Lab Position Interview Attire

[rambo]

I've got two interviews in a row, one in a clinical setting, and one at a university, and I was wondering how formal to get. I'm assuming that jeans, dressier shoes, and a decent button-up should suffice. I feel equally tool-ish when I'm over or underdressed, so I'm trying to find a happy medium. Any suggestions?

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[tigress]

Wear nicer pants than jeans and a button down shirt and you'll be good. Not like nice pants, but maybe khakis or something. That way you won't look under-dressed, but you willl look like you're taking it seriously. Also I'm not sure but I think for a clinical setting you might be expected to a bit more dressed anyway so it's a happy medium.

 

[AnotherDork]

Is this a full-time job? If so, I recommend you wear a suit regardless of whether it's a clinical or bench position. Even if it's clear that they wear jeans and a t-shirt every day, a suit shows that you are serious.

If it's a part-time job while you're in college, khakis and a button-down shirt are probably ok.

I work in a lab (where we DO wear jeans every day) and we help the PI with hiring new technicians. The ones who end up getting the job usually have worn suits. That's just my opinion but I hope it helps.

 

[CarleneM]

DO NOT wear jeans to a clinical setting job interview. Clinicians and staff aren't allowed to wear jeans at the hospital where I work and neither should you. When we interview people for RA jobs, all the candidates have suits. They don't have to be full on conservative black suits but they are suits nontheless. I wore like a light blue tweed suit when i interviewed for my study coordinator job.

 

[Pembleton]

I've never had a lab job but I've had a number of corporate jobs (so you might take my advice with a grain of salt) but I'd suggest a suit. You can never take a job interview too seriously (unless your sitcom writer).

 

[tigress]

At least in the labs I work in, people would think you were over-dressed if you wore a suit. This is academic labs. Like I said I don't know about clinical. I just know that at least in my experience it would be sort of strange if a guy wore a suit to an interview at my lab. But dressing nicely would be good. I'm not sure what kind of compromise you could make. Actually, how about nice pants and a sport jacket with a button-down shirt? Not a suit, but nice trousers and jacket. That could work for either perhaps.

 

[rambo]

I think a suit may be considered over dressed for a part time spot as a student lab worker, but the non-jeans pants may be a very good idea. I should have realized that. Now, shirt tucked in or out (assuming slacks)?

 

[Law2Doc]

I've got two interviews in a row, one in a clinical setting, and one at a university, and I was wondering how formal to get. I'm assuming that jeans, dressier shoes, and a decent button-up should suffice. I feel equally tool-ish when I'm over or underdressed, so I'm trying to find a happy medium. Any suggestions?

You really want to overdress for the interview -- a suit may be overkill (but acceptable) if you are an undergrad, but at least go with nice slacks, shoes, button down shirt and tie. When you actually have the position you can lose the tie and the rest of your attire should depend on how your superior at the position dress, and the risk of spillage inherent at the position.

 

[acidhouse303]

i have worn a nice (not necessarily med schl interview nice tho) suit to all my lab job interviews. it cant hurt to make a good impression and one can never be "too dressed up" in this city!

 

[DoctorFunk]

This summer I interviewed at 5 or 6 academic labs in which casual attire is very much the norm. I wore some black Dockers, nice shoes, and a button-down shirt with a nice tie. No one commented about my dress either way as far as I can remember, and I was offered 4 of the jobs. Must have been the Dockers. 😉

 

[xanthines]

You can never go wrong with a nice suit! I work in an academic lab, and people who wear suits stand out in a good way. People who wear jeans and T-shirts stand out in a bad way. It's just human nature. No lie: someone showed up 2 hours late (with no phone call) in jeans and a T-shirt. No one thought any of that was appropriate.

-X

I've got two interviews in a row, one in a clinical setting, and one at a university, and I was wondering how formal to get. I'm assuming that jeans, dressier shoes, and a decent button-up should suffice. I feel equally tool-ish when I'm over or underdressed, so I'm trying to find a happy medium. Any suggestions?

 

[americanidiot]

This summer I interviewed at 5 or 6 academic labs in which casual attire is very much the norm. I wore some black Dockers, nice shoes, and a button-down shirt with a nice tie. No one commented about my dress either way as far as I can remember, and I was offered 4 of the jobs. Must have been the Dockers. 😉

I think a nice outfit as noted above works well, especially if it is coupled with a relaxed demeanor. The outfit demonstrates that you are serious about the job while your attitude shows that you'll be fun to be around in the lab on a daily basis. The worst is interviewing people who sound as stiff as they looked. In short: dress relatively stiffly, but act relaxed and charming.

 

[Supernova]

take the tie off to the lab interivew if you are not that comfortable with being too formal

 

[ead]

take the tie off to the lab interivew if you are not that comfortable with being too formal

I have worked in a research lab for three years and I think that you should wear a suit (without a DOUBT)...even if they don't dress up that much on a daily basis, you must show that you are taking the interview very seriously.