Everyone wants to put their best foot forward in an interview, and what you wear plays a big part in helping you land the job! Dressing professionally shows the interviewer how serious you are about getting the position. Set yourself up to (positively) stand out from the competition by making the right choice in attire. Below is our helpful guide to picking the perfect interview shoes for women.
A good rule of thumb is that it’s better to be slightly overdressed, rather than underdressed. What may be okay in a day-to-day office environment may not be acceptable for an interview.
When choosing shoes for an interview, women have a lot of options – so how do you know which pair to pick?
High-Heels
Dress heels are an appropriate choice for most professional positions and can be worn with business-casual attire to dress your outfit up a bit.
When choosing which pair of pumps to wear, keep a few things in mind:
- Colors/Patterns – Solid colored shoes are best.
- Heel Height – Opt for pumps shorter than 4 inches.
- Platform – Choose a heel without a platform.
After your interview, the hiring manager may want to give you a tour of their office space, so make sure you’re comfortable walking in the shoes you choose. If you want to wear heels but aren’t comfortable with stilettos, opt for a chunkier heel.
Flats
Flats are (almost) always appropriate for an interview setting. When deciding on a pair, make sure they’re clean, in good shape, and look professional.
Choose a flat that’s made from suede, leather, or pleather. Cotton flats are not suitable for interviews.
Try to choose a shoe that’s a solid color. Prints and bling may be distracting – you want the interviewer to focus on you, not your shoes!
Sandals
Sandals are light shoes, usually with straps. Strappy and open-toed shoes may violate a company’s dress code so they’re generally best to steer clear of for an interview.
In some areas, sandals are considered appropriate office footwear; our advice is to err on the side of caution and go with a more conservative pair of shoes.
Flip-Flops
Unfortunately for beach lovers everywhere, flip-flops are not suitable shoes for a job interview.
Open-Toed
It’s generally believed that open-toed shoes are not appropriate for a business-casual environment.
Some areas, specifically in tropical environments, open-toed shoes may be acceptable office attire. Unless you know the company’s dress code, it’s best to avoid open-toed shoes when dressing for an interview.
Sneakers
Athletic shoes may be suitable office footwear in a business casual environment, but an interview should be treated as a special occasion. If you’re looking for comfort, choose a pair of flats rather than sneakers.
Personal Style
Many interview attire guides tell their readers to opt for conservative colors like blue, black, gray, and white. We believe that in business casual settings, most colors are acceptable. (Although we do recommend staying away from neons and crazy patterns.) The point of an interview is for you and the company to decide whether or not you’d be a good fit in their organization, so if you’re a person who loves pink, or any other color, feel free to express yourself by wearing it!
