What to Wear to A CNA Interview? The Secret of Good Impression

In this article, you’ll get all your answers to choosing the proper attire for a CNA interview.


Getting a CNA certification after CNA classes is a noteworthy achievement for a student. Now comes the interview round to secure the job. During the interview, the employer inspects your personality, skills, and compatibility. Dressing has a massive impact on your personality. How to make an excellent first impression? Or perplexing What to Wear to a CNA Job Interview?

To look proficient, you’ll have to select formal attire for the CNA job interview. The degree of professional dressing depends on the post you’re applying for. While getting dressed up for a CNA job interview, you’d know the company’s dress code, have appropriate hairstyle & footwear, avoid nursing uniform, and keep makeup & accessories light.

Your dress says a lot about your personality. Your look is your first impression of the interviewer. You’ve to dress professionally to impress the interviewer. The interviewer may reject you due to your outfit. If you don’t want to take risks with your looks on interview day, you’ve stumbled upon the right place.

Do you want to make the appropriate choice? Wondering which color to wear? Why is it important to dress professionally? Or don’t know which factors to consider while dressing up for an interview? In this article, you’ll get all your answers to choosing the proper attire for the interview.

Importance of Professional Dressing

A CNA job interview is the first time the employer will see you. You have to make a great impression. Appropriate dressing:

  • Helps you to make a professional & positive impression
  • It boosts your confidence
  • Enhance your credibility
  • It communicates that you’re serious about the job
  • Helps you in the overall selection process
  • Due to this, employers may prefer you over other candidates

11 Factors to Keep in Mind While Dressing Up for CNA Interview

What to wear in CNA interview

To appear capable and professional, dressing up appropriately for an interview is essential. Consider the following factors while dressing up for the interview.

Company’s Dress code

First, you’ve to look for the company’s dress code to which you will apply. Some companies have specified the dress code for interview candidates & their employees to follow. Once you know, adhere to the company’s dress code. You can also call the company to inquire about their interview attire.

Some companies don’t specify any dress code; then, you’d observe or ask employees working in the company about the same. It’ll give you a general idea about what you’d opt to wear on the interview day. It’ll score you more points.

Formal Dressing

You’re going for a job interview, so select your clothes cautiously. Prefer a formal professional dress. Imagine going for a job interview in a t-shirt and shorts. How stupid you’ll look? So you’ve to opt for a proper professional dress. To look professional & formal, we advise:

  • Men should wear a suit & a tie.
  • Women should dress in slacks or a skirt & a button-down dress shirt (paired with slacks).
  • Business attire is also a good option to wear for your dream job interview.

These are the reasonable outfits that you can wear for a job interview. If you have applied for a higher post, like a nursing management position, you should wear a suit on interview day. A suit is a safest and best outfit to rely upon.

Consider Grooming to Look Presentable

Your employer will require you to sustain the highest level of hygiene standards. How you present yourself before the interviewer tells a lot about how seriously you take hygiene. So looking good and presentable is compulsory when going for a job interview.

  • If necessary, get a haircut. It should be aligned with your look.
  • Ensure your face is not covered with hair, or hair doesn’t fall on your face. Tie back hair properly.
  • Men should have short hair.
  • Make sure your nails are trimmed.
  • Girls shouldn’t wear nail polish.
  • Make sure your clothes are wrinkle-free and properly ironed.

While confronting the interviewer, you’d look presentable. Before going for an interview, remember all things.

Style Hair Appropriately

For the nursing interview, keeping your hair simple is the best thing. For instance:

  • You can tie up your hair in a neat ponytail if you’ve long hair.
  • If you’ve shorter hair, you can wear your hair down but styled neatly.
  • Avoid wearing large or fancy hair clips or other large hair accessories.
  • Men should style their hair professionally and neatly.

Makeup & Accessories

Makeup and accessories have nothing to do with men. But accessories & makeup play a significant role for women. While preparing for the interview, you should know it’s not a beauty contest.

  • If you’re good with makeup, try to dorn a decent & reasonable look for the interview.
  • Loud makeup doesn’t leave a good impression on interviewers. To look classy and reasonable, wear the right amount of makeup.
  • Women can wear minimalistic accessories. Wearing heavy accessories will not help you in any way.
  • Avoid wearing chunky or flashy jewelry. It’ll convey employer that you comprehend the demand of work.
  • For women, a matching necklace and a pair of smaller earing are appropriate.
  • Men can accessorize with a dress watch.

Choose Footwear Appropriately

Most people overlook their shoes & don’t wear appropriate shoes for interviews. Besides wearing a perfect outfit, wear shoes that align with your dress. Make sure your shoes are polished, tidy, and clean. It’s disgusting to wear slippers with a suit. The interviewer/employer will examine you thoroughly (from head to toe). So don’t wear informal shoes.

  • Women can wear flat or low-heeled shoes that blend with their outfits.
  • Men can opt for brown or black dress shoes along with matching socks.

If you wear a belt, ensure it corresponds to the color of your shoes. Ensure you opt for the correct outfit

Say No to Nursing Uniform

While going for the job interview, don’t wear a nursing uniform. You don’t have to wear nurse clothes on the day of the interview. For the certified nursing assistant job interview, you’d dress professionally to make a good impression.

Nurse uniform is usually referred to as scrubs. You can dress up like that for the rest of your career.

Use What You Have

Besides your experience and skills, your appearance in an interview significantly affects its outcome. But you shouldn’t spend more money to look good in an interview. If you’ve to attend multiple interviews, you can wear outfits interchangeably with a good pair of shoes.

An older outfit that fits you smoothly will look more professional compared to a set of loose or tight-fitting clothes, although new.

Be Convenient in Whatever You Wear

The most important thing is whatever you opt to wear should be comfortable. Your comfort level will shape your behavior. If you are wearing uncomfortable clothes:

  • You will be uneasy in front of the employer
  • You will not be able to correctly & efficiently answer the questions the interviewer asks.
  • The interviewer will notice it & mark you negatively.

Ensure that you wear comfortable clothes on interview day.

Wear A Smile & Confidence

Wearing a smile is one of the most underrated things. Your facial expressions talk a lot about you and your nature. You must smile at the necessary places during the interview.

Wearing confidence is another thing you shouldn’t forget, along with a smile. If you know how to demonstrate your skills and knowledge, be confident in doing so. Acting confidently in front of an employer makes a good impression.

Even if you don’t know the correct answer, don’t get panic. Ensure your smile and confidence remain intact.

Consider The Message You’re Conveying

The employer starts to create impressions of your character founded on your appearance when you enter the room. The more professional you look, the more professional your employer will believe you to be. Consider the message you desire to convey in your interview, i.e.; you want to look professional. So choose an attire that best represents you.

Important Things to Remember

Besides the factors mentioned above, there are some rules which you must follow when wearing any outfit for an interview:

  • Don’t wear tight skinny jeans.
  • Your outfit shouldn’t have any stains, holes, or tears and must be neat & clean.
  • Your attire must be pressed; if you don’t know how to iron your suit, take it to a dry cleaner.
  • Ensure your undergarments shouldn’t show.
  • Facial or body piercings should be covered (with a skin-toned bandage) or removed.
  • Tattoos should be concealed or removed before going for the interview.
  • Comb your hair, brush your teeth properly & wear deodorant.
  • Don’t take your cell phone along with you.
  • Women should wear a shirt that covers most of their breasts.

Decided Your Interview Attire?

A CNA job interview is not a cakewalk. Remember the minor things while getting ready for the interview. A significant thing that most people ignore is the way they dress. Ensure that you wear professional attire for the interview. Dress professionally in a shirt & a skirt, dress slacks, or a suit and tie.

Your clothes portray your personality and make the interviewer keen to know more about you. They want to find out if you are appropriate for them or not. Besides proper interview clothing, the right attitude & confidence is also essential. Keep all these things in mind & nail the interview.

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