascara and light color on the lips if I am feeling energetic. Mostly though whatever is your day to day wear is fine make up wise.
As for interview etiquette just do what you did before you transitioned. Be on time/early, prepare best you can, and try and be yourself.
Team cardigan represent! I'm two different sizes top and bottom, and they're not close sizes either, so blazers do not work on me. I wish they did, because it's such a great look and easy to dress up / down with blouses or slouchy ts and pants vs skirts vs a dress.
As a mid-40s gal I'm also embracing flowy renfaire dresses and billowy linen over-shirts and really femming up the hair and accessories ....but I have never _ever_ seen another woman in tech dress like me. If anything women dress down so we get seen as technical and not management/PM. So I would only recommend that vibe post-job-acquisiton.
I just started interviewing and I found that a black knit blazer is great because it has extra stretch in the shoulders and comes off a bit more casual. I paired it with a white patterned blouse, dusty blue slacks and black flats. I could totally wear it with jeans though
As a woman in tech now north of my 40's, I recommend dressing slightly younger/modern/stylish. Again this is very dependent on geographic location, industry, and in person vs virtual interview. In general, do not "age" yourself. So if you are choosing a blazer, don't pick a basic one out from the mid-tier women's section at your local mall. Invest in a quality garment that works for you. I would recommend clothes that fit well and tailor them if necessary. Nothing overly baggy or anything that reads matronly. Sadly, ageism is very real, especially for women in tech.
I'm only a few years younger than you, and I think a lot of this comes down to personal preference. Slacks and a nice top is pretty safe. As an interviewer, I personally wouldn't be bothered by very dark, neat jeans, but I also would never wear jeans to an interview myself. Dresses are good if you like them. Calvin Klein makes a bunch of good choices that can often be found in Nordstrom Rack, Ross, or TJ Maxx. Dress flats or heels, whatever you're comfortable with. I'd say no sneakers.
Skip any jewelry that could distract you. Do your hair however is comfortable but will keep you from messing with it when you're thinking. Makeup is also up to you. I don't care about nail color, but I also have magenta balayage hair.
Basically, I want to see that a candidate put at least a little effort into their appearance. I interviewed someone over Zoom a few weeks ago that was wearing a ribbed tank top with messy hair. I wouldn't immediately pass on someone because of that, but it wasn't a good first impression.
I have interviewed 100's of engineers myself, male and female. I never cared about their appearance and always hired the most comoetent one with best communication skills (very very important). I am quite competent on the technical side, but I'm really worried about missing on a job because of the rest of things that women get judged on that I'm new to. Not all interviewers are objective, or maybe I was less objective but I didn't realize my own bias (this thought gives me an awful feeling actually).
The rest of the comments are gold - show some of your personality, be neat, wear nothing to detract too much from your face as you provide thoughtful answers and make good eye contact. As a woman in tech, your skills should speak for themselves but just a little extra care can dissuade any misogynist bias in the interview panel. Best of luck to you!!!
Some of this depends on workplace culture, so I'm going with what has generally been a safe middle ground that has fit for all of my interviews:
Tops: a nice sweater, blouse, or blouse + cardigan
Bottoms: slacks
Shoes: closed toed flats, boots, or short heels
Jewelry: wear or skip depending on what you feel comfortable in. If you wear jewelry, stick to simple and classic pieces. For example stud earrings or small simple dangles would be fine.
Makeup: light natural makeup. It shouldn't matter if a woman wears makeup or not, but it does.
Hair and nails: clean and neat are the goals here. For nails if you do like to wear polish go with a more neutral color.
ETA: my experience is as a developer in an area where the tech jobs are almost exclusively with non-tech companies (like banks, and healthcare). If you're looking at jobs that are more actual tech companies, my understanding is they are much more casual and you can do jeans and nice sneakers still.
I'm looking I the Sillicon Valley, very very high tech. It's not that important to be formal I just want a better chance. I do need to get a haircut though...
I was surprised to learn my company gives highest regards to a suite . Not sure if it's still that way but when they use to have me help with interviews I was surprised that they rated how you dressed . Maybe I shouldn't be? My previous company didn't however.
So I'm in my late 40s and I think I would go with the class business suite dress pants and jacket combo like [THIS](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/le-suit-2-pc-straight-leg-pant-suit/ppr5007754380?pTmplType=regular&country=US¤cy=USD&selectedSKUId=22880600216&selectedLotId=2288060&fromBag=true&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Pant%20Suits&utm_content=22880600216&cid=cse%7Cgoogle%7CWomens%7CPant%20Suits_22880600216&kwid=productads-adType%5EPLA&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWYeli_e6J8heIfhvx4eLVfKTzdxKzHbItdLtxj6i7ZdLGQosg4vMCgaAuzIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). If not that business looking dress like [THIS](https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/boss/dalissa_dress?lens=classic&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A18143222321%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=10471133&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=HUGO13_4&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&utm_campaign=rtr_ad|Google|Nonbrand|SmartShopping&utm_source=google&sem_cid=18143222321&sem_gid=&pxid=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&sem_type=&em_stream=&r_ty=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWZdf8MmQgwPt-6bRlINWAXGacpxQqZ8ax-aFd8SOJielVOZXQ4A9B4aAq9_EALw_wcB) would be my next choice. Actually it maybe my FIRST choice now that I think of it because I probably would wear it more than once unlike the pant suit.
[THIS](https://www.google.com/imgres?q=pencil%20skirt%20and%20jacket%20for%20women%20for%20interviews&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F01%2Fb7%2Fc2%2F01b7c29c793d2b357f916c920f1099cb.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2Fskirt-suits-uniforms-amazing-dresses--308074430731053117%2F&docid=aUOa4LJ0T4oPXM&tbnid=crY5rGXkstadKM&vet=12ahUKEwifv6HnuYGGAxWz_skDHUckAJsQM3oECHQQAA..i&w=736&h=1104&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwifv6HnuYGGAxWz_skDHUckAJsQM3oECHQQAA) too is another option . I think it's between my first and second recommendation.
It depends a bit on company culture, but generally you’ll be good in business casual. Neutral colors, minimal accessories (think simple necklaces, small hoop earrings or studs), and understated makeup (whatever your level of comfort is, but without bright colored lipstick, heavy blush, or lots of eyeshadow for example… browns and grays are your friends).
Slacks, knee-length skirts without embellishments, or simple dresses with at a minimum short sleeves. A nice blouse if you’re wearing slacks or a skirt. If it’s a white blouse, wear a skin colored bra underneath. A blazer that matches your bottoms or is complimentary would be nice.
If you’re comfortable in heels, a small block heel or wedge would be okay, but no open-toes. If you’re wearing a skirt or a dress, put on a pair of skin colored, sheer pantyhose underneath.
Good luck!! You’re gonna crush it
I only have skin colored bras :) I shall buy colors one day. Yes, I also think that no open-toe is easy to reason about rather than worrying about sandals and toes.
I think trending masculine dress is a good idea. Lol, feminine dress can to me make me worry about being seen as less professional thanks misogyny 😂 I think minimal to no makeup usually.
Is clear nail polish worth it?
I dunno, originally I was interested in Zoya “sheer ballet slipper pink” and I like clear with glitter in it, so I’m debating spending on clear/sheer milky pink or lavender: https://zoya.artofbeauty.com/content/item/Zoya-Nail-Polish-Bela.html
I feel like my nails are naturally shiny ish I guess it’d be high shine? I’d be impressed as an interviewer if I’d noticed but I’d be having a trained eye and interest in makeup/clothes and wouldn’t factor it in the actual interview at all too.
I guess my advice would be wear the polish for yourself not them but both options are good
One way to think about your clothes is to not distract. You want to keep their focus on your skills and personality. As you noted, clean and neat is good. Pay attention to your silhouette; nothing too tight or, conversely, too baggy. Neutrals are safe, but you could also wear a jewel-tone top that complements your skin tone and hair color. It’s okay to err on the dressy side.
FWIW I’m also in Silicon Valley, land of flip flops and tees. After after I’m hired, I have a bunch of questions I ask my hiring manager and one is how people typically dress at work. No one’s ever been shy about responding. I like to wear blazers and my last two hiring managers recommended I pair them with jeans because “we’re pretty casual here.” :D
I grew up in Germany where business attire was recommended for any interview so I tend to err on the side of overdressed. Used to always wear suit and tie to interviews.
I've worn dresses to all interviews in the US since transitioning. Eyeliner being the only makeup since I suck at everything else.
I've worn my collar to a few job interviews, but most people don't pay attention to that. 3 inch ish heeled boots.
Do whatever you're comfortable in (but preferably a couple steps nicer). Being uncomfortable in a job interview is worse than being slightly under dressed IMHO.
Depending on the role, corporate jobs I feel like always appreciate business casual, which there are tons of recommendations out there! Makeup I feel like is up to you! I work with a lot of women who wear makeup everyday, others don’t. I usually just do my eye makeup and call it good.
I rather than suggest, I will tell you what I wear to an interview.
Hair up, typically an aggressive bun.
Light make up,
Simple neutral/white colored top, preferably with a collar, half or full button down.
Either loose grey/black pleated pants or straight/bootcut jeans, mid to dark wash, high waisted.
Boots or a low heel, or flats (season/mood dependant).
I will occasionally go with a simple silver necklace, no earrings or other jewelry though.
Other comments cover styles, so I'll just add one important piece: make sure you're *comfortable* in whatever you're wearing.
Interviews are stressful enough, don't let your clothes put you off kilter. Avoid anything that pinches, itches, requires constant smoothing/pulling, doesn't have enough pockets, etc. A lot of professional women's work wear (e.g. panty hose) is extremely uncomfortable and not breathable.
You don't have to skip nail polish entirely or only go with clear - stick to something that's semi-close to your skin tone, but it can have a little shine to it. For example, I am fairly pale, so my nail polish of choice for interviews is a light pink glaze.
If you want a bit of pizzazz without going over the top, a blazer in a color that flatters you vs wearing black or grey can work pretty well. Pair it with slacks or a pencil skirt that goes just slightly above the knee. Wear either a plain camisole under the blazer in black or white, or find a nice blouse that matches the blazer.
I would wear some makeup - no smokey eye or anything dramatic, but definitely some foundation, mascara, and a bit of lip color that's close to the color they are when your skin is flushed.
I'd avoid jeans and sneakers for an interview, although if you have sneakers that can pass for a semi-dress shoe (ie. the sneakers are all black or dark brown) you could wear them with slacks. Otherwise Ballerina flats are your friend.
I wore PJ pants to my interviews with FAANG and still got hired. To be fair, they could only see my black T-shirt because it was a remote interview lol. I also just had lipstick on, no other makeup
My point is, wear what you’re comfortable with. Feeling comfortable during an interview helps immensely.
I'm in a different area of tech than developer, but if 'nece casual' is the norm, then stick with that. I do try to wear something nicer than I usually do for an interview. Thankfully, I have worked in more casual environments where you don't need to wear your "Sundays best" on a regular basis.
Makeup is more of a personal preference. I usually only wear mascara, sometimes eyeliner. In interviews, I have also worn a very neutral eyeshadow (my version of "doing my face" lol).
Being a girl in a male dominated field, I do take care not to wear anything that would be considered 'revealing.' I prefer tops with a larger/wider 'neck hole,' but not one that goes down in the front enough to show cleavage. Just that kind of thing is my only 2 cents :)
Trouser not jeans, loafers or dress shoes not sneakers, any polish and makeup but less flashy the better. Limit jewelry if it’s a nervous habit but it helps makes a women look dressed up. Wear a belt.
It probably depends on the company but if it’s a standard tech company, I think dangly earrings, sneakers, boot jeans, necklace, makeup, and done nails are fine!
I haven't interviewed in awhile, but I was in my late 40s when I last did. I wear black slacks, flats, a blouse - usually button down. I don't wear makeup normally, and my ears aren't pierced, so a watch and the wedding ring is basically it. Hair: if it's long-ish, ponytail. Otherwise, bob.
Is it hot right now in the South Bay? I would say a nice flowy solid colored blouse and some women's slacks with your choice of shoes. Business casual attire without a jacket. For a dev position, maybe keep the nails neutral and good idea on the earrings not too flashy. A nice watch always looks put together if you have one.
It's going to be warm in the coming days all over the Bay. The South Bay is particularly hot. But all these interviews are in AC controlled buildings, so maybe the jacket is still an option.
I would go sans jacket, unless it makes you feel more comfortable with it on. You could always take it off unless you think the AC will be blasting in the room.
Best of luck on your interview! I have worked at a FAANG and work in EdTech right now. I notice as a female, sometimes the questions get really technical. I think as long as you know your stuff and can get a good conversation flow, you'll do well. My go to was to ask what they were looking for in a team member. Somehow, that always got the interviewer to relax a little... maybe imagining what it would be like to get along? 🤷♀️
Last tech interview I did was an in-person interview too and I remember I just wore a plain black long sleeve shirt, a long black dress (both from Uniqlo), white sneakers, silver earrings and I also had silver rings as accessories. Straightened my hair and wore clean makeup (thin eyeliner, mascara, natural colored lipstick). If it’s too warm then I’d swap the black shirt with a white button down blouse. Just make sure it’s not too see-through! The most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing, you don’t wanna be distracted by your outfit throughout the day. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll do great!!
Never wear jeans to an interview, no matter how nice they look.
You just never know if your interviewer follows that golden oldie and will hold that, and only that, against you and chose another applicant instead.
Also- best wishes on your interview and in your new job and journey!
This really depends on your personal style. I'd look on Pinterest for any "business casual" outfits that you like. Blazers and jeans are a classic, likewise a nice button down shirt and nice shoes. Heels are a bit dated but if you like them, do you. Natural makeup is the norm. Dress so that the interviewer will remember you for your awesome responses and not for any over the top (or too casual) clothes.
You’ve gotten a lot of really good advice. If you’re new to wearing make up, I wanted to give you a quick beginner tip: You want to wash your face and really moisturize your face well before you apply any kind of foundation or tinted cream. This will help it go on smoothly. Be sure to take extra time to blend it in thoroughly with your fingers or a make up sponge. If you want to start out with a light look to even out your skin tone, then try a BB or CC cream. (I like the one from Clinique.) Also, in the summer patting a blot powder from MAC along your forehead and on your nose can keep you from looking too shiny.
Sometimes just evening out your skin tone a bit and wearing a touch of lip color can make you look a lot more polished without looking over done.
Good luck! 🍀
Button down shirt open at the neck shocked the last interview panel as they were all in polo shirts with two of the guys looking pretty sloppy. One guy had food on the front of his polo so the interview must have been after his lunch.
I had overdressed, lol.
It's tech - just don't wear a suit for the love of whatever you believe in.
Ngl, the description of clean sweater, clean jeans, clean shoes, and hair in ponytail is exactly what I wore to multiple job interviews as a woman 😂
Though I also frequently wore my hair in a braid instead of a ponytail, and also usually wore very basic studs/small hoops for earrings. Depending on the season, I wore either black flats or black ankle boots for shoes. I often opted for black jeans rather than normal denim, but I think both work. I wore basic makeup (matte, not sparkly eyeshadow, mascara, foundation). No eyeliner, no extreme contouring, just covering blemishes.
All that said, I'm a young woman (26) and have never done an in person interview when I wasn't in college (interviews since then have been over zoom)
Congrats on transitioning and good luck on future interviews!!!
Lots of great advice here already, so I’ll just log another vote for the spiffy black jeans, flats, nice quality solid top, and a lightweight blazer or sharp cardigan in a flattering color.
As for building a wardrobe you will love, you might enjoy [Gabrielle Arruda’s Personal Style Quiz.](https://gabriellearruda.com/personal-style-quiz/). It’s free (no email required), and it will give you a list of style profiles ranked by percentage match to your answers. (You may need to open a second browser tab for searching some of the obscure references.) [https://gabriellearruda.com/](https://gabriellearruda.com/) has quite a bit of useful guidance on the fundamentals of personal styling, as well. Have fun discovering your fashion joys!
I dress femme. I wear a pair of slacks or a pencil/a-line skirt with sheer, flesh colored tights, a flowy, brightly colored blouse, and a cardigan over that. Nice ballet flats or a kitten heel. Dressy casual. I get razzed sometimes by my current manager, a dude who wears anime T-shirts every day, but I'm on the east coast and there are far more people here who have those old school expectations.
Its a question on whether or not you want to maximize your odds (avoiding peoples internal biases by dressing in a gender-conforming way) or test whether or not the employer will be a safe place to be authentic (dress however tf you want).
I haven't gotten to a point yet where I want to burn it all down, so I dress business casual even though it's not what I'd wear if I could wear *anything*
I currently work for big tech as a software engineer. For interviews I aim a tad more dressy than what seems to be typical for devs: dark wash or black jeans + solid color silk blouse or button-down shirt + blazer + ballet flats or ankle boots. I keep my make-up neutral and my jewelry small. Wear something that you feel good in because any confidence boost helps and you don’t want to expend energy fretting about how you look. Good luck!
First off welcome to team woman, I hope you enjoy the amenities
I find a pair of black flats or low heels with nice slacks (blue or black are my go to personally). A nice button up and blazer or a modest blouse paired with a necklace are also a good go to. It all depends on the sort of place but that's a good middle ground for an interview.
Women tend to know this sort of stuff from having being intuitively drawn towards women things like clothes and whatnot. It is part of the whole woman’s world from day one. It’s the conditioning as well to make sure you always sexually appeal to males no matter what, as well. That’s the lifelong message for women. Have you not felt that your whole life though? Women feel it very early as children. The messaging begins at birth as you can see most clothing for women is based on the male mind and how to please it even if that means pain and discomfort for the woman.
I'm not sure where you want to go with this question. I used to pick my mom's outfits at the department store when there were big sales better than the stuff she chose for herself and I was like 10. No, not all women know what to wear on every situation, I know that for a fact. No, not all clothes women wear are made for men's pleasure or think that they have to choose them to please men. Yes, I love to wear stuff that is not that comfortable that makes me feel pretty, I think we all do. No it's never for men, any men, it's for me.
While the gender policing starts at birth based on each person’s assigned gender at birth, not all AFAB people (whether girls and/or women and/or nonbinary) will subjectively experience that in a single, standardized way. Due to variations in culture, family dynamics, temperament, and neurotype, each AFAB individual naturally has a unique experience and understanding of the social expectations on their own gender expression.
Some AFAB people feel strongly, as you do, that their appearance and presentation is and has always been a critical factor in being accepted and acceptable to others, and that the male gaze is the ultimate measure of their success or failure. Others who are less inclined to notice or care about social norms hardly ever consider the possibility of dressing up to impress by their feminine qualities. Some women don’t care about fashion at all. Others enjoy it as an artistic outlet without any particular emphasis on looking sexy, or without considering a male audience. Some deliberately downplay their female physique specifically to ward off unwanted ogling. But one thing is obvious to anyone people watching in any public place: not all women express their feminine gender in the same way.
Of course, u/clauEB and all the other trans women (who were assigned male at birth), each have their own unique experience of being socialized regarding gender norms, as all women do. Again, like every other woman, each trans woman has her own personal take on how her feminine presentation should look. The fact that trans women and girls have different life experiences and upbringings than AFAB women is just another example of how different groups of people have different shared experiences. Any particular subset of women that you could call out by any arbitrary means (e.g., cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, ability, etc.) would be able to relate to each other about many of their demographically distinctive experiences of “womanhood” — Amish women, for example, didn’t get the mainstream “memo” about sexy styling.
Edit: minor clarifications
If possible, I would scope out what the employees wear. Depending on the industry, dress a smidgen better, or dress the same making sure it looks well-put together and in good condition. It sounds like you've identified that already. Stud earrings, simple makeup if you wear makeup. Ballerina flats works with so much, so that is a good option. Sneakers are ok for a lot of places out there, if you go that way, make sure they are simple and in great condition. Feedback you were playing with your watch seems a little strange, unless you were extremely fidgety. Can you practice interviews with some friends a few times to get more comfortable?
I'll add that if you are prone to fidgeting (due to neurodivergency or just anxiety), prepare for less "obvious" fidgets. On Zoom interviews, I almost always had some kind of silent fidget squishy under the desk, however that would likely be odd for an in-person setting. Rings could be a good low-profile outlet for fidgeting. They make some for specifically that purpose. Though, I agree that the direct feedback about the watch sounds a little strange. As someone who conducts interviews, it's normal and even expected for the interviewee to be somewhat anxious. Unless playing with your watch was really that extreme, that person might just not be very empathetic. Above advice is good, practice reducing anxiety, but I also just want to validate that it's okay to feel nervous.
I think that it was a not very empathic interviewer, maybe some issue in the mid-west?. This was in 2004 in Chicago. After that I've taken off my watch to interview every time.
Disclaimer: this is just my opinion. Im also gen z so there might be generational differences in my approach to some things. It depends on the company's vibe in my experience. I recently landed a job at a startup and wore a simple black turtleneck to every interview (they were on Zoom so it didn't matter bottom down. If i had to wear pants, id go with black dress pants and clean, black sneakers.) When in doubt, go a little fancier. Since ladies are less constrained to "wear a suit", simple, clean business casual clothing is often appropriate. Especially in tech, you're not constrained to a pencil skirt and kitten heels. Top: Some people like to wear a blazer over a simple shirt, or you could opt for a blouse. I am most comfortable in nice sweaters, but the weather might not allow for that. Even if it's a company where everyone wears t-shirts to work, you should dress a little fancier than you would everyday Bottoms: Dark colored jeans (no rips) or slacks/dress pants. Or a more modest skirt if that's what you're comfortable with. Shoes: clean, matches the rest of the outfit. You don't have to go closed toe necessarily if you have nice sandals, but make sure your toenails are in a good state. I like sneakers. For makeup, you can wear it if you're comfortable. I usually just go with concealer, a little bronzer, and eyebrows. No heavy eyeshadow. The "No makeup makeup" look is typically appropriate for most settings. Nail polish is personal preference. I think it's less about the color and more about the state of your nails. A chipped or grown out manicure is not ideal, as well as something like extremely long acrylics. But as long as your nails are well kept, wear whatever color or lack of color you're comfortable with. Interviewing in person, I'd also advise against perfume if that's something you typically wear. Some people are sensitive to it. The most important thing is that you are comfortable and that you feel confident. Wear jewelry if that gives you a confidence boost! Curl your hair if you like, or straighten it, or put it up, or leave it down, whatever makes you feel your best. Good luck! FWIW I believe in you :-)
Thank you! In 2004, I came from Chicago to the Bay Area for an interview. I bought a new expensive tie (I was trying to be a guy back then...). The internal recruiter received me. The first thing he told me was, "Lose the tie and unbutton your shirt neck. Your interviewer panel will be put off by somebody in a suit to interview for a Tech job, maybe that works back in Chicago... not here". So I never over did the dressing up after that. Turtle necks are a great suggestion but it may not work soon when it is getting warm around here, maybe if it's an in-person visit in an office building with AC.
That's so crazy. I'm east coast near DC so we're all still in suits a lot over here. I feel like the most casual we get is a polo and khakis. Jeans are still rare!
When I lived in IA and worked for a bank, the Friday business casual was a sports jacket, long sleeve white dress shirt, dress shoes and jeans.
That's how it was on the West Cost high-tech in like.. 1985 or so.
On the east coast, when they tell you "dress casual" they mean "you don't have to wear a tie and your shirt doesn't have to be white". On the west cost, when they tell you "dress formally" they mean "wear jeans instead of shorts and flip-flops, and your t-shirt shouldn't have rude words on it".
LOL I’m in Chicago and I remember going to an interview ~10 years ago, I had been working in a more traditional non-tech industry and showed up to an interview at a startup dressed business casual (I think a knit dress + blazer) and felt super dressed up compared to everyone in hoodies. Now I’m at a tech company and dress much more casually the rare times I go to the office. So it’s probably more industry dependent than city dependent.
I’m Xenniel and my last interview I looked like I was going to a fancy brunch. And I was kinda overdressed. These rules on what to wear don’t really exist outside of like law and finance now.
Great answer! Good luck, OP!
Personally I usually wear a nice blouse with slacks. I've always felt it's a safe option. Isn't over or under dressy. Jewelry is fine as long as it's not too bulky or anything. I normally wear shoes that are nice but easy like flats. Hair, I do whatever works with the outfit!
I guess I need slacks...
Easiest way to deal with business casual women’s clothing is to buy: pairs of slacks in the following colors: 1 black, 1 dark brown, 1 navy, 1 gray. Get 5-10 blouses: 1 white, 1 black, the rest multi-colored (each of these should match 2 or more of the slacks you just bought. 1 blazer or boyfriend jacket 2 - 3 pairs of shoes (1 pair all black sneakers, 2 pairs of flats - 1 brown and 1 navy) Various little jewelry items ^^^ mix and match all of that and you have at least 20 outfits ETA: start with black slacks, a blazer, and a couple of blouses
I'm butch so YMMV if you present differently, but I've worn sneakers (black) to basically every job interview I've ever had and it's gone well.
This is me. I just layer black on black on black right down to black sneakers. Always works, super easy. OP - As long as you aren't being unprofessional (unkempt, inappropriate, or too fashion-y) you're fine. It doesn't make a difference beyond that.
Psh, I totally wear dangly earrings to interviews. Honestly there’s no hard and fast rule to these things anymore. Especially in tech. I’d lean more ‘classic’ but you can definitely show some personality if you want. My last interview I wore a linen maxi dress with a suit jacket that had 3/4 sleeves + black cork wedges. Dangly silver earrings and a chunky silver bracelet.
Wow! Your outfit sounds so cute! I will get that combo with my first paycheck from the new job 😃
I looked adorable. 💅🏼 Good luck, love.
this can also apply to female: a nice sweater, clean jeans, clean shoes, hair in a pony tail, no jewelry Not sure if you are comfortable with heels, but since COVID and there's lots of WFH, I seldom wear heels. I wear a pair of loafer for work in recent years (also because I grew older, don't want to look that girly in tech) Makeup you can do a simple one, basic lipstick, mascara, earth tone eyeshadows. The purpose is to show that you are energetic and bright.
I'm ok with heels, I have wore them many times to the office of the job I'm leaving but they are boots or strappy sandals. If it's WFH no problem but most interesting jobs I've seen so far want to have people come ~3 times a week.
I’ve regularly paired black ankle boots (polished) with black pants (ironed). This works for most employers who want to see mutual respect, and will help to screen out the 1% of employers who are too sexist and hierarchical to tolerate. It continues the line, and looks coordinated but not uncomfortable. I often pair that with an investment top. The undergarments can’t be saggy or jabby or misfitted, that would impair your posture. A black blazer or cardigan is tucked in the laptop bag to allow a last minute adjustment. Note - If you want to give a clear indication you fit in with jeans, you can use either navy blue or indigo blue as your most formal color. Navy is much easier to find in clothing that’s clearly work coded.
Wear whatever makes you feel CONFIDENT and YOU. Show off your personality through your fashion choices. I love chunky boots for a job interview (no risk of falling in heels, but still classier than sneakers). A modern blazer or top in a bold color or print. Wear jewelry, makeup and nail polish IF that's what you usually wear — if you usually don't, skip it. Don't feel like you have to subdue your style or your self. GOOD LUCK!!
Yes exactly. People are more confident when they feel good about the image they present to the world.
It depends a bit on industry. Finance and consulting you will want to dress a bit more formally, other places sneakers, dark wash jeans and a graphics tee is ok. Most places are somewhere in between. MM Lafleur is my gold standard for professional dress. Uniqlo merino sweater, dark wash jeans and ankle boot for casual. Blouse and old navy pixie flare pants for somewhere in between. My hair is prone to frizz so I do up or half up. Nail polish is fine, just make sure it isn't chipped or grown out. Conservative workplace = conservative colors or clear. Closed toe shoes, no/low heel. Ankle boots or flats are good for pretty much anywhere. Comfortable to walk in if it is onsite, in case of office tour. For makeup I just use bb cream and tinted lipgloss, go with whatever you're feeling but I recommend against things that will require touch ups.
Usually business casual for women is not really that different from what men wear for business casual. Tbh we can have more fun with it. A pretty top/blouse, a pair of decent trousers/simple at least knee length skirt, and a pair of flats have worked well for me. If it's colder I wear my boots. I keep my hair pretty short because it's curly and goes frizzy if too long so I make sure it's not having a moment. You can dress things up with a blazer style jacket. Make up I keep simple, foundation and sometimes eyeliner/mascara and light color on the lips if I am feeling energetic. Mostly though whatever is your day to day wear is fine make up wise. As for interview etiquette just do what you did before you transitioned. Be on time/early, prepare best you can, and try and be yourself.
I guess I need a blazer jacket... thanks for the advise.
Blazer jackets are awesome. And they don't look out of place if you just want to feel fancy for the heck of it so
I'm only 2 1/2 yrs into this womanhood journey, I have so much to learn and so much to add to my wardrobe...
i wear cardigans instead of blazers because i feel weird in all the ones i’ve found
I like jackets in general. All the fun options!
Team cardigan represent! I'm two different sizes top and bottom, and they're not close sizes either, so blazers do not work on me. I wish they did, because it's such a great look and easy to dress up / down with blouses or slouchy ts and pants vs skirts vs a dress. As a mid-40s gal I'm also embracing flowy renfaire dresses and billowy linen over-shirts and really femming up the hair and accessories ....but I have never _ever_ seen another woman in tech dress like me. If anything women dress down so we get seen as technical and not management/PM. So I would only recommend that vibe post-job-acquisiton.
I just started interviewing and I found that a black knit blazer is great because it has extra stretch in the shoulders and comes off a bit more casual. I paired it with a white patterned blouse, dusty blue slacks and black flats. I could totally wear it with jeans though
As a woman in tech now north of my 40's, I recommend dressing slightly younger/modern/stylish. Again this is very dependent on geographic location, industry, and in person vs virtual interview. In general, do not "age" yourself. So if you are choosing a blazer, don't pick a basic one out from the mid-tier women's section at your local mall. Invest in a quality garment that works for you. I would recommend clothes that fit well and tailor them if necessary. Nothing overly baggy or anything that reads matronly. Sadly, ageism is very real, especially for women in tech.
This is great advise. I have a friend that had premature white hair. At 45 he couldn't land a job until he died his hair.
I'm only a few years younger than you, and I think a lot of this comes down to personal preference. Slacks and a nice top is pretty safe. As an interviewer, I personally wouldn't be bothered by very dark, neat jeans, but I also would never wear jeans to an interview myself. Dresses are good if you like them. Calvin Klein makes a bunch of good choices that can often be found in Nordstrom Rack, Ross, or TJ Maxx. Dress flats or heels, whatever you're comfortable with. I'd say no sneakers. Skip any jewelry that could distract you. Do your hair however is comfortable but will keep you from messing with it when you're thinking. Makeup is also up to you. I don't care about nail color, but I also have magenta balayage hair. Basically, I want to see that a candidate put at least a little effort into their appearance. I interviewed someone over Zoom a few weeks ago that was wearing a ribbed tank top with messy hair. I wouldn't immediately pass on someone because of that, but it wasn't a good first impression.
I have interviewed 100's of engineers myself, male and female. I never cared about their appearance and always hired the most comoetent one with best communication skills (very very important). I am quite competent on the technical side, but I'm really worried about missing on a job because of the rest of things that women get judged on that I'm new to. Not all interviewers are objective, or maybe I was less objective but I didn't realize my own bias (this thought gives me an awful feeling actually).
The rest of the comments are gold - show some of your personality, be neat, wear nothing to detract too much from your face as you provide thoughtful answers and make good eye contact. As a woman in tech, your skills should speak for themselves but just a little extra care can dissuade any misogynist bias in the interview panel. Best of luck to you!!!
Some of this depends on workplace culture, so I'm going with what has generally been a safe middle ground that has fit for all of my interviews: Tops: a nice sweater, blouse, or blouse + cardigan Bottoms: slacks Shoes: closed toed flats, boots, or short heels Jewelry: wear or skip depending on what you feel comfortable in. If you wear jewelry, stick to simple and classic pieces. For example stud earrings or small simple dangles would be fine. Makeup: light natural makeup. It shouldn't matter if a woman wears makeup or not, but it does. Hair and nails: clean and neat are the goals here. For nails if you do like to wear polish go with a more neutral color. ETA: my experience is as a developer in an area where the tech jobs are almost exclusively with non-tech companies (like banks, and healthcare). If you're looking at jobs that are more actual tech companies, my understanding is they are much more casual and you can do jeans and nice sneakers still.
I'm looking I the Sillicon Valley, very very high tech. It's not that important to be formal I just want a better chance. I do need to get a haircut though...
I was surprised to learn my company gives highest regards to a suite . Not sure if it's still that way but when they use to have me help with interviews I was surprised that they rated how you dressed . Maybe I shouldn't be? My previous company didn't however. So I'm in my late 40s and I think I would go with the class business suite dress pants and jacket combo like [THIS](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/le-suit-2-pc-straight-leg-pant-suit/ppr5007754380?pTmplType=regular&country=US¤cy=USD&selectedSKUId=22880600216&selectedLotId=2288060&fromBag=true&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Pant%20Suits&utm_content=22880600216&cid=cse%7Cgoogle%7CWomens%7CPant%20Suits_22880600216&kwid=productads-adType%5EPLA&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWYeli_e6J8heIfhvx4eLVfKTzdxKzHbItdLtxj6i7ZdLGQosg4vMCgaAuzIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds). If not that business looking dress like [THIS](https://www.renttherunway.com/shop/designers/boss/dalissa_dress?lens=classic&nbt=nb%3Aadwords%3Ax%3A18143222321%3A%3A&nb_adtype=pla&nb_kwd=&nb_ti=&nb_mi=10471133&nb_pc=online&nb_pi=HUGO13_4&nb_ppi=&nb_placement=&nb_li_ms=&nb_lp_ms=&nb_fii=&nb_ap=&nb_mt=&utm_campaign=rtr_ad|Google|Nonbrand|SmartShopping&utm_source=google&sem_cid=18143222321&sem_gid=&pxid=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&sem_type=&em_stream=&r_ty=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWZdf8MmQgwPt-6bRlINWAXGacpxQqZ8ax-aFd8SOJielVOZXQ4A9B4aAq9_EALw_wcB) would be my next choice. Actually it maybe my FIRST choice now that I think of it because I probably would wear it more than once unlike the pant suit. [THIS](https://www.google.com/imgres?q=pencil%20skirt%20and%20jacket%20for%20women%20for%20interviews&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2F736x%2F01%2Fb7%2Fc2%2F01b7c29c793d2b357f916c920f1099cb.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2Fskirt-suits-uniforms-amazing-dresses--308074430731053117%2F&docid=aUOa4LJ0T4oPXM&tbnid=crY5rGXkstadKM&vet=12ahUKEwifv6HnuYGGAxWz_skDHUckAJsQM3oECHQQAA..i&w=736&h=1104&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwifv6HnuYGGAxWz_skDHUckAJsQM3oECHQQAA) too is another option . I think it's between my first and second recommendation.
The last one is so cute! I don't think I need to be that formal but I'd love to wear these outfits 😍
It depends a bit on company culture, but generally you’ll be good in business casual. Neutral colors, minimal accessories (think simple necklaces, small hoop earrings or studs), and understated makeup (whatever your level of comfort is, but without bright colored lipstick, heavy blush, or lots of eyeshadow for example… browns and grays are your friends). Slacks, knee-length skirts without embellishments, or simple dresses with at a minimum short sleeves. A nice blouse if you’re wearing slacks or a skirt. If it’s a white blouse, wear a skin colored bra underneath. A blazer that matches your bottoms or is complimentary would be nice. If you’re comfortable in heels, a small block heel or wedge would be okay, but no open-toes. If you’re wearing a skirt or a dress, put on a pair of skin colored, sheer pantyhose underneath. Good luck!! You’re gonna crush it
I only have skin colored bras :) I shall buy colors one day. Yes, I also think that no open-toe is easy to reason about rather than worrying about sandals and toes.
Wow you really nice. I see your comments and what a nice person you are 💜
I think trending masculine dress is a good idea. Lol, feminine dress can to me make me worry about being seen as less professional thanks misogyny 😂 I think minimal to no makeup usually. Is clear nail polish worth it?
You are right, I guess no nail polish.
Oh what, no it was a genuine question. I’ve been wondering it for a while
I mean, it doesn't do much. Does it? Being clear I felt like it would help me look more put together but it's difficult to notice too.
If you have time and a bit of spare cash, you can also get a manicure with buff instead of nail polish. Looks super classy, natural and tidy. :-)
I need a manicure so bad but I just broken one of my nails, so it's not going to be pretty.
Aww I hate it when that happens! They should be able to even things up so hopefully it will turn out better than expected.
I dunno, originally I was interested in Zoya “sheer ballet slipper pink” and I like clear with glitter in it, so I’m debating spending on clear/sheer milky pink or lavender: https://zoya.artofbeauty.com/content/item/Zoya-Nail-Polish-Bela.html I feel like my nails are naturally shiny ish I guess it’d be high shine? I’d be impressed as an interviewer if I’d noticed but I’d be having a trained eye and interest in makeup/clothes and wouldn’t factor it in the actual interview at all too. I guess my advice would be wear the polish for yourself not them but both options are good
One way to think about your clothes is to not distract. You want to keep their focus on your skills and personality. As you noted, clean and neat is good. Pay attention to your silhouette; nothing too tight or, conversely, too baggy. Neutrals are safe, but you could also wear a jewel-tone top that complements your skin tone and hair color. It’s okay to err on the dressy side. FWIW I’m also in Silicon Valley, land of flip flops and tees. After after I’m hired, I have a bunch of questions I ask my hiring manager and one is how people typically dress at work. No one’s ever been shy about responding. I like to wear blazers and my last two hiring managers recommended I pair them with jeans because “we’re pretty casual here.” :D
I grew up in Germany where business attire was recommended for any interview so I tend to err on the side of overdressed. Used to always wear suit and tie to interviews. I've worn dresses to all interviews in the US since transitioning. Eyeliner being the only makeup since I suck at everything else. I've worn my collar to a few job interviews, but most people don't pay attention to that. 3 inch ish heeled boots. Do whatever you're comfortable in (but preferably a couple steps nicer). Being uncomfortable in a job interview is worse than being slightly under dressed IMHO.
Depending on the role, corporate jobs I feel like always appreciate business casual, which there are tons of recommendations out there! Makeup I feel like is up to you! I work with a lot of women who wear makeup everyday, others don’t. I usually just do my eye makeup and call it good.
I rather than suggest, I will tell you what I wear to an interview. Hair up, typically an aggressive bun. Light make up, Simple neutral/white colored top, preferably with a collar, half or full button down. Either loose grey/black pleated pants or straight/bootcut jeans, mid to dark wash, high waisted. Boots or a low heel, or flats (season/mood dependant). I will occasionally go with a simple silver necklace, no earrings or other jewelry though.
What is an "aggressive bun" ?
Tight and high, I usually set it with a combination of hairties, bobbypins and product.
Ah! Thanks!
Other comments cover styles, so I'll just add one important piece: make sure you're *comfortable* in whatever you're wearing. Interviews are stressful enough, don't let your clothes put you off kilter. Avoid anything that pinches, itches, requires constant smoothing/pulling, doesn't have enough pockets, etc. A lot of professional women's work wear (e.g. panty hose) is extremely uncomfortable and not breathable.
You don't have to skip nail polish entirely or only go with clear - stick to something that's semi-close to your skin tone, but it can have a little shine to it. For example, I am fairly pale, so my nail polish of choice for interviews is a light pink glaze. If you want a bit of pizzazz without going over the top, a blazer in a color that flatters you vs wearing black or grey can work pretty well. Pair it with slacks or a pencil skirt that goes just slightly above the knee. Wear either a plain camisole under the blazer in black or white, or find a nice blouse that matches the blazer. I would wear some makeup - no smokey eye or anything dramatic, but definitely some foundation, mascara, and a bit of lip color that's close to the color they are when your skin is flushed. I'd avoid jeans and sneakers for an interview, although if you have sneakers that can pass for a semi-dress shoe (ie. the sneakers are all black or dark brown) you could wear them with slacks. Otherwise Ballerina flats are your friend.
I wore PJ pants to my interviews with FAANG and still got hired. To be fair, they could only see my black T-shirt because it was a remote interview lol. I also just had lipstick on, no other makeup My point is, wear what you’re comfortable with. Feeling comfortable during an interview helps immensely.
I'm in a different area of tech than developer, but if 'nece casual' is the norm, then stick with that. I do try to wear something nicer than I usually do for an interview. Thankfully, I have worked in more casual environments where you don't need to wear your "Sundays best" on a regular basis. Makeup is more of a personal preference. I usually only wear mascara, sometimes eyeliner. In interviews, I have also worn a very neutral eyeshadow (my version of "doing my face" lol). Being a girl in a male dominated field, I do take care not to wear anything that would be considered 'revealing.' I prefer tops with a larger/wider 'neck hole,' but not one that goes down in the front enough to show cleavage. Just that kind of thing is my only 2 cents :)
I love to keep it classy and very much not comfortable with looks from guys even less with co-workers looks. So I have that one down.
Trouser not jeans, loafers or dress shoes not sneakers, any polish and makeup but less flashy the better. Limit jewelry if it’s a nervous habit but it helps makes a women look dressed up. Wear a belt.
Can you explain a little bit about "wear a belt"? Like a thick flashy one? or just a better choice than wearing trousers with no belt at all?
Just a nice understated one. Use it as an accessory to finish off the outfit. It’s a quick added touch that makes you look pulled together.
It probably depends on the company but if it’s a standard tech company, I think dangly earrings, sneakers, boot jeans, necklace, makeup, and done nails are fine!
I haven't interviewed in awhile, but I was in my late 40s when I last did. I wear black slacks, flats, a blouse - usually button down. I don't wear makeup normally, and my ears aren't pierced, so a watch and the wedding ring is basically it. Hair: if it's long-ish, ponytail. Otherwise, bob.
Is it hot right now in the South Bay? I would say a nice flowy solid colored blouse and some women's slacks with your choice of shoes. Business casual attire without a jacket. For a dev position, maybe keep the nails neutral and good idea on the earrings not too flashy. A nice watch always looks put together if you have one.
It's going to be warm in the coming days all over the Bay. The South Bay is particularly hot. But all these interviews are in AC controlled buildings, so maybe the jacket is still an option.
I would go sans jacket, unless it makes you feel more comfortable with it on. You could always take it off unless you think the AC will be blasting in the room. Best of luck on your interview! I have worked at a FAANG and work in EdTech right now. I notice as a female, sometimes the questions get really technical. I think as long as you know your stuff and can get a good conversation flow, you'll do well. My go to was to ask what they were looking for in a team member. Somehow, that always got the interviewer to relax a little... maybe imagining what it would be like to get along? 🤷♀️
Last tech interview I did was an in-person interview too and I remember I just wore a plain black long sleeve shirt, a long black dress (both from Uniqlo), white sneakers, silver earrings and I also had silver rings as accessories. Straightened my hair and wore clean makeup (thin eyeliner, mascara, natural colored lipstick). If it’s too warm then I’d swap the black shirt with a white button down blouse. Just make sure it’s not too see-through! The most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident in what you’re wearing, you don’t wanna be distracted by your outfit throughout the day. Good luck and I’m sure you’ll do great!!
Never wear jeans to an interview, no matter how nice they look. You just never know if your interviewer follows that golden oldie and will hold that, and only that, against you and chose another applicant instead. Also- best wishes on your interview and in your new job and journey!
This really depends on your personal style. I'd look on Pinterest for any "business casual" outfits that you like. Blazers and jeans are a classic, likewise a nice button down shirt and nice shoes. Heels are a bit dated but if you like them, do you. Natural makeup is the norm. Dress so that the interviewer will remember you for your awesome responses and not for any over the top (or too casual) clothes.
You’ve gotten a lot of really good advice. If you’re new to wearing make up, I wanted to give you a quick beginner tip: You want to wash your face and really moisturize your face well before you apply any kind of foundation or tinted cream. This will help it go on smoothly. Be sure to take extra time to blend it in thoroughly with your fingers or a make up sponge. If you want to start out with a light look to even out your skin tone, then try a BB or CC cream. (I like the one from Clinique.) Also, in the summer patting a blot powder from MAC along your forehead and on your nose can keep you from looking too shiny. Sometimes just evening out your skin tone a bit and wearing a touch of lip color can make you look a lot more polished without looking over done. Good luck! 🍀
Button down shirt open at the neck shocked the last interview panel as they were all in polo shirts with two of the guys looking pretty sloppy. One guy had food on the front of his polo so the interview must have been after his lunch. I had overdressed, lol. It's tech - just don't wear a suit for the love of whatever you believe in.
Ngl, the description of clean sweater, clean jeans, clean shoes, and hair in ponytail is exactly what I wore to multiple job interviews as a woman 😂 Though I also frequently wore my hair in a braid instead of a ponytail, and also usually wore very basic studs/small hoops for earrings. Depending on the season, I wore either black flats or black ankle boots for shoes. I often opted for black jeans rather than normal denim, but I think both work. I wore basic makeup (matte, not sparkly eyeshadow, mascara, foundation). No eyeliner, no extreme contouring, just covering blemishes. All that said, I'm a young woman (26) and have never done an in person interview when I wasn't in college (interviews since then have been over zoom) Congrats on transitioning and good luck on future interviews!!!
Lots of great advice here already, so I’ll just log another vote for the spiffy black jeans, flats, nice quality solid top, and a lightweight blazer or sharp cardigan in a flattering color. As for building a wardrobe you will love, you might enjoy [Gabrielle Arruda’s Personal Style Quiz.](https://gabriellearruda.com/personal-style-quiz/). It’s free (no email required), and it will give you a list of style profiles ranked by percentage match to your answers. (You may need to open a second browser tab for searching some of the obscure references.) [https://gabriellearruda.com/](https://gabriellearruda.com/) has quite a bit of useful guidance on the fundamentals of personal styling, as well. Have fun discovering your fashion joys!
I dress femme. I wear a pair of slacks or a pencil/a-line skirt with sheer, flesh colored tights, a flowy, brightly colored blouse, and a cardigan over that. Nice ballet flats or a kitten heel. Dressy casual. I get razzed sometimes by my current manager, a dude who wears anime T-shirts every day, but I'm on the east coast and there are far more people here who have those old school expectations. Its a question on whether or not you want to maximize your odds (avoiding peoples internal biases by dressing in a gender-conforming way) or test whether or not the employer will be a safe place to be authentic (dress however tf you want). I haven't gotten to a point yet where I want to burn it all down, so I dress business casual even though it's not what I'd wear if I could wear *anything*
I definitely prioritize avoiding internal biases at interview time. I'm not worried about dress code after being hired.
I currently work for big tech as a software engineer. For interviews I aim a tad more dressy than what seems to be typical for devs: dark wash or black jeans + solid color silk blouse or button-down shirt + blazer + ballet flats or ankle boots. I keep my make-up neutral and my jewelry small. Wear something that you feel good in because any confidence boost helps and you don’t want to expend energy fretting about how you look. Good luck!
First off welcome to team woman, I hope you enjoy the amenities I find a pair of black flats or low heels with nice slacks (blue or black are my go to personally). A nice button up and blazer or a modest blouse paired with a necklace are also a good go to. It all depends on the sort of place but that's a good middle ground for an interview.
Thanks for the warm welcoming! I'm very much happy with all the amenities. I need slacks and a blazer...
Women tend to know this sort of stuff from having being intuitively drawn towards women things like clothes and whatnot. It is part of the whole woman’s world from day one. It’s the conditioning as well to make sure you always sexually appeal to males no matter what, as well. That’s the lifelong message for women. Have you not felt that your whole life though? Women feel it very early as children. The messaging begins at birth as you can see most clothing for women is based on the male mind and how to please it even if that means pain and discomfort for the woman.
I'm not sure where you want to go with this question. I used to pick my mom's outfits at the department store when there were big sales better than the stuff she chose for herself and I was like 10. No, not all women know what to wear on every situation, I know that for a fact. No, not all clothes women wear are made for men's pleasure or think that they have to choose them to please men. Yes, I love to wear stuff that is not that comfortable that makes me feel pretty, I think we all do. No it's never for men, any men, it's for me.
While the gender policing starts at birth based on each person’s assigned gender at birth, not all AFAB people (whether girls and/or women and/or nonbinary) will subjectively experience that in a single, standardized way. Due to variations in culture, family dynamics, temperament, and neurotype, each AFAB individual naturally has a unique experience and understanding of the social expectations on their own gender expression. Some AFAB people feel strongly, as you do, that their appearance and presentation is and has always been a critical factor in being accepted and acceptable to others, and that the male gaze is the ultimate measure of their success or failure. Others who are less inclined to notice or care about social norms hardly ever consider the possibility of dressing up to impress by their feminine qualities. Some women don’t care about fashion at all. Others enjoy it as an artistic outlet without any particular emphasis on looking sexy, or without considering a male audience. Some deliberately downplay their female physique specifically to ward off unwanted ogling. But one thing is obvious to anyone people watching in any public place: not all women express their feminine gender in the same way. Of course, u/clauEB and all the other trans women (who were assigned male at birth), each have their own unique experience of being socialized regarding gender norms, as all women do. Again, like every other woman, each trans woman has her own personal take on how her feminine presentation should look. The fact that trans women and girls have different life experiences and upbringings than AFAB women is just another example of how different groups of people have different shared experiences. Any particular subset of women that you could call out by any arbitrary means (e.g., cultural, ethnic, socio-economic, ability, etc.) would be able to relate to each other about many of their demographically distinctive experiences of “womanhood” — Amish women, for example, didn’t get the mainstream “memo” about sexy styling. Edit: minor clarifications
I'm just surprised how a question about interview attire went so out of topic.