You’ve landed the Skype interview, and now you don’t know what to wear. Welcome back for the second installment of Skype Interview 101. When figuring out how to dress appropriately for a skype interview, there are some do’s and don’ts to follow.

Let’s discuss what you should do and mistakes you should avoid in determining what to wear for your skype interview.

Do Dress to Impress

The first thing you should do is figure out what the appropriate level of dress is for the industry your interviewing in. Some may be business casual while others will want you in more professional business attire.

If you aren’t sure, here are some ways to find out:

• Review the company’s website or social media to see what employees are wearing.
• Research the industry to determine level of dress.
• Ask your recruiter or hiring manager.

When in doubt, go conservative over casual. That means a dress suit (pants or skirt for women) in a neutral color like brown, black, or navy. Include matching dress shoes and understated statement jewelry (necklace and/or earrings for women, tie pin and cufflinks for men).

Do Dress From Head to Toe

You may wonder if you have to get fully dressed for a video interview. After all, they’re only going to see you from about chest level and up, right?

Maybe, maybe not. What if you have to stand up to adjust your monitor? Or get a file or note? Better to be safe by wearing the entire outfit, just in case.

Plus, you’ll get in “interview mode” easier if you are fully dressed. You already get to stay in the comfort of your own home, don’t ruin your chances by being too casual.

Don’t Forget to Groom

Men, that means you want to be clean-shaven. If you have a beard, make sure it’s shaped up to look nice. Comb your hair and style it if needed.

For longer hair, pull it back so it’s off your face. Keeping your hair out of your face goes for short hair as well. A simple style is all that’s needed to make a positive impression.

Nails should be neat and short, with a subdued color if painted. Save the statement nails until after your interview.

Don’t Wear Busy Colors or Flashy Jewelry

You don’t want to wear anything that could distract you or your interviewer. This means busy patterns, like herringbone or plaid, should not be worn.

Also, avoid any jewelry that makes noise, like charm bracelets. No shiny earrings or necklaces, either.

Do Consider the Room Lighting

As you learned in our last Skype Interview 101 article, you need to practice your setup before the interview takes place. Do a dress rehearsal where you get completely dressed for the interview, down to makeup (if you’re wearing any).

Try to rehearse around the same time of day as your interview. You can make sure your outfit looks right with the room color and lighting tones, and tweak makeup colors as needed.

If you need more light, use a lamp and set it in different locations to put you in the best light.

Don’t Avoid Eye Contact

And make sure you are looking at the camera, NOT the computer screen! You want to be looking at the interviewer, not yourself. This is another reason it’s important to do at least one practice run before the big day.

Practice looking into the camera (Skype a friend to help you out) and making eye contact. A video interview will be conducted just like an in-person interview, without the handshake.

Want more body language tips? Here are some to use to help you ace your Skype interview.

Do Consider Your Background

This is another thing to think about when doing your dress rehearsal. Make sure the colors in your outfit goes well with the background of your interview room.

You don’t want the wall color to give off unnatural filters that drown out your skin tone. Just like your attire, you don’t want any busy backgrounds either. A while wall would be ideal, or other muted color.

Dressing for a Skype interview is no different than dressing for an interview in person. You want to look your best, maintain eye contact, and avoid any busy patterns or colors.

Make sure you check out our articles on how to prepare for a phone interview and questions to ask the interviewer.