What to Wear to a Teacher Interview: Outfit Ideas & Tips

If you have a teaching interview coming up, you might be wondering what to wear to a teacher interview. It can feel overwhelming when you don’t know the dress code of a school and you’re looking for a new teaching position. Let’s talk about professional attire in front of the interview committee so you can nail that teacher interview!

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Teaching Interview Attire

Whether you fall into the new teachers category or you’re an old hand at this, you want to make a good impression! Your clothing is close to the first thing people will see when you walk into the interview room, so how can you make the focus on what you have to say, and not your outfit choice? Potential employers will judge you on these choices so let’s set a few ground rules to help you pick the right outfit:

• think business casual, not casual attire
• low heels are fine, avoid tennis shoes during the interview
• a business suit isn’t necessary, but if you’re torn, lean towards a more formal occasions outfit over something more casual
• bright colors and patterns are fine – the key is that you are comfortable and confident!

Let’s look at some ideas from head to toe!

Hair and Makeup

Talking about personal grooming feels a bit silly, but it is something you want to consider when preparing for your teaching interview. Think of a clean, polished look for your hair and makeup (if you plan to wear any). Make sure your hair is washed (forget the wash schedule for the interview, trust me!), and at the very least you should style your hair. If you are someone who plays with hair when you get nervous, tie it back so it’s out of your face and easy reach. Fiddling with hair makes you look nervous and is distracting to a conversation while you’re responding to interview questions. 

If facial hair is part of your look, make sure it’s well groomed and trimmed so as to look professional. If you have facial piercings, such as nose rings or lip rings, consider removing them for the interview process. Depending on the district’s policy, you may be able to wear them during in the classroom. If your piercings are worth the job to you, leave them in. You’ll know if the school setting is a good fit for you or not pretty quickly on the day of your interview! Some schools don’t mind, some do, so it might be worth being a bit more conservative in dress until you can feel out the school setting.

Jewelry and Accessories

​We already talked about facial piercings, but that same advice applies to any other piercings. Think put together and professional when you’re getting dressed. I’m not a big earrings gal, but if I’m choosing between big, bright, tassels like the ones I’m wearing here or small hoops, I’m going to go for the smaller ones during an interview process. Simple jewelry is just a little detail that won’t take attention away from what you have to say while speaking with the interview panel!

Color Options

Often you’ll hear that you should wear a neutral color or at least a solid color. It’s not uncommon to see a black blazer, blue blazer, or dress pants with a white button up shirt listed as ideal for your teaching job interview. If you’re comfortable in classic color options like navy blue, go for it!

However, there’s nothing wrong with a pop of color, a subtle pattern adding some fun, or bright colors as long as you feel confident walking in to see the interviewing committee. A bit ago I was introduced to a color analysis system and it’s really opened up a world of options for me in terms of professional appearance and making a great first impression. 

​What to Wear to a Teacher Interview

​There are two main things you need to consider when selecting your clothes for a teaching interview to choose the perfect outfit.

1. Professional appearance
2. Comfortable confidence

A lint roller and pocket square won’t save you if you picked out a new outfit that just isn’t you. Your body language will communicate to anyone that it isn’t the right fit – and you might not be for the job, either! That’s definitely not desired. A few options for combinations for your teacher interview outfit:

• blazer, button-up shirt, dress slacks, dress shoes
• a simple dress and nice shoes
• dress shirt and pants

These outfit “recipes” might not be very inspiring, but they are tried and true! You can add a dash of personality through colors and accessories, but remember that you want to lean towards a more formal attire and a professional look, especially in your first interview. If you’re looking for your dream teaching job, it’s okay to skip the full suit, but you do want to show the education world your put together side.

What NOT to Wear to a Teacher Interview

I just had a minor flashback to Stacy and Clinton on What Not to Wear, but here we are. There are definitely some items you just shouldn’t wear to your teacher interview, even if they are totally your style. Pieces to avoid in your teacher interview outfit:

• casual clothes
• items with a distracting pattern
• short hemlines
• an ill-fitting suit

Again, you can certainly rock a bright blouse, but just make sure to avoid those clothing items above that make you look sloppy or unprofessional. Yikes!

Teaching Interview Attire

I hope this post has been helpful for you as you’re on the hunt for a new teaching role. Remember, comfortable confidence & professional appearance, and you’ll be sure to nail the interview! Good luck on your job search!

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​Related Posts

Check out the following tips for more support on your teacher interview journey:

• Teacher Interview Questions
• Questions to Ask During an Interview
• Red Flags in an Interview
• Demo Lesson Tips and Ideas for Teacher Interviews