Interview attire

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How would you dress up for an Open Day ?

I did get an offer already, so I don't need to impress anyone 😉, but I do want to be dressed appropriately.. I'm guessing a little less informal than an interview? Maybe straight black trousers, clean new trainers (not the jogging kind but the walking ones like these http://www.carpages.co.uk/mini/mini-tiger-trainers-04-08-07.asp (but in black)).

How about the shirt? Do I need a black dress jacket or is that too formal? It'll probably be cold outside anyway, so if I take a nice warm(ish) outside jacket and a neat sweater underneath? Do I need a dress shirt underneath?

Help me :laugh:
 
i have an interview at purdue and it may be snowing/there will be snow, how should i (a guy) dress especially if they are going to be doing a tour first and then will be the interview. I dont want to be freezing from the lack of clothes or be sweaty because too many layers on, esp if i have to have my professional wear on under.

im from CA so i do not really have much gear for the cold :scared: but any suggestions will be helpful =D
 
That sucks to have the tour first. Would it be feasible for you to go out to your car and change into interview attire after the tour? I did this in Ohio, but in the reverse (i.e. I arrived dressed for the interview, and as soon as that was over, I went out to my car and changed into comfy/warm clothes for the tour & lectures). If you have to do any walking in snow, it would be nice to not have to wear your dress shoes and slacks, so you don't ruin them and so you don't slip.
 
the only problem is i will not know what time the interview is until that day, so if its not at the beginning it would be feasible to change before it, but until then i am uncertain, i guess the best thing to do is bring good water proof shoes and change into my nice ones right before....thanks for the tidbit
 
gsi924 said:
the only problem is i will not know what time the interview is until that day, so if its not at the beginning it would be feasible to change before it, but until then i am uncertain, i guess the best thing to do is bring good water proof shoes and change into my nice ones right before....thanks for the tidbit
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Have you checked out the PDF of the schedule for the day? (I'm at Purdue on the 21st, so I've been thinking the same thing!) It looks like there's a "morning" set of interviews, then a tour, then an afternoon set of interviews and then another tour. So it seems like you SHOULD be done with your interview before the tour, and you'll at least be able to change into comfy shoes for the tour portion. Last year when I interviewed at Tufts it was Feb and COLD. Almost all of us at least changed shoes for the tour, and many people changed clothes. I didn't change, but I left my suit jacket hanging in the car until just before the interview, so i didn't worry about getting sweaty and wrinkled and gross.
 
fromthebox said:
So, My mom got me the suit I wanted for Christmas. I have the shirt picked out, and intend to buy over new years along with shoes. I got a purse. And then this morning I had a thought- should I wear my glasses to my interview?

People have always told me they make me look older/ like a sexy librarian/ smart. I think they're right, but I'm not in love with the way they make me look down a little bit, and they're older. New glasses for interview is not going to happen though (too crazy). Wearing my contacts gives me that 20-something not 30-something look, avoids prejudice if there is any and would allow for sunglasses if tour is outside (say no to snow-blindness!) but I'm not sure, anyone have experience with this problem?
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It seems like you've already made your decision, and I agree. Go with the contacts. If you do go with the glasses, I wouldn't stress about it and definitely would not get new glasses just for the interview. What if your new glasses slide off your face easily and you have to keep pushing them up during the interview? I wouldn't risk it. So, I'd go with contacts or your old (reliable) glasses.

As for my interview attire, I haven't gotten a suit yet, but know I will get a pants suit and wear flats. I love skirts, but I'm not sure how well flats go with pencil skirts, and I hate heels.

My main problem will be my hair. I love my hair, but it is a huge curly afro that cannot be put into a ponytail or bun. I think it gives me character. I just hope the interviewers aren't distracted by it!
 
Shadow23 said:
My main problem will be my hair. I love my hair, but it is a huge curly afro that cannot be put into a ponytail or bun. I think it gives me character. I just hope the interviewers aren't distracted by it!
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As long as it looks well tended, I have heard repeatedly that they do not care about the style. My advice is go with what is comfortable but still nice. And you're right, it probably makes you distinctive 😉
 
Shadow23 said:
My main problem will be my hair. I love my hair, but it is a huge curly afro that cannot be put into a ponytail or bun. I think it gives me character. I just hope the interviewers aren't distracted by it!
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Me too! I have LOTS of blonde, curly hair and I feel like I look so cold when it's up, but that down it's not professional.. ugh!
 
welelu said:
Me too! I have LOTS of blonde, curly hair and I feel like I look so cold when it's up, but that down it's not professional.. ugh!
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So difficult! I think I am going to visit my hairdresser and have her show me how to style my hair to look professional but still like myself. Either that or I will be doubling the hair serum on interview day!
 
I like my solution. Hair up or down? How about three inches long? Done! Guess it will have to be down.

I will have to reluctantly color it some dreadfully boring color... like brown. Blah. :d
 
How about navy blue with thin white pin stripes? Too flashy?

As far as heels, I'm more comfortable in a 4 inch heel than I am in a 1 inch heel. For the most part, pants cover the actual length of the heel....
What do you think? Too much?

I tend to always look conservative no matter how much "out on a limb" I go. And I'm not big on colored shirts, so I am trying to throw a little personality in there....
 
welelu said:
Me too! I have LOTS of blonde, curly hair and I feel like I look so cold when it's up, but that down it's not professional.. ugh!
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat. My hair is just a couple of inches above my waist and it is thick and curly (in no way is it a frizzy mess - there's just a lot of it). Even though I know an interview is not a beauty contest, it just doesn't look half as nice up/back as it does when it's down and I don't want to feel self conscious about it. I've decided that I'm going to rock it down and be myself. If anything, I'm hoping it will help separate me from the crowd 👍
 
I am incredibly jealous of you long-haired girls who CAN wear it down! :laugh: I have absurdly long hair (currently to my waist, but I need to take a few inches off soon), and while there isn't much of it, it's crazy frizzy and curly and poofy. Down = several hours with a flatiron and a bottle of serum. I tend to just twist it up into a bun every day. I'll probably try to straighten it for the interview, but will probably pull it back anyways. Too much to think about for me having it down!
 
Savethewhales said:
How about navy blue with thin white pin stripes? Too flashy?

As far as heels, I'm more comfortable in a 4 inch heel than I am in a 1 inch heel. For the most part, pants cover the actual length of the heel....
What do you think? Too much?

I tend to always look conservative no matter how much "out on a limb" I go. And I'm not big on colored shirts, so I am trying to throw a little personality in there....
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I would say yes to the suit, big no to 4" heels. Now I like my tall heels better too, but for a professional look they are often more likely to be noticeable in a negative way, so not worth the risk. I say go with some 2-2 1/2" non-flashy ones as a compromise.
 
StartingoverVet said:
Are you male or female? :laugh:

Kilts would seem appropriate yeah?
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I would like to wear a kilt, that would be fab-uuuu-lous. Too bad Edinburgh doesn't do interviews. Actually, that's not too bad...

So I have been scanning through this thread quite a bit... got 2 things.

One, nyanko, being from Philly, I gotta say NOT digging the photo and stuff... but its okay, we can still be friends? I miss your old photo... haha

Two, my suit is twead (because I love twead and don't like anything else really). The pants are wide leg, and nice, and the jacket has like three-quarter sleeves. It is already purchased and such, but I had a momentary freak out that maybe it was a bit tooooo fashionable for an interview suit. I envy my boyfriend and all other males. I wish there weren't so many options for women. Possible to be TOO fashionable? I refuse to wear nice jewelry (much to my mother's dismay). So won't be going overboard there.
There may be discussion of this elsewhere, but its such a large thread, I might have missed it...
 
heylodeb said:
Those are freaking adorable! I think I just might have to get a pair!! haha. so..I approve, lol
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The comfort of Clarks (especially in the Artisan series) is absolutely unparalleled. Seriously, I have the shoes I linked in brown and black, and I have some knee high boots that are the same soles, and also a pair of mary janes with the same sole. If I had to walk around all day, I would choose these over my Nike sneakers. No joke!

Find a shoe store and try on some Clarks. You'll thank me later. Then find your size and look for better deals online. 😉
 
futurevet3000 said:
I would like to wear a kilt, that would be fab-uuuu-lous. Too bad Edinburgh doesn't do interviews. Actually, that's not too bad...

So I have been scanning through this thread quite a bit... got 2 things.

One, nyanko, being from Philly, I gotta say NOT digging the photo and stuff... but its okay, we can still be friends? I miss your old photo... haha

Two, my suit is twead (because I love twead and don't like anything else really). The pants are wide leg, and nice, and the jacket has like three-quarter sleeves. It is already purchased and such, but I had a momentary freak out that maybe it was a bit tooooo fashionable for an interview suit. I envy my boyfriend and all other males. I wish there weren't so many options for women. Possible to be TOO fashionable? I refuse to wear nice jewelry (much to my mother's dismay). So won't be going overboard there.
There may be discussion of this elsewhere, but its such a large thread, I might have missed it...
Click to expand...

IMHO It is possible to be too fashionable, but I think you'd have to go far outside the normal tones for suits (say, pink tweed) or add large chunky jewelery, or have a big ruffled collar or fashion forward military-styled jacket rather than something in the realm of peoples idea of "suit" I see nothing wrong with wide-leg pants, or 3/4 sleeves if the rest is normal. If you put it on, look in the mirror and your impression is "fashionista" then its a problem. If you feel comfortable and professional, you're fine.

Twelvetigers - I love your shoes! They look totally appropriate, and Clarks are SO comfy. 👍👍
 
I feel inclined to take a photo and post it... I am that concerned haha. This is only because I rarely, I stress, RARELY dress up. If it's not scrubs or flannel, I generally am not wearing it (or sweats for that matter)
 
futurevet3000 said:
I feel inclined to take a photo and post it... I am that concerned haha. This is only because I rarely, I stress, RARELY dress up. If it's not scrubs or flannel, I generally am not wearing it (or sweats for that matter)
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I'd say post away. I am having a hard time imagining your suit and will definitely give you my honest opinion 🙂
 
futurevet3000 said:
I feel inclined to take a photo and post it... I am that concerned haha. This is only because I rarely, I stress, RARELY dress up. If it's not scrubs or flannel, I generally am not wearing it (or sweats for that matter)
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I'm not sure you can be too fashionable, but you CAN be too trendy, if that makes any sense? I mean, my suit I thought was fashionable, but at the same time it was pretty classic. It was a light-ish black with some lighter pinstripes, boot cut pants with small heels that were covered by the pants, a matching blazer, and my blouse underneath was a muted pink that buttoned up enough to be classy but not so high that it was stuffy. I untucked the collar of the blouse and wore it on the outside of the jacket for a pop of color and wore a small pearl necklace, small diamond studs in my earlobes and took out my cartilage piercing. I also wore a ring that was just a simple silver band that is engraved on the inside with the phrase "be brave." My hair was up in a bun with my bangs pinned back and bumped up in the front.

I saw people who were more dressed up than me and people who were less dressed up than me (some so much that I winced). The only things that caught my attention negatively, to be honest, were the things that were significantly less dressed up. Such things as wearing a shirt with no jacket that looks like it's something you'd wear everyday and not just to dress up/look professional, or wearing your hair down when it looks unkempt. By that I mean I saw some people with just plain MESSY hair sticking out every which way. I think if you're not going to put it up in a neat bun or sleek ponytail, it should be straightened or have product in it to tame it.

For those of you who have lots of curly hair, I say own it! I LOVE curly hair-some of my best friends have hair that is super curly and I think it definitely adds character! As long as you can make it look professional, go for it!

Good luck everyone who is getting ready to interview!!
 
futurevet3000 said:
Two, my suit is twead (because I love twead and don't like anything else really). The pants are wide leg, and nice, and the jacket has like three-quarter sleeves. It is already purchased and such, but I had a momentary freak out that maybe it was a bit tooooo fashionable for an interview suit. I envy my boyfriend and all other males. I wish there weren't so many options for women. Possible to be TOO fashionable? I refuse to wear nice jewelry (much to my mother's dismay). So won't be going overboard there.
There may be discussion of this elsewhere, but its such a large thread, I might have missed it...
Click to expand...

Tweed is pretty classic, and wide leg pants and 3/4 sleeves have been around for awhile. I wore a 3 quarter sleeve for my interview. I'm fairly petite, and I felt like a full length jacket sleeve overwhelmed me. The 3/4 just seemed more suited to my proportions. Nothing about it sounds overly trendy to me, just a nice suit. 🙂

You can be TOO trendy, I think though. One of the other girls being interviewed on the same day as me came in black pants, a hot pink ruffly short-sleeved shirt, a black vest and a big hot pink flower in her hair. It didn't look bad, necessarily, it just made it hard to take her seriously. It made her seem like a high schooler, which probably isn't the image you want to project to an adcom.
 
It worked well under the suit (just grabbed one off the rack there, since there's usually not much difference) but it looks a bit odd by itself. It's pretty soft though, and yellow looks good on me (or so I'm told, haha). Anything clashes with the hair, but that will be normal by the time I interview. Still don't know what to do with my nose piercing, especially since it seems all happy and healed now.

I'm so glad I have my suit already - sizing kinda sucks! The Limited only had a 0 and it was a bit too big... lol I know. I need a 00. But the pants... not quite that small!! Haha.

Cowgirl - yeah, they really would! My front door is a nice post-it/Big Bird hue of yellow. 🙂
 
Is the nose piercing a septal or on the side? Side piercings are pretty mainstream now, and unless people specifically point them out, I don't even notice them.
 
Not sure if anyone posted this yet but I just came from j crew and if you show your student ID and tell them you are buying an outfit for a school interview, they give you 15% off! For girls or guys.
 
Whyevernot55 said:
I am incredibly jealous of you long-haired girls who CAN wear it down! :laugh: I have absurdly long hair (currently to my waist, but I need to take a few inches off soon), and while there isn't much of it, it's crazy frizzy and curly and poofy. Down = several hours with a flatiron and a bottle of serum. I tend to just twist it up into a bun every day. I'll probably try to straighten it for the interview, but will probably pull it back anyways. Too much to think about for me having it down!
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Sounds like an unfortunate waxing accident but gives low maintenance straight hair for 12 weeks, even for people like me with crazy fros. I totally wish I had the money/patience to do this all the time, because it is awesome.
 
so i'm no expert on suit jackets and i can't find the answer to this anywhere. its really simple but has me totally overthinking it and freaking out! (girls), do you wear your suit jacket buttoned or unbuttoned? say youre walking around, buttoned? unbuttoned? sitting down...does it matter? IN the actual interview...buttoned? unbuttoned? i think my outfit looks better with it unbuttoned but i didnt know if this was totally not normal.
 
catscatscats said:
so i'm no expert on suit jackets and i can't find the answer to this anywhere. its really simple but has me totally overthinking it and freaking out! (girls), do you wear your suit jacket buttoned or unbuttoned? say youre walking around, buttoned? unbuttoned? sitting down...does it matter? IN the actual interview...buttoned? unbuttoned? i think my outfit looks better with it unbuttoned but i didnt know if this was totally not normal.
Click to expand...

lol this is really funny. I'm not sure if it matters. But I wore my jacket buttoned because 1) it showed my figure nicely since my suit was fitted for my body type and 2) i hate tucking shirts in and i hate the way they look at the edge where they are tucked in. So i think it looks nicer when the jacket is buttoned and covers that area. I swear it always looks "flawed" in the button form, u can never get it tucked in perfectly and have it stay the way u want!

if you think it looks better unbuttoned i think it would be fine to wear it like that. w/e makes u comfortable!
 
This may be a stupid question, but is nail polish inappropriate?
 
Pippen86 said:
This may be a stupid question, but is nail polish inappropriate?
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I went to an interview workshop hosted by one of the actual interviewers at my school (Ohio State) and he said that nail polish can be distracting, especially if you are fidgety with your hands. It just draws attention to them. He also said that for him, personally, somebody with manicured, fake, long nails looks like somebody who's never worked a day in their life.

Honestly, that's a tiny detail that isn't going to make or break your interview. If you normally wear nail polish, make sure it's of an acceptable color and that it's done nicely and isn't distracting. If you don't normally wear nail polish, don't do it just because you're going to an interview. I walked into my interview with fingernails that had been chewed down to the nubs from application-process nerves and I did just fine.
 
I think a very subdued color of nail polish would be fine, but if you're worried, go without.

As for the suit thing, I think it's mainly dudes that are 'supposed' to button/unbutton when they sit or stand. Woman suitcoats would, I think, look a bit funny unbuttoned since they are generally cut to fit in the chest and waist.
 
catscatscats said:
so i'm no expert on suit jackets and i can't find the answer to this anywhere. its really simple but has me totally overthinking it and freaking out! (girls), do you wear your suit jacket buttoned or unbuttoned? say youre walking around, buttoned? unbuttoned? sitting down...does it matter? IN the actual interview...buttoned? unbuttoned? i think my outfit looks better with it unbuttoned but i didnt know if this was totally not normal.
Click to expand...

My aunt told me what to do on this one. She's a very successful defense attorney in NY. She said never to button the bottom button on the jacket. (Even though I told her I thought it looked better with both buttoned she told me that I was wrong). And that when you sit down your unbutton and that when you stand up you rebutton. She did say it's not as important as it is for men and if you forget to do it you don't need to freak out about it but that you really should do it to look professional.

I'll be following her advice for my interview this weekend :scared:
 
Chinola said:
My aunt told me what to do on this one. She's a very successful defense attorney in NY. She said never to button the bottom button on the jacket. (Even though I told her I thought it looked better with both buttoned she told me that I was wrong). And that when you sit down your unbutton and that when you stand up you rebutton. She did say it's not as important as it is for men and if you forget to do it you don't need to freak out about it but that you really should do it to look professional.

I'll be following her advice for my interview this weekend :scared:
Click to expand...

Mine only has two buttons... So isn't it strange to just have one button buttoned? Just like, a lone boob button...?
 
catscatscats said:
Mine only has two buttons... So isn't it strange to just have one button buttoned? Just like, a lone boob button...?
Click to expand...

Hahahaha! Love lone boob button description. Mine has 2 buttons as well. My aunt was with me when I purchased it and told me only the top one gets buttoned. And she wears more conservative suits than any other woman I know so I'm trusting her on this one.
 
catscatscats said:
Mine only has two buttons... So isn't it strange to just have one button buttoned? Just like, a lone boob button...?
Click to expand...

:laugh:

Mine also has two. I buttoned both of them for my interviews. Like someone said above, I dont like the way the tucked in blouse looks under the jacket, but if I didnt tuck it in, the shirt was longer than the jacket in the back, and I figured that wouldn't go over well 🙂
 
catscatscats said:
Mine only has two buttons... So isn't it strange to just have one button buttoned? Just like, a lone boob button...?
Click to expand...


Bah my suit only has ONE button!! So I have a lone boob button by default 😛. But I cannot imagine walking into the interview room, shaking hands, then unbuttoning my jacket before I sit down. I just do not think I can do it casually enough to avoid looking like I am a) a fumbling idiot or b) trying to seduce the interviewers :shrug:

I think I will sit down and try to just pull my jacket down so that it doesn't bunch up strangely. My real problem is trying to decide what shoes to wear now that the forecast shows snow. I read the previous advice that it would be fine to wear weather-appropriate shoes for the tour, but my snow shoes are knee high and clunky and will not fit into my purse when I need to change to interview shoes. I guess I will wear black sneakers instead? I wish I thought ahead to buy ankle high snow-type boots before the week of my interview 🙁
 
Is it alright to wear a tuxedo instead of a suit for the interview? I guess I asked the question in wrong forum being a pharmacy student. But it shouldn't matter as it is an attire question.
 
Screw it. I'm wearing a violet track suit and aviator sunglasses.
 
smfaldu said:
Is it alright to wear a tuxedo instead of a suit for the interview? I guess I asked the question in wrong forum being a pharmacy student. But it shouldn't matter as it is an attire question.
Click to expand...


I think that's overdoing it a bit.
 
smfaldu said:
Is it alright to wear a tuxedo instead of a suit for the interview? I guess I asked the question in wrong forum being a pharmacy student. But it shouldn't matter as it is an attire question.
Click to expand...

you should absolutely not do that.
 
okay guys, followup question to the button question. is it normal to sometimes take the jacket off? and if so, under what circumstances would this be appropriate? clearly i failed to learn any suit-wearing etiquette...

also, i really liked the comment about feeling like youre trying to seduce the interviewers when you unbutton the button. this was one of my concerns too, but instead of realizing it, i just got uncomfortable every time i imagined the scenario. thanks for reading my mind better than i can!
 
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