What to Wear to Shadowing/Volunteering

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I got a shadowing/volunteering position with a pediatrician DO. I have never shadowed before and have no idea what to wear. Has anyone shadowed a pediatrician before and know what they would expect me to wear?
 
Bruins2013 said:
I got a shadowing/volunteering position with a pediatrician DO. I have never shadowed before and have no idea what to wear. Has anyone shadowed a pediatrician before and know what they would expect me to wear?
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Since you'll be shadowing a pediatrician, I recommend wearing clothes.

That was dumb. Just wear a button up shirt, pants, and dress shoes. Maybe a tie if you're feeling dangerous.
 
Bruins2013 said:
I got a shadowing/volunteering position with a pediatrician DO. I have never shadowed before and have no idea what to wear. Has anyone shadowed a pediatrician before and know what they would expect me to wear?
Click to expand...

Business casual (dark pants and long-sleeve buttoned shirt) is safest way to not overdress or underdress. You will get a feel for how you should dress after the first time (or just ask the DO at the end of the day).
 
Okay, so like gray slacks with black leather shoes and a long sleeve button up?
 
Iliketoytles said:
Since you'll be shadowing a pediatrician, I recommend wearing clothes.

That was dumb. Just wear a button up shirt, pants, and dress shoes. Maybe a tie if you're feeling dangerous.
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i wore yoga pants and a comfy top when i shadowed LOL good thing i changed into scrubs before the doc saw me :laugh:
 
Bruins2013 said:
Okay, so like gray slacks with black leather shoes and a long sleeve button up?
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Yep. I'd bring a tie the first time and leave it in the car just in case, but that sounds exactly like what I wore when I shadowed a pediatrician. Have fun!
 
Khakis, button up shirt and a tie, assuming your a guy, the ladies equivalent if you're a lady... I wouldn't recommend the ladies equivalent if you're a guy though... might ruin the LOR chances...
 
kkw002 said:
Business casual (dark pants and long-sleeve buttoned shirt) is safest way to not overdress or underdress. You will get a feel for how you should dress after the first time (or just ask the DO at the end of the day).
Click to expand...

For shadowing, wearing a shirt/tie/dress shoes is the best way to not overdress or underdress.

Suit = overdressed. No tie = underdressed.

Volunteering is different. Most places have a uniform of some kind.
 
drshark said:
i wore yoga pants and a comfy top when i shadowed LOL good thing i changed into scrubs before the doc saw me :laugh:
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You and your yoga pants...
 
NeuroLAX said:
Hahaha, I was thinking the same and was going to post it but then I saw yours.

God bless yoga pants.
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She posted a pic of herself (in yoga pants) on the FB UD group.
 
MedPR said:
She posted a pic of herself (in yoga pants) on the FB UD group.
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no silly that's not me! I said I own ones like those, that's sophia vergara 😛 i wish i could afford her chanel purse lol
 
drshark said:
no silly that's not me! I said I own ones like those, that's sophia vergara 😛 i wish i could afford her chanel purse lol
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I don't know who that is, but I saw the hair and thought it was you. I was going to give you an 8/10. Oh well.
 
MedPR said:
I don't know who that is, but I saw the hair and thought it was you. I was going to give you an 8/10. Oh well.
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if it was a pic of me it would have been 10/10 😎
 
If I said I'm a 10/10 in yoga pants, would you want my picture too?
 
I recommend this....

images
 
I'm going to hijack this thread by asking a question I've always wondered:

Is wearing dress shoes, clean jeans, a button up (w/ no tie), and a sports jacket considered business casual, or is that still overdressing? That's usually what I wear to things, but I feel uncomfortable not knowing.

This is actually what I wore when I shadowed, too. Although, the sports jacket sometimes came off, and the jeans were very dark blue.
 
Iliketoytles said:
I'm going to hijack this thread by asking a question I've always wondered:

Is wearing dress shoes, clean jeans, a button up (w/ no tie), and a sports jacket considered business casual, or is that still overdressing? That's usually what I wear to things, but I feel uncomfortable not knowing.

This is actually what I wore when I shadowed, too. Although, the sports jacket sometimes came off, and the jeans were very dark blue.
Click to expand...

I'd say it's acceptable if you're going to a restaurant with a "business casual dress code," but imo jeans are not acceptable for clinical settings. I work in a clinical lab and we are not allowed to wear jeans.

Depends how formal it is too, though. If you shadow in a small rural clinic, I doubt anyone will scoff at you for wearing nice jeans and a dress shirt. Big hospital/clinic setting though and you might stand out in a way you don't want to.

I've also never been a fan of sports jacket + jeans, but that's just me. I think a pair of chinos or casual slacks are more comfortable.
 
MedPR said:
I'd say it's acceptable if you're going to a restaurant with a "business casual dress code," but imo jeans are not acceptable for clinical settings. I work in a clinical lab and we are not allowed to wear jeans.

Depends how formal it is too, though. If you shadow in a small rural clinic, I doubt anyone will scoff at you for wearing nice jeans and a dress shirt. Big hospital/clinic setting though and you might stand out in a way you don't want to.

I've also never been a fan of sports jacket + jeans, but that's just me. I think a pair of chinos or casual slacks are more comfortable.
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👍 A guy going out on a date/to dinner I'd imagine would wear jeans, dress shoes and sportjacket.

As for shadowing, I always try to be as professionally dressed as possible. Most of the doctors I shadow are always dressed up - button down shirts, nice pressed slacks and dress shoes.

B/c I'm (obvi) a girl, I like to normally wear nice business dresses- in either black, gray or beige color paired with short (~1inch) black heels. Sometimes I'll wear pressed slacks and a nice dressy shirt. Living in a state with a large Mormon population I try to always remain dressed very modest (shoulders covered, knees not exposed) since you never know which patients may/may not be affiliated with particular religions and feel uncomfortable with how you're dressed.
 
For a male, shirt without tie is not always under-dressed. Shirt with tie without jacket (blazer, sportcoat) works for work/office settings (especially with tie clip) but not for social events (opera, date, etc). Some old-school peeps disagree with wearing a tie without a jacket but I'm not going there. Taking your jacket off that work is another thing....

It is still possible to look professional without a tie so long as everything fits properly. I personally do not wear undershirts because I hate how they.

OP, find the look that works for you. Maybe jacket without tie? Make sure the jacket sleeves are tailored so the cuff shows a little...it's a cool look.
Maybe this will help:

http://www.realmenrealstyle.com/

Good luck.

Oops. I just wrote the above assuming you're male.
 
Iliketoytles said:
I'm going to hijack this thread by asking a question I've always wondered:

Is wearing dress shoes, clean jeans, a button up (w/ no tie), and a sports jacket considered business casual, or is that still overdressing? That's usually what I wear to things, but I feel uncomfortable not knowing.

This is actually what I wore when I shadowed, too. Although, the sports jacket sometimes came off, and the jeans were very dark blue.
Click to expand...

Most corporations consider business casual to be khakis, collared shirt, dress shoes. I've never heard of business casual defined as including a jacket and can't recall anyone ever wearing one (unless they were wearing an actual suit, of course). Sport jackets don't show up in the corporate world all that often, though you'll occasionally see people wearing them to interviews under the "dress a single step above the corporate dress code for interviews" philosophy. I personally never bothered-throwing on a tie and slacks instead of khakis always seemed to meet the same criteria and avoided the awkward "do I take my jacket off and be comfortable or leave it on and sweat through my shirt" inner monologue.
 
x
 
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Same attention seekers in every thread, talking about the same subjects in every thread... classy.

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Khaki's, button-up... bring a tie with you. If you can get there early, you can ask the pediatrician if he/she would like you to wear a tie or not. At the end of the day you can ask if your attire was appropriate.
 
Bruins2013 said:
Everyone's sayin khakis...would grey slacks and leather shoes be ok?
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Yeah. People are just saying khakis as the minimum (ie: don't wear jeans or sweats!). I wouldn't show up in a three-piece suit, but slacks would be fine, especially for your first day. If the doctor wants you to dress more casually (to better fit in office culture or some such), they'll let you know.
 
kkw002 said:
Business casual (dark pants and long-sleeve buttoned shirt) is safest way to not overdress or underdress. You will get a feel for how you should dress after the first time (or just ask the DO at the end of the day).
Click to expand...

This is the answer you are looking for. I shadowed a pediatrician. The mothers like to hit on young men. 😎
 
I just wasted an hour of my life looking at girls in yoga pants. Thank you!
 
When I volunteer or shadow, I usually ask the practice administrator, volunteer coordinator, etc. what to wear. Dress code can differ depending on what role you're in (volunteer vs. shadow) or day of the week (casual Friday).
 
Remy LeBeau said:
When I volunteer or shadow, I usually ask the practice administrator, volunteer coordinator, etc. what to wear. Dress code can differ depending on what role you're in (volunteer vs. shadow) or day of the week (casual Friday).
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Casual Friday actually exists? All the physicians in the hospital I work at are dressed the same 7 days per week.
 
MedPR said:
Casual Friday actually exists? All the physicians in the hospital I work at are dressed the same 7 days per week.
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I was kind of surprised to see it too, but the community clinic where I volunteer and the orthopedic private practice where I shadow both have more relaxed dress codes on Fridays. I personally don't like casual dress in the workplace, but when in Rome...
 
Remy LeBeau said:
I was kind of surprised to see it too, but the community clinic where I volunteer and the orthopedic private practice where I shadow both have more relaxed dress codes on Fridays. I personally don't like casual dress in the workplace, but when in Rome...
Click to expand...


I've experience this too...for a full week, I was to wear something with Texas rangers on top, and scrubs on bottom. Pretty relaxed Doc, and in Private Practice...
 
Don't dress nicer than the doctor you are shadowing.
 
Step one: search shadowing attire
Step two: see dr sharks link
Steps 3-6: ??????
Step seven : profit
Step eight (interchangeable with 3-6) : make it rain like lil wayne
 
Both docs I shadowed wore suits. I followed suit.

Volunteering, I'd probably go with a polo and khakis or something. Depends where I am.
 
Wearing a suit to shadow? Seems a little over the top to me... What kind of physicians were they?
 
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