The dress code for interviews at top consulting firms such as McKinsey, BCG or Bain is the professional business attire. Suits must be dark and neutral colored (black or dark gray is the best), with matching belts, socks and shoes. Accessories should be subtle. Women can choose between skirt suits or pantsuits, but must remain conservative.
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2. Consulting Interview Dress Code – Specific Rules
Now here come details of McKinsey Interview dresscode . Every tiny part MUST be as polished as possible. And, here’s how!
Attire
MEN | WOMEN | |
---|---|---|
Outfit | You are wearing a suit. End of story! Wear a crisp, clean and well-ironed suit that fits you like a glove. Color option? Black will do! Remember the conservative rule. Sometimes, navy blue, gray or warm brown will do you just fine but why risking it? One more important rule to remember is how to button your suit. If you go for the two-button suit, you should not have both buttons fastened, just seal the top one. The three-button suit, on the other hand, goes with the simple golden rule: “sometimes, always, never” (from top to bottom). For the shirt, wear no loud color, or bold patterns whatsoever. Just go with the boring plain white. You should make sure there is no stain or hole in your outfit as well. | It is also appropriate for ladies to wear a suit to a formal management consulting interview. You can wear either a pantsuit or skirt suit, your choice. However, if you decide to go for a skirt suit, pick something that is just above your knees, or 3cm higher maximum. For the blouse, pick one that fits your silhouette. See-through, lacy, or any kind of top that shows too much of your skin (i.e. cleavage) must be avoided as well. White, button-up top is a no-brainer for everybody. When in doubt, go with that. Finally, put on a touch of professionalism with a well-tailored jacket or blazer and you are good to go! |
Footwear | The safest choice for you is the traditional black pair of shoes. In some cases, you can wear a brown belt with brown shoes. (just make sure they match). Go back to rule #1, just go for black. The more important thing than color is to make sure your shoes are polished and shiny. No one likes dirty shoes. Also, an outfit mistake I have seen so many gentlemen made is their choice of socks. Please wear dark-colored (black preferred) socks with your shoes. Nothing is more unappealing than seeing white or cartoon-patterned socks popping out of your feet. My boss actually rejected a candidate because of that sole reason. | I cannot stress enough how important it is NOT to wear open-toe or open-back shoes to a conservative work environment. No one needs to see such parts of your body. Instead, opt for well-polished black shoes, with no crazy patterns on it. Also, you should not wear heels that are too high, because you may lose the image of an active, smart and dynamic candidate by trying too hard to walk on those heels. |
Accessories | One of the most critical elements for any professional male outfit is the tie. Your tie should be solid or in subtle stripes, with the color that is neutral and goes well with your skin color or your eyes. The knot should be neat and symmetrical as well. Another element of a perfect male suit is the belt. Make sure you choose one with simple metal buckle and color that matches your suit. Besides, wearing a watch is always a bonus point. | Again, you can leave all your statement pieces of jewelry at home. It is best wearing no accessories at all, especially colorful hair bands or chunky necklaces that make a lot of tingling noise. However, if you have a sentimental piece, something you consider your “lucky charm”, you can definitely wear it. Just make sure that it does not grasp too much attention or make any unwanted sound during your interview. |
Makeup | No. Don’t. | I have seen a lot of women wondering how to look the most “appealing” when having a special occasion, whether it’s a date or a job interview. My advice to you is: you don’t need to be. You don’t need to put on so much makeup for others to like you. Let makeup enhance the best features of you, which is quite enough! Therefore, I suggest you go for neutral makeup. Use a concealer to cover any blemishes you may have, draw your eyebrows naturally so it can frame your face, and put on some my-lips-but-better lipstick. Trust me, you feel way more confident but not too overpowering so that the interviewer gets bad impression. |
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