This blog post is a bit of a companion piece to an earlier one that I wrote several years ago. With the job market so hot nowadays, it’s a question that’s come up over and over. Should you wear a watch to a job interview?
There are so many job advice guides online, but none of them are specially geared to people who are into watches. And that’s an important distinction to make. It’s a good idea to get advice from a place that is focused on watches.
Why? Because job sites aren’t necessarily the best place to discuss watches. Just like this site isn’t a great place to discuss resumes.
But this is the place to learn about watches and if you should wear them on a job interview. And even more than that, this is a good place to learn what type of watches you should wear to a job interview if you’d already decided to wear one.
Does Wearing a Watch Make You Look More Professional?
If you show up to a job interview wearing a watch, does it make you look more professional? Well, it depends on the kind of watch you are wearing. And it also depends on the outfit you are wearing.
If you show up to a job interview wearing a suit and no watch then you are going to look more professional than someone who shows up in jeans and a t-shirt and happens to have a nice watch on.
So, what does that tell you? Well, it tells you that the most important thing is to dress professionally and have the whole package: hair, outfit, and watch.
A watch is a complement. So, wearing a watch should be considered second to dressing well.
However, if you do show up to a job interview and you are wearing a watch then it will impress the person doing the interview and it is a added bonus.
Of course, it depends on the king of watch that you are wearing. If you are wearing a watch that’s a flashy watch more meant for a poker player or for the club, or if you are wearing a dress professional watch that is more meant for the work place.
What Kinds of Watches Should You Wear to an Interview?
Here’s the info that most people want to know. So, are there special kinds of watches that look better on a job interview? Who would decide that? Isn’t it a bit of a personal decision?
Well, here’s the truth. If you show up wearing a super expensive watch like a Rolex and you are interviewing for a warehouse position, then you are actually doing yourself a disservice.
The person interviewing you for the role might think that you are not going to be a good fit because you have luxuries taste, or they might be envious of you wearing the watch. There is no good that can come with wearing a watch that the person interviewing you can’t afford.
If you show up with a Casio G-Shock and you’re interviewing for a warehouse or labor role, then they will be impressed because Casio G Shock watches are designed for people who work hard and also want to keep track of their time and not miss appointments.
If you are interviewing for a white collar job, then it is a good idea to wear a nice professional dress watch.
Now, I also caution against wearing a Rolex or something else that signals expensive taste unless you are a C-level executive. If you’re just interviewing for a mid level role, it would be better to simply interview with a watch that is more standard, if not more expensive.
For instance, here’s a few good watches that you might want to have. These not only look good for your job interview itself, but they would be good watches to wear for any sort of professional activity: sales meetings, company events, business lunches.
Virtual Interview: Should You Wear a Watch to a Zoom Interview
When I wrote my first article about wearing a watch to a job interview, virtual job interviews weren’t even a thing. Most people would have a phone call or email exchange and then go in person to meet for a face to face job interview.
Now, however, more and more people are having interviews conducted online. These interviews might happen online using Zoom or Skype or some other service that a company chooses to use.
If you are having an online interview, then the same rules still apply. A watch is a good thing to wear when having a Zoom interview.
In the same way that it’s important to wear a suite or dress shirt and not simply show up wearing a t-shirt and bedhead, it’ important to wear a watch if you want to convey a sense of professionalism.
What Kind of Watches Should You Wear to a Job Interview?
The kind of watch you would wear to an interview varies, but as a general rule it breaks down into two categories.
Dress watches that are meant for professionals and people who want to look responsible. These might be any of the following.
If you are interviewing for a tech firm, then you could expand the type of watches that you might wear to include expensive digital watches such as the Apple Watch or even some of the more pricy Sunto watches.
People in the tech world are not beholden to the same style conventions that you see in corporate America and as such they can get away with watches that are digital and have more of a tech look and style.