LifestyleDragons DenDragons' Den star Steven Bartlett has caused quite a fiery debate after he shared his thoughts on what people should wear to job interviews. It comes after he recounted one scenario on his podcast08:30, 28 Jun 2026Updated 08:30, 28 Jun 2026Job interviews aren't always plain sailing. While the majority of candidates wear a suit for the big moment, others decide to keep it casual due to the nature of the role they're applying for.‌But truthfully, job interviews are based on first impressions so looking the part is absolutely vital when you're hoping to bag that new role. Now Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett has sparked a flurry of debate after urging jobseekers to ditch one particular clothing item when heading to interviews. Steven, who boasts a fortune exceeding £71million according to Forbes, is the business tycoon behind the Diary of a CEO podcast.‌During a chat with English-American author Simon Sinek on his podcast, the duo delved into the topic of job interviews, with Steven recalling an encounter with a young candidate who arrived dressed in a suit.‌Content cannot be displayed without consentIn a clip circulating on YouTube and TikTok, Steven said: "I flashbacked to an interview I had 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.‌"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."Steven, whose intentions were to dish out useful guidance, quickly found himself at the centre of a backlash over his comments. One person remarked: "It's called professionalism and respect, good kid."While another added: "He's a 22-year-old wearing a suit - he's clearly got ambition and goals. Why shame him?"‌A third agreed: "I am on the side of the guy in the suit. He is not pretending to be something he is not. He takes this interview seriously and showed you and the company respect. Good for him."Someone else chimed in: "If he'd turned up in jeans he would have been called disrespectful."Meanwhile, another commented: "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?"Article continues belowDespite these criticisms, some came to Steven's defence, as one person suggested: "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 M&S for a first job."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."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Dragons Den