[Becky423]

What do you think? Is a suit necessary, or is a pair of dress pants with a nice top sufficient for a CRNA interview?

Any ideas/ thoughts?

[ICUnursetoCRNA]

I wore a very nice suit (Ann Taylor), with a white button down. The two gentlemen interviewing the day I did wore 3 piece suits, so look the part. My friend who wore a sweater and dress slacks was told she was not dressed appropriately. BTW, I got in

[RRTNeuroRN]

I was confused about this as well before my interviews. I asked several people who were on the interview board at my hospital and they all suggested a suit and as much as I did not want to, I ended up buying one.

[Becky423]

Thanks, I actually had my interview yesterday. I went out and bought a suit yesterday morning (my interview was in the afternoon) because I did not have one. There were two ladies holding my interview: one was wearing a skirt suit and the other was dressed business casual. But I saw two other nurses interviewing and they were both wearing suits, so I'm glad I did too (as much as I hated it and thought I looked awful - my family thought otherwise). Now, with the interview over, the wait has begun!!

[MB37]

I'm still finishing my BSN, but I did go out and buy a suit a month or so ago. I'm 28 and I've never had the need to own one before. I figured I could wear it to job interviews in a couple months, plus we have several events we're required to attend where the dress code is listed as, "business." Suits weren't required necessarily, it just seemed like a good idea. Plus it was on sale. It won't get worn much, obviously, but that means it will hopefully still be around (and fit) when I'm ready to apply for CRNA. If you can afford to go get one, I would. Just do shop around for sales, you don't need to drop $800 on one. Anything that's "suggested" with regards to CRNA application I am taking to mean "required." I wouldn't want to be immediately dismissed if some stickler on the committee thinks dress is really important.

[FLTraumaRN]

Your goal in the interview is to sell yourself. To convince them that they want you in their program. I say go for the suit. Look and act professional. I wore a suit to my interview and trust me I hated every minute of it. But, I felt professional and I got accepted.

Good luck in your interview!

[lovegasRN]

So did you all buy pant suits or anyone get suits with skirts? Do you feel like one is definitely better than the other? Is a nice skirt and blouse (like from Ann Taylor) out? Thanks!

[neurogeek]

I wore a pants suit and heels. At my TWU interview there was a girl who wore JEANS! I kid you not. And then I saw the same girl at my TCU interview & again....jeans. Ok, maybe the first time she wasn't sure what the attire should be but when she was sitting in the office with 2 guys in suits & ties, and me you think it would have hit her, "gee, maybe I'm underdressed." After her interview that day she was in tears. So when I saw her a week later in JEANS I thought, "okee-dokee, she doesn't like to conform." Would be curious to know how the fared.

[MB37]

I bought a pant suit, although I'm thinking about going back for the matching skirt so I have both options. I saw a crew of med student wannabes taking a campus tour recently, and only probably 2/10 females were wearing skirts. Probably whichever you feel more comfortable in is fine...

[californianurse]

Becky423, I know you already interviewed and that you bought a suit, but for all of the other viewers of this thread, I am writing to say that you just can't go wrong wearing a suit, even if it's a "casual" interview. Note that "casual" can mean the format of interview questions. If you find a nice pantsuit or other conservative, professional outfit, that is fine too. When I was younger, a very young and wealthy family employed me to babysit their children at the Hotel Del Coronado, and they told me something I've never forgotten: "It's better to be looked over than overlooked". And I think this definitely holds true for interviews. My BSN program drilled it into our heads that nursing is a respectable profession and we should dress professionally upon any interview. I wore a suit (even though I didn't like it) when I interviewed for a new-grad ICU position at several hospitals in my area. I received a lot of positive comments about my suit from interviewers and no negative ones, and I fared quite well with job options.

An interview for either a school or a job position is a small snapshot into who you are, who you will be and what you will bring to either the school program or the unit. You only have a short period of time to show them your best. Take out some of the guesswork from your interviewers and let them know from the moment you meet them that you are professional and prepared. They can easily see this within the first 30 seconds of meeting you. The rest of the interview is up to you, but you cannot change someone's immediate impression of you, so make it a good one.

Best of luck to you interviewees!