Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett has claimed he would never hire someone who wore one common thing to a job interview - as he sees it as disingenuous15:43, 05 Jun 2026Job seekers typically strive to appear "perfect" at interviews, but entrepreneur Steven Bartlett has suggested this approach might actually harm their chances. When searching for new employment, you've likely attended interviews where you've made every effort to look polished, hoping to impress the hiring manager and secure the position.‌It's widely acknowledged that appearance matters in interviews, whether we like it or not, so many of us choose suits, smart dresses and other formal attire to demonstrate we're suited to the professional environment. However, according to former Dragon's Den star Steven Bartlett, there's one particular item you should avoid wearing to a job interview.‌Steven, who founded Social Chain and Flight Story, revealed he would never employ someone who turned up to an interview in a suit, because while it's considered the clothing you "must" wear, he believes it's insincere if you wouldn't ordinarily dress that way.‌Speaking on his Diary of a CEO podcast to English-American writer Simon Sinek, he shared: "I flashbacked to an interview I had last week in our company where a young kid walks in wearing a suit, and I thought you have no idea who you are, because that's not you."I know that you don't wear a suit. You're 22 years old. You do not wear a suit, so I have no indication ... I have no clues as to who you are, and therefore, I have to figure out if you fit in here.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌"What he tried to do there is show up perfect, how he thought perfect was and in some ways, to hide who he actually was."While Steven had meant to offer useful guidance to job seekers, viewers of an Instagram video featuring the clip weren't particularly impressed. Numerous people highlighted that although Steven might not recruit candidates wearing suits, the majority of employers do, making it questionable advice to suggest people can dress however they please.One person said: "It's called professionalism and respect, good kid."‌Another added: "I am on the side of the guy in the suit. He is not pretending to be something he is not. He took this interview seriously and showed you and the company respect. Good for him."A third wrote: "A suit is what you normally wear in an interview. Give the guy a break. You should have specified not to wear a suit or to come smart casual?"Despite these criticisms, some backed Steven's viewpoint, with one supporter suggesting: "It sounds like he felt his outfit was too flashy and not authentic. Many people have been in that situation. It's perfectly fine to wear an affordable suit from a store like Primark or MandS for a first job.Article continues below"However, showing up in a £5,000 Armani suit and £10,000 crocodile leather shoes can come across as trying too hard and might give the impression that someone isn't genuine."The most effective approach to figuring out what to wear to a job interview is to check any information you may have been given when you were invited along. Typically, you'll be informed whether full formal attire is required, or whether smart-casual is perfectly acceptable.If you haven't been given any guidance and you're keen to make a strong first impression, you can always drop an email to HR or the hiring manager ahead of your interview to enquire. Not only will this give you a definitive answer, but it could also make you stand out from the other candidates as somebody who went above and beyond during their interview process.