Interview Question

[bcliff]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm interviewing for a research study coordinator position next week, and this is the first time I'm formally interviewing for a position in a lab without having already worked in it either as an RA or a volunteer. Since I'm unfamiliar with this lab, I'm unsure what to wear. I'm not sure if I should go the more academic route of wearing slacks & and a nice shirt or if I should dress it up and wear something more formal - any suggestions, or rules of thumb?

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I'm interviewing for a research study coordinator position next week, and this is the first time I'm formally interviewing for a position in a lab without having already worked in it either as an RA or a volunteer. Since I'm unfamiliar with this lab, I'm unsure what to wear. I'm not sure if I should go the more academic route of wearing slacks & and a nice shirt or if I should dress it up and wear something more formal - any suggestions, or rules of thumb?

I'm not sure, the professors I am working under just told me to wear my everyday clothes, it was pretty informal.

 

[neuronic]

For an interview, slacks and a nice shirt (if a guy a tie for at least an interview) is good. If you get the job, you can probably dress down, unless you are working with patients, which may be a little more academic. It is probably safe to say a powersuit is off the table though at this point🙂

 

[LisaLisa86]

For an interview, slacks and a nice shirt (if a guy a tie for at least an interview) is good. If you get the job, you can probably dress down, unless you are working with patients, which may be a little more academic. It is probably safe to say a powersuit is off the table though at this point🙂

When I interviewed for RA/RC jobs, I wore a suit, and I didn't feel out of place. When I interviewed my replacement, most of them wore suits- and I feel like there was a little bit of a mental "meh" when people showed up in more casual clothes. Of course, this may vary by setting, as this was in a hospital, but even when undergrads come to interview in my old lab for more casual positions, they would wear business casual. If you don't want to wear a suit, I'd wear pants, dress shirt, and a tie at least.

 

[bcliff]

I recommend a suit as well, if you have one. Otherwise, business dress (slacks and nice shirt) is appropriate. I would never hire someone who showed up to an interview wearing jeans or casual dress. That's fine for volunteering when you're an undergrad, but if you're interviewing for a paid position you should dress the part.

Thanks! If anything, I'd rather be overdressed, so I'll dress it up a little bit 🙂