How Should I Dress For OCIs?

How Should I Dress For OCIs?

First impressions can be very important during an on-campus interview (OCI).  However, you want your overall lasting impression to be your personality and skills as opposed to your appearance.  This means that a good amount of thought needs to go into how you dress for OCIs.  You want to look professional, but you don’t want to be remembered for your clothes.  In this post, we give you some tips on how to dress for OCIs.

How Should I Dress For OCIs?

1. A suit is highly advisable

It might not be the most comfortable or the cheapest option, but a suit is highly recommended when you dress for OCIs.  You want to look as professional as possible.  You should also assume that all of the other candidates are going to be wearing a suit.  If you don’t, you will stand out.  You don’t want to be remembered as that person who didn’t put in the effort to wear a suit.  Present yourself at your absolute best – and your best is in a suit.

2. Solid, not bright colors

Another consideration for how you dress for OCIs is your shirt (and for males: tie) choice.  Again, you are not trying to be remembered for your clothes.  Let your personality do the talking. Your clothes are just along for the ride.   Avoid bright colors; neutrals or pastels are preferable.  Your goal is not to be the “crazy tie guy” or the “hot pink girl.”  Keep it subtle and professional.

3. Women should dress conservatively

Women have it a bit rougher when it comes to deciding how to dress for OCIs.  There are far more options for women, as well as varying expectations of society in terms of how a woman is expected to look.  In an OCI situation, the safer choice would be to select a skirt/suit jacket combination with a skirt that reaches the knee. If you prefer a pantsuit, that is fine too. A skirt is more traditional. Remember to not wear a low cut shirt or anything that could be described as revealing.

4. Clean and neat

Considering how to dress for OCIs is about more than just what clothes to wear.  You also need to think about your overall appearance.  Clean and neat grooming is an absolute must.  Present yourself as clean-cut.  Just like with the color of your clothes, keep make-up simple and subtle.  If you have a manicure, make sure it is professional and not chipped.  Remember that your interview might be at the end of a long day and there won’t be time to touch up your makeup or fix your hair.  A natural look will keep the focus where it belongs – on yourself as an individual and what skills you can bring to the firm as opposed to your appearance

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