Case Interview General McKinsey Interview dresscode and appearance

• Body’s odor: Take a good shower in the morning before you leave. After that, wear deodorant. This may sound trivial but believe me, so many people forget that simple act. Avoid wearing perfume on that day, because no matter how much you adore your signature perfume scent, you never know if the interviewer likes it or not. Don’t give him/her any excuse to be uncomfortable and end the interview early, just because he/she doesn’t like how you smell.
• Hair grooming: If you are a man, my advice is to cut or trim your hair 3 days or 1 week prior to the interview. Do not overdo anything: either cut it too short or style it with too much hair gel that it looks greasy and spikey. Your hair just needs to look neat and clean. Something like this:

For women, being neat in your hairstyles is the most important thing. You can put your hair up in an updo, or down in a low ponytail. It’s fine if you prefer to put your hair down naturally like you are used to, but make sure it looks healthy with decent volume: not too flat, not too big, not too frizzy or shiny.

• Oral hygiene: Don’t forget to check your teeth before coming in the interview room. Some people these days still don’t get this right. Ideally, brush your teeth and rinse with mouthwash after breakfast.

• Other grooming tips: Consider removing all facial hair, especially for men. No matter how hard you grow your “perfect” moustache, seriously consider shaving it. You can grow it back after getting the offer! And ladies, you are unlikely to be accepted if hair from unwanted areas can be seen, such as armpits, legs (if you wear a skirt), or face. Also, if you have the habit of snacking on your cuticles, try to refrain it. Not only is it an unhealthy habit to own, but it is annoying to see any candidate with dirty and broken fingernails (especially when you have a female interviewer). Finally, use some lip balm. Sometimes, it is so distracting to see someone with cracked lips.