Dressing for an interview

[geogil]

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Every year there is a variation on the question " can I get away with wearing X to my interview?", and the ensuing thread always devolves into a discussion where the more senior people encourage conservative dress, and medical students decrying the lack of indiduality and freedom of expression they percieve by being "forced" to wear a shirt, tie, or business suit.

Here's the scoop: you are interviewing for a job. Many of you may have had real jobs before medical school, some maybe not. Medicine is still a conservative field, with regards to dress standards, and patients ,especially the older ones, expect their physician to look a certain way. This is not news, hopefully you have been dressing the part during MS III and IV. We are lucky in anesthesia in that, generally, we wear scrubs the majority of the time at work, and consequently are spared from dressing up.

That having been said, your residency interview is NOT a time for pushing the fashion envelope. Please look like you're interviewing for a professional job, because you are. Tie your tie all the way, make sure your suit doesn't look like you slept in it, and tuck your shirt in. Your interview day is only a few hours long, you can suffer through a nice looking suit for that long. Your dress is a lot like your personal statement, it only matters if it's going to detract from your application, so don't let a very easily controlled element diminish the impression you wish to make.

that is all.

 

[Lightwand]

**Slow clap**

Also, put your damn cell phone away. There's no reason (unless you have a family emergency or travel issues) to ever even take your phone out of your bag/pocket during the interview day. Even if it is "just" lunch with the residents, it doesn't look good and certainly doesn't make you look very professional or interested in the program.

 

[cchoukal]

every year there is a variation on the question " can i get away with wearing x to my interview?", and the ensuing thread always devolves into a discussion where the more senior people encourage conservative dress, and medical students decrying the lack of indiduality and freedom of expression they percieve by being "forced" to wear a shirt, tie, or business suit.

Here's the scoop: You are interviewing for a job. Many of you may have had real jobs before medical school, some maybe not. Medicine is still a conservative field, with regards to dress standards, and patients ,especially the older ones, expect their physician to look a certain way. This is not news, hopefully you have been dressing the part during ms iii and iv. We are lucky in anesthesia in that, generally, we wear scrubs the majority of the time at work, and consequently are spared from dressing up.

That having been said, your residency interview is not a time for pushing the fashion envelope. Please look like you're interviewing for a professional job, because you are. Tie your tie all the way, make sure your suit doesn't look like you slept in it, and tuck your shirt in. Your interview day is only a few hours long, you can suffer through a nice looking suit for that long. Your dress is a lot like your personal statement, it only matters if it's going to detract from your application, so don't let a very easily controlled element diminish the impression you wish to make.

That is all.

+5

 

[ssmallz]

It's sad that this topic comes up because the rules haven't changed in 30 years. Nevertheless, thank you for posting this because someone will ask again this year

 

[Dejavu]

It's sad that this topic comes up because the rules haven't changed in 30 years. Nevertheless, thank you for posting this because someone will ask again this year

I agree, except to say that the rules haven't changed for a lot longer than 30 years.🙂

 

[AngryBird69]

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. It's unreal that someone at this point in their career has to even ask the question "Should I wear a tie?" for their residency interview. But sadly, yes, it happens all the time and thank you for posting this up.

Just today I saw guys in my class wearing wrinkled clothing, soiled shoes and even piercings to a professional attire school event and it is absolutely appalling.

 

[partydoc]

This thread is a bummer. I was really hoping to show how unique I am by wearing a tie that adequately reflects my personality. I even had my mom embroider "i love physio" on one of them.

Now what am I supposed to talk about during my interviews?

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. It's unreal that someone at this point in their career has to even ask the question "Should I wear a tie?" for their residency interview. But sadly, yes, it happens all the time and thank you for posting this up.

Just today I saw guys in my class wearing wrinkled clothing, soiled shoes and even piercings to a professional attire school event and it is absolutely appalling.

Are you well-liked in your class?

 

[AngryBird69]

Are you well-liked in your class?

My comment must've offended you. You can't deny that wrinkled clothes, male piercings, tats and just an unkempt appearance in general have no place in a professional setting. If you can't agree with that, then true to your status, you're trollin'! 😀

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

My comment must've offended you. You can't deny that wrinkled clothes, male piercings, tats and just an unkempt appearance in general have no place in a professional setting. If you can't agree with that, then true to your status, you're trollin'! 😀

I was trollin, nor was I offended.

Just wasn't sure why it bothered you so much what others wear in a non-interview "professional" setting. Pet peeve, really?

 

[AngryBird69]

Yes, it' was quite annoying because said event was hosting a few medical schools and our own dean, a highly regarded clinician in his field, was present. Pretty straightforward to understand.

 

[Agast]

What's the ruling on buttoning suits? At many of my interviews the men did not button their suits, but possibly because they were old suits from medical school interviews and they had gotten too fat to button them. I thought it looked a little casual to have the coat flapping open.

 

[BPA1985]

First time poster here. MSIV currently applying to Anesthesia with a pretty specific question. Obviously wearing a nice suit and tie, being groomed, clean, etc are important. Here's my question: I'm a guy with long hair. Not super long past my shoulders or anything, but long enough. It's always neat and kept. It hasn't been a problem yet in med school, but anyone have any thoughts if I should chop it back short for interviews? Odds that I'll run into a super conservative PD who'll rule me out based on something like that?

 

[PonyUp]

First time poster here. MSIV currently applying to Anesthesia with a pretty specific question. Obviously wearing a nice suit and tie, being groomed, clean, etc are important. Here's my question: I'm a guy with long hair. Not super long past my shoulders or anything, but long enough. It's always neat and kept. It hasn't been a problem yet in med school, but anyone have any thoughts if I should chop it back short for interviews? Odds that I'll run into a super conservative PD who'll rule me out based on something like that?

Is that what you want them to remember you by?

Don't get me wrong, it's better than being forgettable. But if it's long enough that you stand out, might not be the best thing.

Conversely, if your head looks like a penis after you get a haircut because you look weird with short hair, maybe go with the aesthetics.

 

[AllScuttledOut]

First time poster here. MSIV currently applying to Anesthesia with a pretty specific question. Obviously wearing a nice suit and tie, being groomed, clean, etc are important. Here's my question: I'm a guy with long hair. Not super long past my shoulders or anything, but long enough. It's always neat and kept. It hasn't been a problem yet in med school, but anyone have any thoughts if I should chop it back short for interviews? Odds that I'll run into a super conservative PD who'll rule me out based on something like that?

Also a first time poster. When I interviewed last year, I realized that I performed better and enjoyed my day more if I was comfortable. So, if getting a conservative haircut makes you uncomfortable, I probably wouldn't do it. Also, you should ask yourself if you want to go to a program for 3-4 years that would disqualify you for having slightly long but neat hair. Differing opinions on professionalism might not seem like a big deal during interviews, but they can really wear on your nerves when the exhaustion of residency sets in. Just my opinion, though. Good luck!

 

[p30doc]

anyone have any thoughts if I should chop it back short for interviews?

I say leave it, keep it neat.

 

[RMortis]

What do people wear to the dinner before the interview?
Dress khakis and dress shirt tucked in? tie?
Jeans, nice shoes, golf shirt?

 

[gasblaster]

What do people wear to the dinner before the interview?
Dress khakis and dress shirt tucked in? tie?
Jeans, nice shoes, golf shirt?

Usually went with dress khakis and button down shirt. No tie. Seemed like this was the norm for pre-interview dinners for guys. Some programs will be a little more casual (Michigan comes to mind) however, this still works well. Didn't really come across any that I felt I was under-dressed.