Are bow ties okay at interviews?

[Anonimus.Maximus]

I have a really nice one that I'm looking for an excuse to wear, and I know how to tie one, but I don't want to break some unwritten rule of interview etiquette or look excessively pretentious/attention-hungry. Yea or nay?

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[sliceofbread136]

Only if you're going to go into pediatrics

 

[Anonimus.Maximus]

Only if you're going to go into pediatrics

I don't get the joke 🙁

 

[sliceofbread136]

I don't get the joke 🙁

Because we tend to wear bow ties

 

[21Rush12]

If you're interviewing in the south go for it, IMO. You'll look like a joke or a hipster in the northeast, but at UNC/Duke it wouldn't be unusual.


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[infectiousdisease101]

Bowties for men are what formal dresses are to women. You wear them to formal dances and weddings, but not to formal interviews.

 

[gyngyn]

Don't do it.

 

[Goro]

Don't do it.

Especially not with a wooden bow tie!

 

[mistafab]

I've seen a few interviewees sporting bow ties back when I went on the interview trail. At the time, I thought it was unprofessional. But I remember being at an MMI school and this kid with a bowtie opened to door to his station, and the doctor came out and greeted him with a big ol' smile and a bow tie on! Unbelievable.

Anyway, a substantial minority of doctors wear bowties - they do it for personality reasons and also say that it is less likely to spread illness in the hospital or office than a regular tie (although I always wear my tie with clip so moot point).

I wouldn't wear a bowtie to an interview. But people do. So it is up to you really. If you wouldn't feel comfortable in anything but a bowtie, then I wouldn't wear anything else. I would never do it myself though - I just think bowties are weird. However our dean wears a bowtie - high and low, you will see bowties all around. It does give off a friendly vibe in some cases. Sometimes it comes off as douchey. Very person dependent.

 

[Tots]

Honestly it probably wouldn't matter but anything that deviates from common professional attire expected can stick out in a bad way. Like your personal statement this is one thing that is not going to make your application but could break it. So why bother?

I am a fan of bowties and I wouldn't do it.

 

[edgerock24]

Haven't seen one yet.

Not a fan though. Always felt that they look dorky.

Nothing beats a fitted, well put together suit & tie.

 

[LizzyM]

Bowties for men are what formal dresses are to women. You wear them to formal dances and weddings, but not to formal interviews.

I would disagree. There are some physicians, including deans, who are very fond of bow ties and wear no other kind in the hospital and lecture hall. It can be a bit dorky but there are some who wear their dorkiness with pride.

 

[Thienyl15]

I've always associated bowties with quirky economics professors. That said, I would imagine that being able to pull off the bowtie also depends upon the suit and overall style you're trying to portray.

 

[doc05]

Don't do it. You will be labeled as "the weird guy wearing a bow tie."

 

[el_duderino]

You've got everything to lose and nothing to gain. No one is going to be so impressed by your style and attitude that it will help you get in, and you will definitely get people thinking you look like an idiot.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

I would disagree. There are some physicians, including deans, who are very fond of bow ties and wear no other kind in the hospital and lecture hall. It can be a bit dorky but there are some who wear their dorkiness with pride.

I admit, not the best analogy.

 

[LizzyM]

I admit, not the best analogy.

I think that you are confusing black tie and white tie (formal dress) with bowties which can be colorful and appropriate for daytime wear.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

I think that you are confusing black tie and white tie (formal dress) with bowties which can be colorful and appropriate for daytime wear.

I think bowties are more business casual, so it can be risky wearing them to interviews nonetheless. Better to play it safe with regular ties.

 

[LizzyM]

I think bowties are more business casual, so it can be risky wearing them to interviews nonetheless. Better to play it safe with regular ties.

Where do you live (state or region??).

 

[infectiousdisease101]

Where do you live (state or region??).

California.

 

[DNC127]

First impressions are everything, if I were to meet two applicants similar on paper and interviewing skills and one wore a bow-tie while the other didn't... 11/10 times I would pick the guy w/o the bowtie. It is very rare that I find someone can pull off a bow-tie and look classy or normal while wearing it. I know many people think the same way... just how it is. Don't risk it.

 

[SpoiledMilk]

 

[LizzyM]

California.

New England and Midwest is where I see 'em. Could be a regional thing.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Don't do it. It makes you look like a 70 year old plastic surgeon.


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[Med Ed]

I have a really nice one that I'm looking for an excuse to wear, and I know how to tie one, but I don't want to break some unwritten rule of interview etiquette or look excessively pretentious/attention-hungry. Yea or nay?

Please wear it. It's nice when interviewees remove some of the guesswork from this process.

 

[VincentAdultman]

Ugh. Just wear a decent suit that's well fitting. Let your CV make the statement. You have your whole career to make fashion statements.

 

[wiloghby]

I wouldn't wear a bowtie anywhere that I'd also feel uncomfortable wearing a tuxedo.

 

[deomnibusdubitandum]

You're all wrong. Bolo ties get acceptances.

 

[bioboy23]

Especially not with a wooden bow tie!

I still remember laughing so reading that thread I was in tears What ever happened to that one? Wasn't it "bad things to do at an interview" or something? I'm sure with interview season around the corner there will be many more entries.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Please... don't do it.

 

[ODea]

Please do it I'd love to hear if your interviewer had any comments of the bold choice of a bow tie haha

 

[Anti-PD1]

Just know you'll be remembered as the guy who wore the bowtie.

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Don't....just don't

 

[PreMedMissteps]

Save such uniqueness for when you're already "in". Funky ties and silly socks can be a hit in your peds rotation.

 

[GoSkins]

If you're interviewing in the south go for it, IMO. You'll look like a joke or a hipster in the northeast, but at UNC/Duke it wouldn't be unusual.


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As a student at UNC, it will most definitely be unusual

 

[Coupd'Cat]

If you gotta ask, don't do it ~

 

[SpartanWolverine]

As a student at UNC, it will most definitely be unusual

See and UNC is a place where I would expect bowties.

Edit: and, well, you do see them. 3 of 9 neurology residents with neckwear had bowties. (I went straight to neurology because it's the field I most expect bowties to make an appearance).

 

[GoSkins]

See and UNC is a place where I would expect bowties.

Edit: and, well, you do see them. 3 of 9 neurology residents with neckwear had bowties. (I went straight to neurology because it's the field I most expect bowties to make an appearance).

Yea those are residents, not pre-meds interviewing for medical school.

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Yea those are residents, not pre-meds interviewing for medical school.

I am aware. My point being that it doesn't seem so unusual and perhaps geography plays into that (I've never seen a student wearing a bowtie at my midwest school). Here are a couple UNC medical students with bowties, found within the first few search results, for your edification.

 

[Endoxifen]

If you wear a bowtie, make sure to also wear a fez.

 

[WhyNeedAName]

Wear one. Interviews are meant to show schools your personality, and if that's one subtle way of doing so, then go ahead.
However, it only works if it matches the rest of your outfit (like a nice neutral tie that matches your pants or a tie that has a solid color that matches, say, your socks). Don't wear a patterned bow tie unless you are planning on wearing all black, which is very funeral like. And unless your personality is that you like funerals, don't wear it then. But yeah, wear one lolol

 

[GoSkins]

I am aware. My point being that it doesn't seem so unusual and perhaps geography plays into that (I've never seen a student wearing a bowtie at my midwest school). Here are a couple UNC medical students with bowties, found within the first few search results, for your edification.

Lol. This is an online forum, don't get too worked up.

 

[Coupd'Cat]

Okay, while we're on the subject, I have another interview apparel related question (sorry to derail from bow ties).

I am a small woman with short arms. I feel more comfortable (and look less like a 5 year old) with the sleeves of my suit rolled up. The underside is a nice silk striped pattern. Appropriate--yay or nay? Thanks.

 

[LizzyM]

Okay, while we're on the subject, I have another interview apparel related question (sorry to derail from bow ties).

I am a small woman with short arms. I feel more comfortable (and look less like a 5 year old) with the sleeves of my suit rolled up. The underside is a nice silk striped pattern. Appropriate--yay or nay? Thanks.

That is too casual... and I am very liberal when it comes to dress code.

Hire a seamstress/tailor who does alterations to taper and shorten the sleeves of your suit jacket so that they fit properly. A properly tailored suit will not have you looking like a 5 year old.

 

[el_duderino]

Agree with above. Proper tailoring can make almost anything look like a million bucks. Rolling sleeves that are too long would make even a $1000 jacket look like trash.

 

[Coupd'Cat]

Thank you and thank you.

 

[Rhabdoviridae]

At best you will just look like a nerd. At worst, you will look cocky and pretentious. Best to avoid doing this if possible.

 

[Kurk]

As someone who wears suspenders and bow-ties, I'd urge you not to if you'd like to be taken seriously.