What Should I Wear to a Teaching Interview
Smart, comfortable and ready to teach: what to wear to a teaching interview, part by part.
All 42 things to wear
Suits and separates
Dresses and skirts
Shoes for a school tour
For a sample lesson
If you are not sure
Leave at home
Suits and separates 13
Black ankle trousers, a neat top and a sweater Smart casual, and close to what one teacher in a magazine round-up wears to teach. Blazer A US teachers’ union’s advice for candidates: a blazer over dress pants, a skirt or a dress. Blazer with matching trousers One teacher’s interview outfit in a teachers’ magazine round-up, with a bright top beneath. Cardigan over a patterned top A burgundy cardigan over dark florals was one teacher’s pick in a teachers’ magazine round-up. Dress pants First on a US teachers’ union’s list of what teacher candidates wear. Dressy shirt with black dress pants A plain pairing from a teachers’ magazine round-up of what teachers wore to interviews. Freshly ironed shirt or blouse Whatever you choose, make sure it is ironed, a UK graduate careers site says. Jewel-tone top, for an interview on screen A US teachers’ union’s tip: on screen, jewel tones suit most people. Khakis and a polo shirt The casual end of a teachers’ magazine round-up. Add a jacket unless you know the school. One bright color Several teachers in a teachers’ magazine round-up suggested a pop of color, such as yellow. Smart business clothes, when in doubt A UK graduate careers site’s rule: if there is any doubt, go for smart business attire. Suit jacket and tie On the same union list, as the other choice beside a blazer. Top in one of the school’s colors One teacher in a teachers’ magazine round-up wore the school’s color under her blazer.
Dresses and skirts 7
Dress over leggings, with a cardigan One teacher’s standing choice in a magazine round-up: comfortable, and it still looks nice. Dress with a suit jacket A US teachers’ union’s list pairs a dress with a blazer or a suit jacket. Fit-and-flare dress One teacher in a teachers’ magazine round-up reaches for this cut when she picks a dress. Polka dots or another small, neat print A teachers’ magazine round-up counts polka dots as both fashionable and professional. Simple dress with a cardigan With low heels, one teacher’s whole interview outfit in a teachers’ magazine round-up. Skirt with a blazer A skirt is on a US teachers’ union’s list for candidates, with a blazer or suit jacket. Swing dress One teacher in a magazine round-up wore a floral one to her first tour of the school.
Shoes for a school tour 5
A pair you have already worn in Be comfortable, England’s Department for Education says. A new pair is a gamble on a long day. Clean, polished shoes Make sure your shoes are clean, a UK graduate careers site says. Check them in daylight. Flats One teacher in a teachers’ magazine round-up wore flats with ankle trousers and a sweater. Low heels Two teachers in a teachers’ magazine round-up chose low heels, with a dress or with trousers. Shoes you can walk the whole building in A tour is worth asking for, an education foundation’s guide says, so dress to say yes.
For a sample lesson 5
Clothes you can move around a classroom in The day may include a short lesson that you teach, England’s Department for Education says. Jacket or trousers with a pocket England’s official lesson guide says to bring spare board pens. A pocket keeps one to hand. Jacket you can take off to teach Comfortable but professional is England’s official advice. Put it back on for the panel. Outfit you can stand and present in Many teacher training providers ask for a presentation, England’s teaching service says. Wristwatch England’s official lesson guide says to watch your timings on the day. A wrist beats a phone.
If you are not sure 4
Clothes that fit the job Dress to suit the job you are applying for, a US Department of Labor careers site says. The dress code the school gives when you ask If you are unsure of the dress code, ask before the day, a UK graduate careers site says. One notch smarter than you think you need Too smart beats too casual, a UK graduate careers site says. What staff wear in the school’s photos, smartened Study the school’s website to get a sense of the setting, England’s official guide says.
Leave at home 8
No casual outfit on a guess Go casual only if you are certain it is acceptable, a UK graduate careers site says. No creased shirt Clean and freshly pressed is a UK graduate careers site’s standard for interview clothes. No outfit you would wear on a night out If you would wear it out at the weekend, rethink it, a UK graduate careers site says. No ripped jeans A UK graduate careers site’s own example of what hardly gives a professional impression. No scuffed or muddy shoes Clean shoes are one of a UK graduate careers site’s two basics, with ironed clothes. No shoes you cannot walk a school in Comfort is half of England’s official advice, and a tour may be on offer. No tracksuit bottoms on a video call Dress as though an online interview were in person, a UK graduate careers site says. No trainers or sneakers Trainers are named beside ripped jeans in a UK graduate careers site’s list of mistakes.
How this list was compiled
The 42 things to wear or to leave at home, and the line under each, were written for this page on 2026-10-13; no list was copied. What each row rests on was read on 2026-10-12. Be comfortable but consider professional clothing; study the school's website; a lesson or a micro-teach may be asked of you: England's Department for Education, Teaching Vacancies service, How to approach a teaching job interview (https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/jobseeker-guides/get-help-applying-for-your-teaching-role/how-to-approach-a-teaching-job-interview ). Spare board pens and timings in an interview lesson: the same service, Prepare for a teaching interview lesson (https://teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/jobseeker-guides/get-help-applying-for-your-teaching-role/prepare-for-a-teaching-job-interview-lesson ). Presentations at teacher training interviews: the Department's Get Into Teaching service (https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/how-to-apply-for-teacher-training/teacher-training-interview ). Smart trousers or a dress or skirt, plus a blazer, or else a suit jacket worn with a tie, for teacher candidates, and jewel tones on screen: National Education Association, the US teachers' union, Master the Virtual Job Interview (https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/master-virtual-job-interview ). Ask if unsure, too smart rather than too casual, ironed clothes and clean shoes, dressing for an online interview: Prospects, the UK graduate careers site, How to prepare for an interview (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview ); ripped jeans, trainers and night-out outfits: its Top 5 job interview mistakes (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/interview-tips/top-5-job-interview-mistakes ). Let the job decide how you dress: the US Department of Labor's careeronestop.org, Interview tips (https://www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/Interview/interview-tips.aspx ). Asking for a tour of the school: Edutopia, an education foundation's publication (https://www.edutopia.org/article/5-things-ask-about-during-job-interview-and-2-ask-yourself-you-apply/ ). What working teachers say they wore, from cardigans and swing dresses to khakis, low heels and flats: the teachers' magazine We Are Teachers, Teacher Interview Outfits (https://www.weareteachers.com/best-of-teacher-helpline-what-to-wear-to-a-teacher-interview/ ), a round-up of teachers' own reports, not a rule. Schools differ, and the school's own instructions come first. Left out on purpose: the brands and shops that round-up links to, prices, any school or district as a subject, and anything about body shape. Licence: own work
How it works What should I wear to a teaching interview? Professional clothes you can teach in: dress pants, a skirt or a dress with a blazer, and shoes for walking a school. These 42 things follow official, union and teachers’ own advice.
Read the full guide
Professional, but comfortable
England’s Department for Education tells candidates to be comfortable but to consider professional clothing, for a positive first impression. The US Department of Labor’s careers site is briefer: dress to suit the job.
The day is more than a panel
The Department for Education’s guide says the day may include a short lesson that you teach, called a micro-teach in further education. An education foundation’s guide suggests asking for a tour of the school. So dress for standing, writing and walking as well as sitting.
Try the whole outfit on with its shoes, and climb a flight of stairs in it.
Questions and answers
What should I wear to a teacher interview?
Professional clothes that are comfortable enough to teach in. A US teachers’ union lists dress pants, a skirt or a dress, with a blazer or a suit jacket and tie. Add shoes you can walk a school in.
Should I wear a suit to a teaching interview?
A suit is a sound choice: a UK graduate careers site would rather you were too smart than too casual. A blazer with dress pants, a skirt or a dress also matches the teachers’ union’s list.
Can I wear jeans to a teaching interview?
Not unless the school tells you to. Ripped jeans and trainers are a UK graduate careers site’s own example of an outfit that hardly gives a professional impression. Choose dress pants instead.
What shoes should I wear to a teaching interview?
Clean ones you can walk in. Teachers who shared their interview outfits with a teachers’ magazine chose low heels or flats. The day may include a tour and a lesson, so wear a pair you have worn before.
What should I wear to a teaching interview with a sample lesson?
The same professional outfit, tried out for movement: you will stand, write on a board and walk between desks. England’s Department for Education suggests bringing spare board pens, so a pocket helps.