Interview Suit - What kind and where do I purchase one?

[curlykid]

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Hi, I need to purchase a suit for job interviews (and hopefully med school interviews next year).

Which is better, a pant suit or skirt suit?

Where is the best place to purchase a suit?

Are there any sales going on anywhere now, does anyone know? (Either way, it doesn' matter, I was just curious, but I mainly want to know where to purchase a nice suit). Do you have any suggestions?

 

[doctorFred]

how about this one:

 

[Em1]

It really doesn't matter whether it's pants or a skirt. At each of my 2 interviews so far I've seen women in both.

As for the sales, I'd guess that there's a lot of after-Christmas sales going on right now- hurry off to the mall!

 

[unicorn06]

Skirts and pants are both appropriate, but be conservative. I'd opt for a black suit and maybe a bright undershirt or maybe a tan or grey suit and a white undershirt. The vast majority seem to wear black suits.

 

[silas2642]

Skirts and pants are both appropriate, but be conservative. I'd opt for a black suit and maybe a bright undershirt or maybe a tan or grey suit and a white undershirt. The vast majority seem to wear black suits.

It doesn't have to be black, but it does have to be conservative-- no bright pink plaid suits or anything weird like that. Remember your interviewers are most likely going to be a relatively conservative group of people who believe in "professional dress." Whether or not you pick pants or a skirt, it's up to you. Whatever you feel more comfortable/confident in, is going to be the right choice for you. If you have a weird fungus on your leg and you don't shave, then pants may be a better choice. If you feel more professional and confident in a skirt, then buy a skirt suit.

 

[Jon Davis]

There was a thread about this a while back. Here is what a simple search revealed:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=241173&highlight=suits

Although I think it was mainly about men's wear, I would assume you could also find good women's wear as well at the major stores noted.

 

[ahumdinger]

I bought a skirt suit from Ann Taylor. I just went there and said, "I have an interview. Dress me." I didn't go during a sale and I didn't shop around because I needed something fast and of great quality. It got expensive real fast, but these days Ann Taylor has some great sales and if you're lucky you can get some matching pieces deeply discounted. I just saw my suit jacket for about 75% off. It was the petite size, but I was still kicking myself. They also have some great shoes on sale. It's so hard to find fashionable yet conservative shoes these days! (with a sensible heel!)

It really doesn't matter whether you go with pants or skirt. I've interviewed at 3 places, and I only saw one other girl with a skirt. (actually, come to think of it, maybe none!) My dad insisted that I go with a skirt suit because it's considered more conservative for women, it happened to be my choice too, so it all worked out. Just go with what you're confortable in. When I was shopping, I was between a black skirt suit and a grey, herringbone one. The black was just your typical female powersuit, and the sales rep was really pushing it. My boyfriend was also pushing it, but I realized that his thinking was that if I go with black, I'll look like everyone else and blend in. He thought that would make me feel comfortable. But really, I feel more comfortable when I stand out, and the grey suit was more flattering, more unique, and more feminine, so I went with the grey.

good luck!

 

[sisepuede]

I got a really nice suit at Jcpenny's. It is pretty good quality and it was so cheap that I bought both a skirt and pants. Although, now I am done and I only ever wore the pants. I felt way more comfortable in pants--especially because you can wear like regular black shoes that are comfortable. I like black, but they had a lot of colors at the store, and I think they always have big sales after christmas. So if you went now i am sure you could get a really good deal.

 

[tulane06]

it's all about the pinstripes

 

[silas2642]

it's all about the pinstripes

Oohhh... I wanted a suit with pinstripes so badly but I couldn't find one! It really pissed me off that I had to look like a mortician at a funeral parlor just like all the other applicants.

 

[big_smiles]

Hey, I'll admit that I found mine at the Volunteers of America for $6.

 

[curlykid]

it's funny, i mentioned this to my mum today, and she teased me about getting pinstripes, i know nothing about fashion, are pinstripes a big deal?

 

[ghostchild]

I actually found pinstripes at Belk!

How bout them apples? 😛

 

[jebus]

I thought pinstripes were cyclical: they go in and out of fashion. Plain suits are always in fashion (even if they're boring).... I think....
Go to Hugo Boss. You can get a good suit for $300-400. Or macy's/bloomingdales/bon marche/whatever-the-hell-federated-stores-operates-in-your-area.
I got my suit in the 3rd world. If you can go get one there. Ok, you probably can't. But you get quality fabric from the source (they all come from india or china or bangladesh) and the labor for the tailor is dirt cheap. $150 later I've got a tailored, cashmere, 3-piece suit. Just something to think about if you ever go overseas.

 

[curlykid]

wow, wish i had thought of that sooner, my mum just went overseas a few weeks ago and just got back!

are there any stores that will do alterations? i'm short and have broad shoulders so i'm a little bit of an odd size

 

[gujuDoc]

Macy's does alterations!!! I'm not sure about other stores. I do believe some do them though. you just have to check around at different stores. Right now would be a good time to find good suits because as others pointed out there will be after Christmas sales and Winter season is when the nice dark suits are out. Other then then Black, other colors that could be used for women's suits include offwhite or grey. I'm not sure about Navy blue or other colors though. Check out the other thread linked above.

 

[rugtrousers]

I bought both my med school interview suit and my residency interview suit at Jones New York outlets. I actually like skirt suits, but comfort is key. One of my suits has an ankle-length skirt, which has not failed to get me compliments on any of my interviews.

Black is boring but safe. Stay away from bright colors; IMO the following colors are fine: black, navy, gray (preferably dark). I saw someone work a camel-colored suit well, but most people should probably stay away from that.

As other posters have mentioned, above all, you should feel confident in your suit, because it will impact your behavior on the interview day. If the suit you like most is a black pantsuit, so be it.

One more thing: please buy a quality suit (look for one on sale). I can't count the number of cheap looking (polyester?) suits I've seen on the interview trail, unfortunately mostly on female applicants.

Good luck!

 

[Conqueror]

I wear a dark green suit; it manages to look decent on me while still looking conservative, and it separates me from the cookie-cutter black suits everyone else wears.

I would recommend the same for women. First of all, get a skirt suit. You never know if you might get some old codger for an interviewer who thinks it's an abomination when women wear pants. Beyond that, go for a conservative color OTHER than black or navy. There are too many of those. Go with a colored blouse, kercheif, etc. - something that lends color to the outfit without being too flamboyant. COMFORTABLE dress shoes are a must - some tours require lots of walking, so ditch the high heels in favor of nice flats, or at the most a low heel.

Jeez, I feel like Christopher Lowell.

CQ

 

[Ashanti Rock]

I First of all, get a skirt suit. You never know if you might get some old codger for an interviewer who thinks it's an abomination when women wear pants.
CQ

I agree with the different color thing, but I would frankly not want to go to a school if my interviewer thought like that. He might then also think that it was an abomination for women to be physicians and I would hate to come up with others!

 

[Conqueror]

As much as I agree, you shouldn't base your opinion of a whole school off a bad interviewer. If everyone else is agreeable, then you probably just drew a bad apple. Look at it this way: No normal people will object to a pants suit, but some weirdos might. However, no one at all will object to a skirt. It's simply maximizing your safety. 🙂

CQ

 

[minnie2240]

Haha. I loved the old codger comment. My best advice if you can afford it, is to get 2 suits or find a jacket that comes w/pants & a skirt. Although its not necessary, I bought a skirt & a pant suit figuring I will definately have wear for both at some point. So when I interviewed during the fall I wore my skirt suit, but wore my pant suit to a New York interview where I knew that I would be touring outside. My legs were definately thankful.

I also agree with the go with the suit that looks best & makes you feel confident. My suit is atypical. Light light grey w/a pleated skirt. I always stand out but I also usually get compliments from other interviewees & med students. It makes me feel great and I think that comes off during the interview...and go for quality!!! Seriously, we are already spending so much during this process that an extra hundred bucks for a nice, good fitting suit is worth it! (I got mine at Bloomingdales btw)