In an age of remote and hybrid work, it’s becoming increasingly common for interviews to happen virtually. Most of today’s business leaders, hiring managers, and recruitment companies find they can save a lot of time and effort by conducting interviews via video.
Nutmeg Education reports that in 2025 over 60% of companies are conducting video interviews on a regular basis. That’s good news for a lot of job candidates. It means you don’t have to make the trip to some distant location to find an office or risk getting lost.
Plus, video interviews can sometimes feel less daunting than in-person interactions because you can do them from the comfort of your home.
Unfortunately, working from home and interacting over video has also led to more people failing to dress to impress for their interviews.
What You Wear Matters
It’s easy to assume you can wear business casual dress to an interview via video, particularly if your would-be employer knows you will be talking to them from home.
However, it’s important to remember what you wear still plays a significant part in making the right first impression on your would-be employer.
A video interview is your first chance to make a lasting first impression on your hiring manager. Even if you’re at home, your attire should be as professional as it would be if you were in person.
Interestingly, there are some additional rules to consider when participating in an interview via video. Certain colors and outfits can show up differently over video compared to if you are in person.
What to Wear for a Video Interview: Colors
The colors you wear for your video interview are important for a number of reasons. Color psychology suggests that we associate certain colors with specific characteristics.
For instance, white shows professionalism, security, and a well-organized nature. However, it can also make you look drained if you’re pale and sitting in a room without much color.
Blue demonstrates confidence, trustworthiness, and a commitment to being a team player, while black conveys a sense of sophistication and leadership. Grey is often a good color for many people because it’s associated with logic, independence, and analytical nature.
It’s best to stick to one main color and an accompanying color if possible (like gray and white). Too many colors can draw attention away from you.
Certain colors can also say the wrong thing about you. For instance, orange is often voted the worst color to wear in a job interview, and red is frequently associated with defiance and hostility.
If you’re going to be using a virtual background to hide the clutter in your home office or living room, you’ll also need to think about which colors will blend into your background. You don’t want your torso to disappear.
Golden Interview Rules to Follow
Outside of choosing the right colors, there are a few other things you’ll need to consider when dressing for your video interview. For instance:
- Follow the company standard: Pay attention to what people from the interviewing company tend to wear. This provides insight into how formal you should go with your clothing. Dress smart, but don’t go over the top when in doubt. You want to be polished and professional. Even if the company has a casual dress code, stay clear of T-shirts, jeans, and sandals.
- Know your webcam: Your webcam might pick up some colors better than others. It’s worth looking at how you appear on camera in different outfits before you choose one. In particular, try to avoid wearing too many patterns, as they can blur together and get distracting when in a video feed.
- Consider makeup and hair carefully: You don’t have to wear makeup to a job interview, and you should be careful if you do. Think about how the makeup will look on camera and whether it might come across as too much. Your hair should be neat and natural-looking.
- Keep accessories classy: Less is more with jewelry and accessories. If you tend to wear statement necklaces and earrings, skip them during your video interview, as they can tend to pick up glare from the screen and lighting around you.
Remember To Be Comfortable
Finally, you also want to feel comfortable and confident. If you feel good about yourself, you’re likelier to let this confidence shine through in the interview. Additionally, feeling comfortable can be useful in a nerve-wracking interview situation.The last thing you want is to be stressed about a tight-fitting shirt when you’re already nervous.
Plan your clothing, hair, makeup, and accessories in advance so there are no surprises for you. Then, practice on your webcam with a friend to see if your phone or laptop is at the right angle to highlight your face and upper torso and has the right background and lighting. You are then ready for the “camera, action, lights!”
To your Career Success,
Katie Weiser
© Katie Weiser, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Katie Weiser with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
