What color of suit to purchase for job interview?

[krazykev]

I am planning ahead for graduation next summer and I would like to know what is the best color suit to wear for a job interview? Or do you think I can just wear a nice pair of dress slacks and shirt.

Thanks for your time.

[styRN]

...

...A nice set of matching shoes...

:)

I immediately thought of some nervous dude entering the interview, sitting down and noticing he is wearing one brown, one black.

[piper_for_hire]

I would highly suggest not wearing a suit at all. Biz casual is the way to go. You are interviewing for a job where you need to seem approachable. I did this before nursing, during nursing and for my grad school interviews and it was always appropriate. I haven't owned a suit for more than 15 years and I never will!

-S

[krazykev]

I would highly suggest not wearing a suit at all. Biz casual is the way to go. You are interviewing for a job where you need to seem approachable. I did this before nursing, during nursing and for my grad school interviews and it was always appropriate. I haven't owned a suit for more than 15 years and I never will!

-S

This seems like a great idea. After all, I will most likely never wear the suit again anyway.

Kevin

[czyja, MSN, RN]

I worked in the corporate HR world for nigh on 20 years. Color will depend on where you live, but good choices are dark grey or navy in a conservative cut. Never, ever brown green or some other weird color. Black is popular with the younger crowd today as one poster noted. Personally, I agree with the poster - you will look like med school applicant if you go with black. A properly pressed white shirt of good quality and properly knotted silk tie of a converative color (ie red, yale blue if your a republican, rep stripe), and shined black shoes of decent quality will make a good impression. Make sure it fits well. Most important, however, is that you look comfortable in your suit. Buy it well in advance (if you can) and wear it - it needs to break in and if you are not used to wearing a suit you will not look good. Oh, one last piece of advice - buy from a quality mens wear place. Do not bring your wife or girlfriend - sorry ladies, but men must dress themselves - when you do it for us it is painfully obvious.

[Country PICU]

I chose a black suit and three different shirts and ties. Just in case I was asked back for a second interview.

[gitterbug]

Sounds like you have the situation well in hand. I agree with the advice to wear the suit and break it in.

Sorry CZYZA, some men should not dress themselves. I agree with going to a quality mens shop for assistance, I usually look for the man who is well dressed, well tailored, and comfortable. I have bought clothes for the men in my life for years, I have great taste but more importantly, I love them and want them to look and feel great. Classic is best, let the younger set go with the trends. My hubby causes women to stare and gets nice comments from his buddies when he decides to "clean up."

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Dark charcoal grey, very dark but not black.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

I would highly suggest not wearing a suit at all. Biz casual is the way to go. You are interviewing for a job where you need to seem approachable. I did this before nursing, during nursing and for my grad school interviews and it was always appropriate. I haven't owned a suit for more than 15 years and I never will!

The managers that I know are more impressed with suits for men and women. It is presumed that as a nurse, that one is approachable, or you would not survive nursing school. What school does not always instill is professional behavior. And suits are still seen as professional.

Not that business casual is bad, but a suit is more impressive. I have found that people that come in suits and professional wear, tend to be more professional in their attire and behavior at work. Not always but more often.

[hotdog19d]

What would be considered "business casual"?

[KellNY, RN]

What would be considered "business casual"?

khakis and a button up collared shirt, no tie

[buckywbr]

have to agree with suesquatch all the way to the socks. i was in business for years before nursing and you want to look clean, pressed and very professional. some of the folks doing the hiring believe that it shows you care about how you present to others......not sure i agree with their assumptions....you should see what i wear:jester:

[Doubledee]

The interview suit question has always been a toughie for me as a nurse since I work in scrubs and clogs. It begs the question of interviewing in scrubs to show how professional I look on the job.

However, having spent many years in the military, education and business, I never interviewed in anything less formal than Khakis with a blazer and tie. Most recently I wore my charcoal gray suit, white shirt, nurse tie and spit- shined wingtips.

Generally speaking, I'd go with conventional wisdom. Wear the well tailored, conservative suit. It oozes professionalism.

At very least, we all need the one suit for those times when Khakis and polo shirts just aren't enough.