03 Jan Why Dressing for an Online Interview Still Matters – Especially for HSE Executives

The rise of virtual interviews has brought undeniable convenience to recruitment. Conversations that once required travel can now happen from a home office with a single click. But while the format has changed, the purpose of the interview has not.

As an executive recruiter specialising in health and safety, I conduct hundreds of interviews every year and work with organisations across Australia to appoint senior leaders to critical roles. Through that work, I see very clearly what effective executive presence looks like.

One thing remains consistent: how a leader shows up – even on screen.

First Impressions Still Happen (Even on Screen)

At senior levels, interviews are rarely just about technical capability. They are about leadership presence, judgment, and the ability to represent an organisation at the highest level.

In a virtual setting, visual cues take on even greater importance. With fewer opportunities to read body language or build rapport organically, interviewers rely more heavily on what they can see and hear in the moment. Appearance becomes part of the overall impression, fair or not.

Dressing appropriately helps ensure the focus stays where it should be: on your experience, insight, and leadership value.

Online Does Not Mean Informal

One of the most common misconceptions about virtual interviews is that being at home allows for a more relaxed standard of dress. While work environments have evolved, expectations around executive professionalism have not disappeared.

An interview, whether in person or online, is a formal business interaction. It signals intent, seriousness, and readiness for the role. Aligning your appearance with that reality demonstrates respect for the process and for the people on the other side of the screen.

In executive recruitment, this distinction is noticeable very quickly.

Executive Presence Translates Through the Camera

Executive presence is not confined to boardrooms. It shows up in how leaders communicate, listen, and present themselves, virtually included.

Thoughtful, professional attire conveys confidence, credibility, and situational awareness. It reassures recruiters and hiring leaders that you understand the environments you may be required to operate in, whether that’s engaging with boards, regulators, unions, senior operational leaders or representing the organisation at a conference.

The goal isn’t to be rigid or overly formal. It’s to be intentional.

Recruiters Look for Signals of Readiness

As recruiters, we are tasked with identifying leaders who are ready to step into significant responsibility. We are constantly assessing not only past performance, but how candidates show up in the present.

When appearance aligns with executive expectations, it removes distractions from the conversation. When it doesn’t, e.g., a hoodie, windcheater or a crumpled T-shirt, it can unintentionally introduce doubt even when the candidate’s experience is strong.

This also translates to what the recruiter notices in the background. For this reason, consider blurring your background if your video meeting platform allows it, or selecting a virtual background. An untidy room or distracting visual elements (and trust me, we have seen it all – baskets of ironing, unwashed dishes, unmade beds – and even a candidate doing an interview sitting on their bed) can inadvertently convey a lack of professionalism or focus.

Blurring the background helps maintain a professional appearance and keeps the interviewer’s attention solely on you, not your personal surroundings.

In a competitive market, small signals matter more than many people realise.

Dressing Well Is About Judgment, Not Rules

Appropriate dress will always vary by industry, culture, and role. What matters most is judgment. A useful question to ask before any interview is:

Would this be appropriate if I were meeting senior stakeholders face-to-face? If the answer is yes, you are likely on the right track.

Dress for the job you want. Show up for your interview in smart, professional attire to demonstrate that not only do you care about how you look, but by being presentable, you are demonstrating your respect for the job, the recruiter and the company looking to hire you.

Final Word

At the executive level, success often comes down to small, consistent decisions that reinforce trust and credibility. Dressing thoughtfully for an online interview, recruiter introduction, or career chat is one of those decisions.

It doesn’t require perfection or formality, just an understanding that leadership is as much about how you show up as what you say.

In a virtual world, executive presence still matters.

If you would like help with your health and safety career or support in recruiting HSE professionals to your team, please

Helen O’Keefe is one of the most well-respected and connected HSE recruiters in Australia. Authentic in style, she demonstrates genuine passion for the OHS industry and is motivated to uncover exceptional talent for her clients and help her candidates build flourishing careers.