A word of warning about dressing for interviews

[Walter Raleigh]

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I really do think that all interviewees should check in at the locker room, required to remove all personal clothing, and change into scrubs for the remainder of the interview day.

Are you serious? If so, why? It might place the applicants onto a level playing field and remove any class signaling that's present in students' clothing sources.

 

[Walter Raleigh]

Ah. Thought you had a more sophisticated reason than that!

 

[PTPuser]

Was able to snatch a cheap dark navy suit from express for under $150, a white shirt from H&M for $14, a pair of Allen Edmonds burgundy oxford on sale for $150, with a dark maroon tie from tie bar for $13. $30 for alteration at my local shop. You can get all of this for even a cheaper price. If anything, just have your suit altered. 90% of us aren't lucky enough to fit whatever is on the rack.

 

[DokterMom]

There are some very good interview attire threads for men and for women -- If you have any doubts, read those.

Personally, I love leggings and wear them often -- just not for 'professional' occasions, because while cute and comfortable, professional they're just not...

 

[stayathomemom]

I've been a homemaker for over a decade and when I started doing this gig in the hospital recently, working with doctors and residents at a teaching hospital, I was shocked to see how many (mostly young) female docs dress in clothes I wouldn't have ever considered professional. I'm still trying to decide if I'm a too-conservative old fart with a stick up my butt, or if printed leggings with booties really are an appropriate choice for the noble profession. (I'd like to point out I'm not that old, in the oldest group of Millennials, but I expected the docs to look nicer than my friends and I when we get our kids together for playdates...maybe I assumed too much.)

As an aside, I would really have to discourage anyone from wearing a (long) white coat with a skirt or dress shorter than the coat itself. There's this one doc I see often who looks like she's wearing nothing but the white coat and shoes from behind. 😱

 

[ciestar]

I've been a homemaker for over a decade and when I started doing this gig in the hospital recently, working with doctors and residents at a teaching hospital, I was shocked to see how many (mostly young) female docs dress in clothes I wouldn't have ever considered professional. I'm still trying to decide if I'm a too-conservative old fart with a stick up my butt, or if printed leggings with booties really are an appropriate choice for the noble profession. (I'd like to point out I'm not that old, in the oldest group of Millennials, but I expected the docs to look nicer than my friends and I when we get our kids together for playdates...maybe I assumed too much.)

As an aside, I would really have to discourage anyone from wearing a (long) white coat with a skirt or dress shorter than the coat itself. There's this one doc I see often who looks like she's wearing nothing but the white coat and shoes from behind. 😱

Yeahhh..
Given my height and body propertions, I’d have to wear a dress that hits below my knee to be longer than a physician’s coat. Which just doesn’t look right IMO. (Not that i even wear my white coat as a student )

I wear black leggings a lot, but, under a dress because it is cold in the northeast.

 

[Toutie]

Depends. Are they in peds?
I love leggings. As long as it’s not jeggings, which I find unconscionable.
If dudes can walk around the hospital wearing “fun” ties with alligators or wineglasses or some $h!t, I’ve decided I’m gonna wear whatever I please, short of club clothing. I’m prepared for the judging that comes along with it... but I’m fortunate to be very discordant looking when it comes to my job and appearance. No one judges me for long once I get up on the stretcher to reduce a 300 pound hip dislocation in my Valentinos.
I actually wore these to clinic yesterday. I wouldn’t recommend it until you’re an attending though, haha.

View attachment 251444

You must have some great shoe conversations with @Winged Scapula. 😀

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

You must have some great shoe conversations with @Winged Scapula. 😀

Not really.... I’m not very social haha.

 

[gyngyn]

What you wear to your interview is a Situational Judgement Test.

 

[965978]

What you wear to your interview is a Situational Judgement Test.

Is it a more effective test than CASPer?

 

[gyngyn]

Is it a more effective test than CASPer?

At least we don't need Canadian Grad students to grade it.

 

[ThrowawayShmoaway]

At least we don't need Canadian Grad students to grade it.

Wait, is this really who grades it?!?

 

[gyngyn]

Wait, is this really who grades it?!?

That's what the company told me.

 

[stayathomemom]

Yeahhh..
Given my height and body propertions, I’d have to wear a dress that hits below my knee to be longer than a physician’s coat. Which just doesn’t look right IMO. (Not that i even wear my white coat as a student )

I wear black leggings a lot, but, under a dress because it is cold in the northeast.

I getcha. I'm under 5' myself, so yeah...do they make physician's coats in kids' sizes? 🤣
Leggings with dresses is definitely ok. In fact, I hope they never go out of style! I'm way too cold to go without.

 

[deleted962973]

Not really.... I’m not very social haha.

Not a girl but leggings in clinic are totally fine imo. If you’re wearing a nice sweater and shoes, who cares if you’re wearing leggings or jeans? Is this outfit really considered too inappropriate for an outpatient clinic visit? Not appropriate for an interview whatsoever, but if a young doctor wore this under her white coat (minus the towering heels), I wouldn’t even think twice.

Google Image Result for https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5453c7e1e4b0159c7869e510/5a7178b4f9619acaaa94e54e/5a7178bbec212dcf0f01e574/1517385922429/FASHION+BLOGGER+LCB+STYLE+SPANX+LEGGINGS-26.jpg

Tbf, I’ve never spent much time analyzing what my doctor wears because if I’m at a surgeons office, I have more important things to worry about.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Not a girl but leggings in clinic are totally fine imo. If you’re wearing a nice sweater and shoes, who cares if you’re wearing leggings or jeans? Is this outfit really considered too inappropriate for an outpatient clinic visit? Not appropriate for an interview whatsoever, but if a young doctor wore this under her white coat (minus the towering heels), I wouldn’t even think twice.

Google Image Result for https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5453c7e1e4b0159c7869e510/5a7178b4f9619acaaa94e54e/5a7178bbec212dcf0f01e574/1517385922429/FASHION+BLOGGER+LCB+STYLE+SPANX+LEGGINGS-26.jpg

Tbf, I’ve never spent much time analyzing what my doctor wears because if I’m at a surgeons office, I have more important things to worry about.

My daughters’ former pediatrician dressed just slightly more conservatively than that. I never thought she looked unprofessional.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

My daughters’ former pediatrician dressed just slightly more conservatively than that. I never thought she looked unprofessional.

Leather pants is a little risky for patient care. I wouldn’t do it, would stick with cotton leggings. But then again, I shouldn’t talk considering the shoes I wear regularly.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Leather pants is a little risky for patient care. I wouldn’t do it, would stick with cotton leggings. But then again, I shouldn’t talk considering the shoes I wear regularly.

Yeah that’s why I said a little more conservatively lol. She never wore leather pants at any of our encounters. The top is similar to her style.

 

[deleted962973]

Leather pants is a little risky for patient care. I wouldn’t do it, would stick with cotton leggings. But then again, I shouldn’t talk considering the shoes I wear regularly.

Haha yes, I struggled to find a google image without leather leggings. Must be in this season. But the general point remains.

 

[RNtoMD87]

I ran in to that issue each of the three times I took my wife to a military ball...men, dress uniform or tux. Easy peasy. Women, dress uniform or...Something that is above the ankle but below the knee, doesn’t show the entire shoulder but doesn’t have sleeves, little cleavage but show some collar bone...And so on...

Never got why male soldiers are required to wear class A but females also get the option of wearing a dress.


Man I’ve got a lot to learn. Never worn a suit other than class As, never made a resume, done a job interview etc.

 

[TelemarketingEnigma]

Never got why male soldiers are required to wear class A but females also get the option of wearing a dress.


Man I’ve got a lot to learn. Never worn a suit other than class As, never made a resume, done a job interview etc.

This has me curious - would it be appropriate for an interviewee to wear military uniform to a [non-USUHS] med school interview? (When I interviewed at USUHS I think about half of my interview group was in military uniforms, but that's to be expected in that setting... I didn't see any others elsewhere, but I also don't remember meeting anyone who mentioned military service at other interviews)

 

[907914]

This has me curious - would it be appropriate for an interviewee to wear military uniform to a [non-USUHS] med school interview? (When I interviewed at USUHS I think about half of my interview group was in military uniforms, but that's to be expected in that setting... I didn't see any others elsewhere, but I also don't remember meeting anyone who mentioned military service at other interviews)

Some people who are still on Active duty or in the reserves will wear their dress uniform because, honestly, it is already fitted, looks professional, may raise some unique questions in interview, will make you more memorable (“the military guy”), and then you don’t have to spend several hundred extra dollars on a suit.

Not a whole lot of people do it, but is common enough that it would not be unexpected. @Matthew9Thirtyfive did it, if I recall.

 

[precisiongraphic]

Definitely think we have different definitions of cute here.

I call many of my dresses cute. They’re all very appropriate for a professional setting.

I agree that some professional outfits are cute. But the Venn Diagram of cute, professional and suitable for an interview may be smaller than many women might believe.

 

[907914]

I agree that some professional outfits are cute. But the Venn Diagram of cute, professional and suitable for an interview may be smaller than many women might believe.

The underlying message you are hinting out that I haven’t seen outright stated: the goal of a professional interview is not to look cute or unique or to have your look stand out in any way. You want them to remember you for your application and conversations, not your apparel.

 

[ciestar]

I agree that some professional outfits are cute. But the Venn Diagram of cute, professional and suitable for an interview may be smaller than many women might believe.

I wasn’t talking about about interviews.
No kidding. You don’t try to be bold there.

In the clinic, you don’t need to wear a suit.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Some people who are still on Active duty or in the reserves will wear their dress uniform because, honestly, it is already fitted, looks professional, may raise some unique questions in interview, will make you more memorable (“the military guy”), and then you don’t have to spend several hundred extra dollars on a suit.

Not a whole lot of people do it, but is common enough that it would not be unexpected. @Matthew9Thirtyfive did it, if I recall.

Sure did. So did several of my classmates.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

This has me curious - would it be appropriate for an interviewee to wear military uniform to a [non-USUHS] med school interview? (When I interviewed at USUHS I think about half of my interview group was in military uniforms, but that's to be expected in that setting... I didn't see any others elsewhere, but I also don't remember meeting anyone who mentioned military service at other interviews)

It’s required for active duty at USUHS which is why you saw so many. At civilian interviews, it seems to be split. Many people don’t want to stand out that much and risk negative bias that many liberals have of the military. Personally, I find that most educated people, whether liberal or not, are able to separate the soldier from the war and respect what it means to serve. I’ve had nothing but very positive experiences wearing my uniform, including in very blue states.

 

[DokterMom]

It’s required for active duty at USUHS which is why you saw so many. At civilian interviews, it seems to be split. Many people don’t want to stand out that much and risk negative bias that many liberals have of the military. Personally, I find that most educated people, whether liberal or not, are able to separate the soldier from the war and respect what it means to serve. I’ve had nothing but very positive experiences wearing my uniform, including in very blue states.

I think any liberal bias against the military probably evaporated within a decade after Vietnam, or at the very least, after 9/11. Yes, the war is not the soldier.

 

[907914]

I think any liberal bias against the military probably evaporated within a decade after Viet Nam, or at the very least, after 9/11. Yes, the war is not the soldier.

I have legitimately had students on my campus (podunk state school with no major liberal bias) call me baby killer because they saw my military boots. I was a medical laboratory technician in the army. While decreased, it is very much alive (at least among the students who have grown up in a post-9/11 world).

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I think any liberal bias against the military probably evaporated within a decade after Viet Nam, or at the very least, after 9/11. Yes, the war is not the soldier.

You’d be surprised. There are far left groups and individuals who strongly dislike or hate us.

 

[DokterMom]

I have legitimately had students on my campus (podunk state school with no major liberal bias) call me baby killer because they saw my military boots. I was a medical laboratory technician in the army. While decreased, it is very much alive (at least among the students who have grown up in a post-9/11 world).

You’d be surprised. There are far left groups and individuals who strongly dislike or hate us.

Wow. Call me surprised. And disappointed.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

I have legitimately had students on my campus (podunk state school with no major liberal bias) call me baby killer because they saw my military boots. I was a medical laboratory technician in the army. While decreased, it is very much alive (at least among the students who have grown up in a post-9/11 world).

Yep. I had an ex girlfriend call me a murderer lol. We also had to go in hot when visiting ****ing Seattle of all places because we got intel that a leftist group was going to protest and might get violent.

My positive experiences with civilians far outnumber the negative ones though, even with the more liberal people.

Edit: oh and in San Diego like 4-5 years ago we had to get rid of our base stickers during the furloughs and economic dip because people were siphoning gas out of cars with base stickers on them and slashing their tires.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Ungrateful, uneducated, arrogant bastards. It is because of you that we live in a free society. I have the utmost respect for the military.

lol thanks. I'm not sure how much I actually contribute, but we all try.

 

[907914]

lol thanks. I'm not sure how much I actually contribute, but we all try.

Without us, how else would the parking lot get mopped?

Note* This is humor. I have actually done this (boot) but we do more good than trivial