Help needed - dress code for interviews

[mozzy]

I have an interview tommorow, <quivers> and as always, i have no idea what to wear.

I couldn't start work until my early 20's due to tong term disability probs, so i didn't have the usual experience of learing what is right and wrong, and hence, I still havn't got the hang of dress codes.

All my friends reckon i should wear a suit. However, when i have attended previous interviews, I am always the only woman in a suit, and at first I was shocked to see what the other women wore, and it has made me think tht prehaps i am wrong wearing trousers and suit. For example, the last one (which i didn't get ) the woman who did get the job wore a short skirt and knee highboots and a jumper! (Was a research post and the interview pannel were all women, i hence to add!.)

I have a friend who is a researcher for NHS, and he is adamant that women should not wear trousers and a suit for NHS jobs - they should wear a skirt.

Can anyone verify these confusions for me? Pleeeeeeease!

BTW - interview is for NHS health worker if that is any help.

 

[Miscellaneous]

I would always wear a trouser suit, as it is what makes me comfortable. But even for a job in McShite I would turn up in a suit, i'd prefur to look and feel smart.

Best of luck though!!

 

[Tank Girl]

in my experience of being the interviewer, I rarely notice what people are wearing, unless they've turned up totally scruffy. but that's probably more down to me not being the most observant of people, than what's usual.

I wouldn't be anymore impressed by someone because they've worn a suit (if I noticed of course )

smart, but not over stuffy is good.

good luck! what's the job, roughly?

 

[Jenerys]

I bought myself a nice smart little black dress for my latest interview. I think suits look too stuffy.

But as Tanky said, it's the scruffy ones who are noticed and marked down, so as long as you look smart, it doesnt really matter if its skirt suit, trouser suit or a dress

Good luck

 

[Zeppo]

Smart but casual. Suit ok but wear what you feel good in - I am sure your personality will shine beyond your clothes for the interview.

Good luck with the interview - hope u get the job.

 

[mozzy]

Thanks Micellaneous and Tank Girl & Zappo & Lil Jen

I have a new pair of grey trousers and a blue fitted shirt which i may wear - that's what i feel comfortable in, but i am worried that it is not a suit. I agree (or used to!) with Micellaneous that you should wear a suit for any and every job you go for, but it seems that i am the only one who thinks like this as i am always the only one in a suit.

However, i do feel "stuffy" in my suit - you know Harry Endfield's Tory boy? I feel like the female equivelent as is it plain black!

Tank Girl - it's a post for a health worker for the PCT.

Is shirt and trousers classified as underdressing?

 

[Tank Girl]

that's kind of my field, we really wouldn't be expecting people to wear suits.

the grey trousers and blue shirt sounds good to me - that's the kind of outfit we'd see people wearing to interviews for similar positions.

you'll be fine in that outfit, and more importantly you'll feel "you" in it, and won't be fidgiting around feeling un-natural.

 

[Cheesypoof]

black dress, black jacket and red chiffon scarf.

 

[mozzy]

that's kind of my field, we really wouldn't be expecting people to wear suits.

the grey trousers and blue shirt sounds good to me - that's the kind of outfit we'd see people wearing to interviews for similar positions.

you'll be fine in that outfit, and more importantly you'll feel "you" in it, and won't be fidgiting around feeling un-natural.

Thanks! That is helpful, as i have noticed strage looks before from the interview panel (but i have thought it was me being paranoid!).

Another thing, i went for the same interview about a year and a half ago, and didn't get the job, but feedback wasn't too negative.

I am really nervous as i have been here before, but things have changed alot.
For example, I was a complete technophobe back then, and didn't have the net, or even "know" how to use the net then. <Laughs, oh they were the days!>. I have done loads of reseach over the last few days on the net, and i think i have a better grasp of the post this time.

To be honest though, friends say the pannel usually have made thier minds who gets the job, way before the intrview process has begun....

 

[spanglechick]

the problem is that you never know the prejudices of the employer - it's all very well to say "i wouldn't want to work for someone like that", but some of us can't be that choosy.

in teaching, few (if any) women wear suits for working, but almost all wear them for interview (and parents' evenings). i've been in the discussions after the department "informally" meet interview candidates, and people not wearing suits has been mentioned.

I like to wear a red shirt or similar because bright colours suit me, and it shows some personality. But i wear a suit.

The question of a skirt/dress suit vs trousers was mentioned to us when we left our PGCE course - the idea being that some stuffy older types still don't approve of women in trousers. That sounds laughable now, and i think that's because of the time that's passed. certainly, i wear a trouser suit - my legs aren't going to impress anyone.

i have read more than one article about how women do better if they're wearing a little makeup, no perfume, and have neatly filed, but not noticeably painted, nails.

apparently women who don't wear makeup at work aren't taken as seriously.

 

[foamy]

everyone at my current work place still laughs about the fact i came to the interview in a suit - they all wear jeans & t shirts to work (or did til we were told no jeans)

but i wouldnt have dreamed of wearing anything else.


maybe its not the right weather now but how about a suit but with a colourful v necked jumper instead of a shirt, then when you take the jacket off you'll look smart but not overly so?

 

[equationgirl]

I think the blue shirt and trousers sounds perfect.

I always wear a suit to interviews - the last interview I had I wore my black trouser suit with a blue top and some heeled shoes in the same blue as the top. But then it was a fairly formal interview at a company.

Blue is a good colour (I think it's supposed to be calming) but red can be perceived as an agressive or dominant colour.

Best of luck for your interview, I hope you get it.

 

[Miscellaneous]

Am I wierd to actually feel comfortable in a suit?

 

[beeboo]

I think suit with a shirt can look a bit formal, unless you're going for 'City' type job. I'd either go shirt + trousers with no jacket, or jacket + trousers and a plain top (colour is good though).

However, I really wouldn't get too hung up about it - as long as you look presentable it's not a big deal

good luck!

 

[equationgirl]

Am I wierd to actually feel comfortable in a suit?

No. I feel comfortable in a suit too. I used to wear them all the time to work, then stopped because I was doing my phd. I could wear one now but I'd be overdressed compared to the rest of the office.

 

[wrysmile]

I always think you can't offend someone by being over dressed, but you can by being under dressed. I would never not wear a suit to an interview and it makes me feel smart and professional - but that's me. It's all very well to say that the workplace might dress casually most of the time, but many people expect a certain dress standard at interview - it's a completely different situation than a normal working day.

 

[mozzy]

Thanks for your advice everyone! It's helpful and interesting to get lots of different people's perspectives. Now, i am going to get myself off this computer and do some revision <groans>!