Plus Size Job Interview Outfits

Posted by Jen Anderson on May 04, 2021

Job interviews are all about making a good first impression. Your clothes can do a lot of the work for you, but there's no one job interview outfit anymore. A suit is the right choice for some industries and the worst possible choice for others. And plus size women are already fighting an uphill battle in the job market, so the right job interview outfit can help further your career and increase your income.

That's a lot of pressure to put on outfit, but don't worry - I have ideas.

Dress for Your Body

As always, wear clothes that fit you properly. If your lucky interview suit is too small now (or too big), don't wear it. If separates aren't your friend, wear a dress such as Vikki Vi's Sleeveless Shift Dress.

You can't go wrong with black, though a different color may help you stand out from everyone else. A job interview probably isn't the time for a lime green pantsuit, but blue, red, or purple would make the right kind of impact.

Dress For the Industry

Not every industry expects you to dress conservatively for an interview, though you should dress relatively more conservatively than you would on the job. You don't want to look out of touch, and you do want to let the hiring manager know that you'd be a good fit for the company.

woman wearing a print kimono jacket over a solid tank

For retail, dress more casually and stylishly. For a law firm, wear black or navy - a makeshift suit or a dress with jacket. For tech companies go super casual, but not sloppy - try pull on pants with a 3/4 sleeve top and maybe a swing vest. Techies are easily spooked by people who are much cooler than they are, so now is not the time for a statement jacket. Jeans, a shell and a boyfriend cardigan are appropriate for a job interview at a tech startup.

For a job in the arts, let your creativity shine through. Prints and bold colors are the way to go. But you still want to look serious, so leave the statement jackets home. They want to know that they can introduce you to clients without you coming off as an eccentric artist.

Dress to Look Smart

That means clothes that fit well - something that's too tight here and too loose there is going to be distracting and might create the impression that you don't know how to dress yourself. Don't show too much skin - keep those arms covered. Not because your upper arms will make you look incompetent. Cover up to show that you understand how to dress in a professional setting. Do it to look serious. (Yes, that's a weird and arbitrary rule, but we live in a weird and arbitrary world.)

Don't wear anything distracting - leave the chunky necklace and brightly colored scarf home.

Dress for Confidence

Confidence in your skills and abilities is the most powerful weapon you can bring into a job interview. Wear an outfit that you know looks good on you. And don't forget to read over your resume beforehand to remind yourself how amazing you are.

Shop Classics now so you'll be ready for your next job interview.

Check out our other posts about working while plus size.

4 Comments

It was a wonderful idea, dress like you speak for it. This can help to those people who have a job interview and don’t have an idea what to wear.

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—Melissa french, May 21, 2018

Wonderful ideas Jen and I love the most important thing you said- dress so you feel confident! I really think a baseline of Vicki V black and or navy will fill the bill-I loved the examples you showed us- sometimes a little color with the top with an otherwise conservative outfit is just right. After reading this article I am thinking the first thing I am going to do is update my Vicki V black base and add in some navy which I have not yet tried. Thanks for another inspiring blog.

—Kristy healy, January 11, 2018

I interview and hire lots of people for my company, Jen, and I prefer those that dress conservatively. This shows me that they are serious about the job. I agree that things are more casual in high tech, but that does not mean you should show up looking sloppy or unwashed. Neat, clean with conservative colors is best. The one absolute NO-NO is showing cleavage. This is not an interview for a Las Vegas show girl. Show some modesty and courtesy to impress the interviewer.

—Rosemary coates, January 10, 2018

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