Attire at pre-interview "casual" dinners?

[mercaptovizadeh]

What should I wear at these? My usual casual attire is green cotton cotton pants and a polo or Henley shirt, but I guess that might be too casual? I almost never wear jeans or collared shirts (except for the latter when I'm formally dressed with tie, etc.).

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[gutonc]

A lot will depend on where you are (things will be different in NYC and Chicago than in OKC or Dallas) but...business casual is the usual recommendation.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

Dress slacks and a button-down shirt. +/- a sport coat or blazer depending on the weather.

No one will ever think you are overdressed; no one will ever think you are underdressed.

 

[IlDestriero]

Google business casual.

 

[shenanigi]

Google business casual.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=business+casual#

 

[IlDestriero]

If you have one this week, you go in full Halloween costume.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

If you have one this week, you go in full Halloween costume.

Are you just waiting for one of your residents to come up to you and say, "you'll never guess which applicant showed up in a gorilla suit to the interview dinner..."?

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Do you really wear green cotton pants all that often? I've never seen that outside of the nation's more discerning golf courses.

 

[gutonc]

Do you really wear green cotton pants all that often? I've never seen that outside of the nation's more discerning golf courses.

I was thinking the same thing. Green cotton pants? I mean...I can picture the situation in which I would wear them (a truth or dare situation gone horribly awry) but as a regular thing?

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

Do you really wear green cotton pants all that often? I've never seen that outside of the nation's more discerning golf courses.

I was thinking the same thing. Green cotton pants? I mean...I can picture the situation in which I would wear them (a truth or dare situation gone horribly awry) but as a regular thing?

😀 Uh, yeah. They're not mint green, more like olive. Thanks for the laughs.

 

[organdonor]

Have to go with the flow here and say business casual. Polo, button up shirt, +\- sweater or blazer, and khakis is always a safe bet.

Interesting caveats though, I've been invited to a second look party at a large sporting event involving a team which I have a million t shirts of. I could wear a t shirt and support the local team but I'll probably defer to the above business casual.

 

[Booster]

do you wear a tie as well? or just a button up shirt will be enough?

 

[Stellar Clouds]

do you wear a tie as well? or just a button up shirt will be enough?

No tie. A button up shirt is just fine.

 

[drzing]

dress comfortably--try and relax and have a good time. DO NOT TRY AND TALK ABOUT RESEARCH OR ACADEMICS! This is the residents time off too..you can surely ask about the program, but dont ask about the latest article in Stroke or the latests treatments for alzheimers--save that for IV day.

 

[The kitchen sink]

Is a black button down acceptable? with gray slacks

or all black? (black button down and black slacks?

opinions on rolled up sleeves?

 

[Missorleans]

Is a black button down acceptable? with gray slacks

or all black? (black button down and black slacks?

opinions on rolled up sleeves?

Don't wear all black. You'll look like a waiter.

 

[IlDestriero]

If you're wearing all black and look like the waiter, you're doing it wrong.

 

[MossPoh]

It may be a little specialty dependent too. A bunch of my interviews were listed as casual and the person who wore business casual just looked uptight. Radiology may run more casual as a whole though. I tended to wear nice jeans and a sweater for most of the casual dinners.

 

[chargersfan]

If the social event invitation specifically states casual...what do you wear? Is that still business casual?

 

[mvenus929]

If the social event invitation specifically states casual...what do you wear? Is that still business casual?

I would err on the dressy side of casual. So I wouldn't wear faded jeans with holes in them (however fancy they may be by their label) and a T-shirt--I'd wear a nice blouse (or polo for guys) and khakis or nice jeans.

 

[gutonc]

If the social event invitation specifically states casual...what do you wear? Is that still business casual?

No, if they specifically state "casual" then anything dressier than a track suit will be laughed at. You're best off wearing sweatpants and a wife beater to these events.

 

[Law2Doc]

I would err on the dressy side of casual. So I wouldn't wear faded jeans with holes in them (however fancy they may be by their label) and a T-shirt--I'd wear a nice blouse (or polo for guys) and khakis or nice jeans.

Agreed. Business casual is the safest, even if they say casual. Most residents won't care, but showing up in some sort of a collared shirt, shoes, socks, and tan slacks/ chinos (if you are a guy, or whatever the female equivalent is), keeps you from standing out negatively. This isn't the time to break out your Megadeath T shirt, sweat pants, go sox less and show off your day-glo sneakers with the individual toes. Most residents will be coming straight from work, which can mean they could potentially be wearing a tie depending on what rotation/elective they are, or they could be coming in scrubs, etc. But you don't want to be at the low end of the dress code. Once you get into the program, you can let your peers see the casual you. If a guy/gal showed up inappropriately dressed in a big way, I promise this would get mentioned to the PD.

 

[organdonor]

One of my friends had a pre interview dinner on Halloween and was invited to dress up in costume! I haven't spoken to him since then to find out if he did or not though

 

[improbable]

What should I wear at these? My usual casual attire is green cotton cotton pants and a polo or Henley shirt, but I guess that might be too casual? I almost never wear jeans or collared shirts (except for the latter when I'm formally dressed with tie, etc.).

This comes to mind.

 

[Belleza156]

So how does the attire apply to females applying in EM? I thought many programs were casual until I rotated at two who insisted on business casual/formal for conferences and white coats on at all times. Women don't really have the khaki and a polo option and have that be considered "casual." I know I shouldn't make any strong fashion statements, but what specifically is casual? Jeans and knee high boots over jeans? Or a collared shirt and sweater and jeans?

 

[MerickManual]

So how does the attire apply to females applying in EM? I thought many programs were casual until I rotated at two who insisted on business casual/formal for conferences and white coats on at all times. Women don't really have the khaki and a polo option and have that be considered "casual." I know I shouldn't make any strong fashion statements, but what specifically is casual? Jeans and knee high boots over jeans? Or a collared shirt and sweater and jeans?

I just stuck with black slacks and a nice blouse. Even though it was deemed casual I still dressed up a bit more. Good thing I did because the other females who attended the pre-interview dinners had the same mind-set. You don't want to be the least casual of the group. Good luck!

 

[rokshana]

I think the female version of polo and khakis is a nice sweater or blouse and black pants…you can dress it up or down with your choice of jewelry and shoes.

 

[rkaz]

I typically wear nice quality dark jeans, a nice blouse, and a peacoat over the top (due to the cold weather now). I think I have fit in just fine. At times (especially on my east/midwest interviews) I have seen some of the other women dressing a tad bit fancier than me, wearing cocktail dresses (that were not too revealing), and they also looked appropriately dressed as well. I also saw the guys wearing the polo shirts with the nice slacks and sports coats.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I think the female version of polo and khakis is a nice sweater or blouse and black pants…you can dress it up or down with your choice of jewelry and shoes.

This or a conservative dress ( climate dependent) would be good