treetrunk said:
So, I know I will need to wear formal, clean, neat, and odorless
😀 clothing to interviews. But, my question is about how expensive my suit needs to be. Some people have told me that people can tell if you are wearing a cheap ($100-$200) suit and that it may reflect badly on me. MY argument is that I am a student (meaning not much money to blow on expensive suits) and as long as the suit is all the things I said in the first sentence, I'm fine. Do you think that a $300 suit is so much better than a $100-$200 one that I should go out and buy one?
Also, what about colors for suits? Black and navy blue only? What about patterned suits?
This, of course is early, but I need some time if I needs to get me another suit.
Thanks.
It depends. If your $100 suit is polyester doubleknit, then go get a wool or wool blend one. If you have time, try waiting for one of the sales at Mens Warehouse (they're not bad, just find the oldest salesman in the store, one who may have actually worked in a professional office at some point - not a twenty-something who wants to make you look like a GQ cover.
More important than the price of the suit is how it looks on you, and how it feels on you. Make sure the damned thing fits, which means (at the least) the jacket sleeves and the trouser legs need to be altered. Wear a dress shirt (that fits you, or buy one there) and dress shoes when you go to buy a suit. French cuffs on the shirt are probably not appropriate, and make sure the collar fits. If you're tall, get a long shirt.
Also have the rest of the junk you'd normally carry on your body (keys, wallet, etc) so that the tailor can adjust everything the way you will wear it.
It might require the jacket to be taken in, or the collar reset, or the trousers to have the seat taken in quite a bit.
The rest of this advice generally applies to men more than women:
Don't try to look like ANYONE in ANY fashion magazine. Try to look like Michael Douglas in "Wall Street", pretty conservative. Unless you're very tall, don't get a 4 button (or more) suit.
As far as color, a dark, conservative color - gray or navy, with or without subtle pin stripes. No chalk (wide) stripes unless you want to look like a gangter. Last year everyone was talking about "all black", which would be great if you're interviewiing for a position in a funeral home.
Lastly, conservative accessories - small watch, only a wedding ring (if appropriate), no visible body art or piercings. Black leather shoes (for both) or dark brown (blue suit), shined, lace up or slip on but no buckles, matching belt. White or subtle color (blue, etc) shirt with a suitable tie (and I'd take 2-3 ties that go with the suit, in case you get one dirty, or damaged, or.....). Ties should be silk, slightly dull but lusterous, and not have large fish or naked hula dancers on them (I actually interviewed a guy when I was hiring at IBM, who showed up wearing a tie with a hula dancer. No, we weren't in Hawaii).
Get a conservative, small, leather appearing (not plastic) portfolio case / folder, etc if necessary to carry stuff, although many programs will give you something. Carry a black ink pen, it doesn't have to be a Mont Blanc but it shouldn't be a BIC, in your inner jacket pocket (not shirt pocket). Leave the cell phone off, in your case, or at the hotel or in your car. No pager. If you have a PDA that you use (and you might need) keep it in your case. Get a folding umbrella (totes?) for interviews anywhere, and a halfway decent rain coat / over coat if you're going to an interview in a cold place. For a really cold place get a scarf and leather gloves that go with the over coat, and take them off and put them away in the over coat when you enter the building.
Remember, you want to stand out because of your dazzling promise and demonstrated excellence, not because you're the most visibly noticeable thing in the hospital.
