MBA and Interview Starter Pack
This section is dedicated to keeping you from committing some common fashion faux pas. This section is about what you should wear to an MBA interview, Career Fair like SACC, and also job interviews. So first the basics
No black suits or pinstripes. You are not an executive, mobster and/or going to a funeral. You should have a simple charcoal or navy suit. Preferably from a store that is in touch with the current fashion trends of the moment, like Brooks Brothers. A great tip is to check out the nearest outlet mall. Some have great Brooks Brothers stores where you can the suits at a fraction of the price
Shoes and Belt need to match. Brown and Grey shoes pair well with both charcoal and navy suits. Check out this website
No tie clips. It’s a power move sort of thing. I wore a tie clip once at my Investment Banking (IB) internship and a younger Managing Director (MD) promptly ripped on me. Learn from my ripping on
Don’t wear an oxford style shirt in a suit. That’s used for biz casual because the buttoned down collars are like a more casual tie. Wear a spread, straight point or cutaway collar. Don’t wear a weird collar. Just be a normal human being. You can be weird once they get to know you
Wear tastefully colored socks. This is the one area that men are allowed to kinda peacock themselves and do something that is not uniform like. It’s considered to be an expression of your personality. Trust me people will notice.
I personally would stick with shirts that do not use collar cuffs. It comes off as pretentious if you have massive bling on each collar
You don’t need to shave your beard…if you look good with it. Just be honest with yourself. Some guys don’t pull it off well and come off as unkempt
Wear a tasteful tie that goes with the suit. Full windsor knot. Why? Because it’s classic and neutral. It show’s that you recognize the gravity of the moment (your interview) and are trying to put your best foot forward. Don’t wear a clip on, and don’t wear your black army tie for the love of god. My good friend did this for a Goldman Sachs interview we were at and while he got the job, everyone was slightly horrified
I like Apple Watches with tasteful bands. They convey that you are with the times and a forward thinker. It also shows you as being utilitarian and fashionable. In other words, humble. Huge expensive watches are not as in vogue as they use to be. Trust me, I have a Breitling, I never wear it and I never see any of my coworkers wear fancy watches either.
Stick a little white pocket square in the suit. It should only peak a little. It’s a thoughtful thing that you shows you pay attention and want to complete the “look”. Most people forget to put a pocket square on if they have a suit chest pocket. You will immediately notice this deficiency because the suit doesn’t look quite right. Remember, suits are designed to show stark contrasting colors in a sophisticated manner. The pocket square breaks up the solid color in the chest area.
Ladies, I am going to have a section for y’all as well. I need to find the appropriate woman to advise me. It’s just not my area of expertise, though the very broad guidelines that I am giving to men also apply to you. Look presentable, put together and professional in business attire. I know you guys read a lot about what to wear, but I found this link useful if you are unfamiliar.
SAMPLE BUSINESS FORMAL EXAMPLES
Questions about what to wear or start? Well we have some illustrative examples here. If you buy from the page you help support me running it and giving away all this info for free
Calvin Klein Navy Suit
This Calvin Klein Navy Suit is a great example of what I consider to be neutral and put together. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, just enough to get one suit that looks good. Nordstrom rack and Sak’s Off Fifth have really fashionable suits and basics at cheap prices. I am a big fan of Brooks Brothers and Jos A Bank. Generally, I go with Charcoal or Navy. Try to get a slim fit and make sure it’s properly hemmed.
Allen Edmonds Men's McAllister Wing Tip
Allen Edmonds are sick as hell. I have several pairs and they are perfect with business formal and business casual. The wing top is the most popular, but check out the whole catalog. Shoes are a super personal thing, so just wear something that fits your suit style, and doesn’t make you come off as eccentric or out of place. Remember, you are trying out for the team, show that you can behave.
Amazon Essentials Men's Regular-Fit Wrinkle-Resistant Long-Sleeve Solid Dress Shirt
You honestly only wear white shirts for interviews and important meetings. Just buy several and keep them clean. Because they are white shirts you can generally buy in bulk and it will be ok. Check out Twillory, Jos A Bank and Brooks Brothers as well. Wear a spread, straight point or cutaway collar.
Peter Millar Shirts
I absolutely love Peter Millar. It’s a little pricey but holy hell these are some awesome shirts. Lightweight, breathable, well fitted. I wear Peter Millar almost every day, it makes a understated fashion statement. People notice it and automatically assume you have good taste. It’s an expensive brand but totally worth it. They last forever also. Get a couple basics. No need to flaunt it.
Marino Mens Dress Socks - Fun Colorful Socks for Men - Cotton Funky Socks
Socks for men are one of the few ways that they can show off color and personal preference. Don’t get black socks, get some some good multi colored ones that speak to your personality. Be tasteful about it. I like to wear socks with little cactuses on them to represent my southwestern upbringing. Can be a good conversation starter.
Dockers Men's Leather Dress Belt
For business formal you need to wear a belt that is slimmer in width. No need to go crazy with it, just get a nice basic brown belt such as the one pictured here. Maybe even go crazy and get a black and brown belt or a reverso dual color belt. No huge belt buckles for the love of god. Save that shit for later
Apple Watch Series 5 (GPS + Cellular, 40mm) - Space Gray Aluminum Case with Black Sport Band
You don’t need an ostentatious watch to stand out. In fact wearing a Rolex, Breitling or anything else is inappropriate for most interviews. A smartwatch is functional, stylish with the wristband, and shows that you are forward thinking.
Ray-Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses
Ditch the oakleys, get some adult sunglasses and look fly as hell. People in the civilian world love the JFK look and these bad boys convey that. Ray Ban also started as a military brand for WW2 pilots, so technically you are still in uniform
Deepra - Business Edition - Classy Leather Bands for Apple Watch 42mm and 44mm
Get a couple cheap watch bands for your apple watch. It will let you quickly change the look based on the suit and company you are interviewing with.
Leathario File Folder Padfolio Writing Pad
What is the point of a padfolio? It’s so you have somewhere to put resumes, business cards and take notes during interviews. It sucks, only people who are interviewing carry these things around. You do need one though. Make sure it matches your suit.
Moleskine Classic Notebook
People in the civilian world are obsessed with these things. Is it any more useful than those green leader books we carry in the military? Not really, but carrying one shows you have an appreciation for nice trendy things. Which is important to civilians because that is one of their primary methods of expression.
TUMI - Alpha 3 Expandable International
This piece of luggage is sick. It’s expensive but basically indestructible. This piece of luggage is built for the seasoned traveler and the entire thing is exquisitely designed. The handle is made out of serious metal and has several locking points. The outside material is incredibly tough nylon. The zippers are super tough, it expands dramatically, has great strong pockets inside, and the wheels are smooth as silk. Technically you don’t need this for interviews, but if you want be in a MBA program and business you better get use to travel. Especially for you aspiring consultants. Tumi is legendary for their warranty, and IF this thing ever breaks (a wheel falls off, a handle breaks, the zipper fails) then you can take it to a Tumi store and they will fix it or replace it free). You can also get your initials on the front for free be taking it to any Tumi Store. A real help, if you travel a lot it’s easy to get luggage mixed because you don’t pass as much attention. Rimowa and Away also make great alternatives.