No Pants for an Interview? That’s a Problem. Treat Video Interviews Like an In-Person Interview.

If you have a video interview coming up, there’s one piece of advice that may sound obvious but is still worth repeating: dress up as if you’re in person.

Seriously.

At Endeavor Agency, we’ve had highly accomplished professionals show up for practice interviews wearing only the top half of a professional outfit and wearing just boxers or gym shorts. They were supposedly dressed for the interview, at least from what the camera saw. The problem was that they were counting on the camera staying in the same position.

Until it didn’t.

That’s one of the strange things about video interviews. Because you’re sitting at home, it’s easy to forget that you’re still in an actual interview. You’re not walking into a conference room; instead, you may be sitting at your kitchen table or in your home office. The interviewer could be hundreds of miles away.

It feels more casual, which can cause problems.

Key Takeaways

• A video interview is still a real job interview, even when you’re sitting at home.
• Dress appropriately from head to toe. You never know when you may need to stand up or move your camera.
• Research the company and position to determine the right level of interview attire.
• Test your camera, microphone, lighting, background and internet connection before the interview.
• Treat a video interview with the same preparation and professionalism as an in-person interview.

A Video Interview Is Still an Interview

Workplace dress has become more casual over the years, and remote and hybrid work have changed the way many people think about professional appearance. That can make interview attire harder to figure out. Do you need a suit? Is business casual enough? What if the interviewer is wearing a polo shirt? Those are fair questions.

The answer depends on the company, the position, and the culture. You should research the organization and pay attention to how people in similar positions present themselves. If you’re interviewing for a senior leadership position at a financial services company, you may need a very different look than you would for a technology startup.

However, uncertainty about what to wear doesn’t mean anything goes. A video interview should receive the same level of preparation and professionalism as an in-person interview. Your answers, experience, and communication matter. And yes, the way you present yourself matters, too.

That’s especially true for executives and other senior professionals. When you’re interviewing for a leadership position, the company isn’t just deciding whether you can do the work. They’re deciding whether they can see you representing the organization to stockholders and an executive board, and even more so if you’ll have a public-facing role.

Yes, You Still Need to Wear Pants

You may be thinking, "If they can’t see my pants, why does it matter?" The simple answer is that you don’t know what’s going to happen during the interview. Maybe you need to stand up to grab a piece of paper or accidentally bump your laptop. Maybe someone knocks on the door, or your pet gets in the way, and you need to deal with them. Suddenly, those pajama pants weren’t such a great idea.

There’s another reason to get fully dressed for a video interview. It changes the way you approach the meeting.

When you get dressed for an interview, you’re telling yourself this is important. You’re creating a mental separation between sitting at home and going to work. That can help you get into the right mindset before the interview starts. You don’t necessarily need to wear a suit. You do need to dress appropriately for the opportunity, which means wearing a full workplace-appropriate outfit.

People Really Are Getting Caught

If you think the no-pants problem is just an old joke from the early days of remote work, it isn’t.

Recently, someone posted on Reddit about an online interview where a cat caused a distraction. The candidate needed to get up to deal with it, then realized they were wearing pajama pants. Fortunately, they caught the problem and adjusted the camera before standing up.

It’s funny when it happens to someone else. It wouldn’t be nearly as funny if it happened to you during an interview for your next job.

The bigger lesson is that you can’t always predict what will happen during a video interview. Pets, children, delivery drivers, technology problems, and other interruptions can happen even when you’ve prepared carefully.

That’s why you should be ready for the unexpected. Part of that preparation is making sure there’s nothing about your appearance that could become an embarrassing problem.

What Should You Wear for a Video Interview?

There isn’t one right answer for every interview.

Start by researching the company. Look at its website and social media accounts. Pay attention to how executives and employees present themselves. If you’re working with a recruiter, you can also ask about the company’s culture and expectations.

Then consider the position.

The person interviewing for a CEO position should probably approach the question differently from someone interviewing for an individual contributor role. The more senior the position, the more important it becomes to think about the complete impression you’re making. When you’re unsure, it’s usually better to be slightly more polished than too casual.

That might mean a dress shirt or blouse, slacks, a jacket, or another business-appropriate outfit. A suit may still make sense in a more formal environment. At a casual company, it probably doesn’t.

The goal isn’t to look like someone you’re not. The goal is to look like someone who understands the opportunity and took the time to prepare for it.

Make sure the entire outfit is appropriate. You don’t want to be sitting there in a jacket, dress shirt, and tie while wearing the same shorts you wore to mow the lawn.

Your Clothing Is Only Part of the Picture

There’s another difference between a video interview and an in-person interview. The interviewer gets a look at your environment.

That means you need to think about what’s behind you, where your camera is positioned, and how you’re lit. You don’t need an expensive home studio, but you should have a professional setting without unnecessary distractions.

Test your camera and microphone before the interview. Make sure your internet connection is working. Close unnecessary programs and notifications. Have your resume and the job description nearby. Finally, check the camera angle.

You don’t want to discover five minutes before the interview that your camera is pointed at the ceiling.

These details may seem small, but they’re easy to control. When you’re preparing for an important interview, you want to spend your energy talking about your experience and the value you can bring to the company, not worrying about whether your technology is going to cooperate.

If you’re preparing for a high-level interview, executive interview preparation can make a difference. Practicing your answers and getting comfortable on camera can help you focus on the conversation instead of the technology.

Treat the Interview Like a Real Meeting

One of the biggest mistakes people make with video interviews is allowing the setting to make the meeting feel less important.

You should approach a video interview the same way you would approach an important meeting at the company’s office. Be prepared. Be on time. Know who you’re meeting with. Understand the position. Research the company. Have good questions ready. Dress appropriately.

Your clothing won’t get you the job by itself, but it is part of the overall impression you make.

That matters even more when you’re competing for a leadership position. Your interviewer is evaluating more than your resume. They’re looking at how you communicate, how you think, how you handle questions, and whether they can picture you working with their team.

That’s why the best-qualified candidate doesn't always get the job. Being qualified gets you into the conversation, but how you present your experience and value impacts what happens next.

Don’t Let Something Easy to Control Become a Problem

There are plenty of things in a job search that you can’t control, like the number and quality of other applicants, the network of the hiring manager(s), or if the company changes course and doesn’t fill the position.

What you do control is how you show up for an interview. Prepare your answers. Research the company. Test your technology. Make sure your background looks professional.

And put on pants. A video interview may be taking place in your home, but it’s still an interview. Treat it that way.

At Endeavor, we spend a lot of time helping executives prepare for interviews because the interview is about much more than answering questions. It’s about communicating your value, telling your career story, and showing the company why you’re the right person for the opportunity.



Before your next video interview, check your camera, microphone, background, and outfit, because you never know when you’ll have to stand up.