Can the colour you wear change the game in your next job interview?

Interviews can be tough to get through but deciding what to wear can be even more challenging. You want to strike the balance between looking good and showing off your personality without compromising the performance of your 30-minute interrogation with one of the high-brow bosses.

Could colour psychology play a role in interview success though? Simply put, colour psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behaviour. Although qualifications, experience and work ethic play a huge part in the interview process, dressing in a particular way can build up a great first impression and help you secure the job.

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Do you have something in mind for your next interview? We take a look at some of the most popular colours to wear and what they say about your personality.

Wearing red to an interview

Red represents love, everyone knows that. However, if you’re looking to demonstrate power — perhaps you are applying for a senior position — red can be a good reflection of this character trait. Studies have shown that this colour can actually boost a wearers confidence, which might be a good shout if you’re slightly nervous for the big day. The study also went on to show that the tone can display good health and being financially sound, which of course is something every company admires.

Not all things are bright for this colour though. It can also suggest that you’re not kind or sociable, but this can be proved incorrect in the room!

Wearing black to an interview

Everyone has a black men’s shirt in their wardrobe, but is it a colour you should be taking to the interview room? Yes, but not alone! Think of other colours that can be paired with this hue, as it is extremely versatile and using another colour on our list could boost your presence.

If you want to look intelligent in your interview (who doesn’t?), this is the colour to rock. However, bear in mind that there are some negatives to the colour black; this includes mourning. Be smart with how you choose to wear this colour!

Wearing white to an interview

If you’ve been to an interview before, you’ve probably worn white. Research has suggested that the colour white was perceived to be the least arrogant colour which is always beneficial for an interview — you want your interviewer to like you. It’s also thought to make someone appear very optimistic, so if you don’t have a white shirt already, now is your chance!

Just like black, you should be wearing this colour with another. Pair with a dark blue men’s blazer and matching pants to become the candidate that they’ll remember most.

Wearing blue to an interview

Spread the positivity with the colour blue. The hue demonstrates that someone is a team player, trustworthy and has a lot of confidence. If this sounds like something you’d like to showcase, this hue might just be for you!

Professionals have backed this up too. Lisa Johnson Mandell at AOL Jobs commented: “Studies show that navy blue is the best colour for a suit to wear to a job interview, because it inspires confidence. You are more likely to get the job when you wear navy blue to an interview than any other colour.”

Wearing grey to an interview

Is grey the ideal interview colour? What do people perceive it as? We all know that sometimes darker tones don’t propel the best message, but reports suggest that this colour communicates independence; this is something that many employers are looking for.

Unfortunately, grey is quite an isolating colour. You want to make sure that you come across as a team player and someone who is actually going to contribute something beneficial to their company.

Colours to avoid

You need to be on your top game in your interview, and what you wear could give you an advantage. Colours that were found to attract negative connotations were orange, brown and surprisingly pink.