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.

[CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Nice "standard" colors are dark blue or grey.

[styRN]

If you only own one suit, it should be the classic "power suit" - navy blue (with or without subltle pinstripe), crisp, bright white shirt (no button-down collar) and red tie, which may be striped. Studies have shown this comination has a positive effect on people in interviews and in business, both the wearer and those on the receiving end.

Also make sure your shoes are in good shape and clean/polished. Believe it or not, this has a big effect.

[insa]

I agree with the two previous posts 100%. Navy is the first choice, especially if you only have one suit -- and really, if you're not going into banking or law, you really only need one at least for your first couple of years out of college. All you're going to be wearing this for is weddings, funerals, and job interviews. I think dark gray might be OK too, but it's harder to get a shirt and tie combo that'll look right in an interview.

[llg, PhD, RN]

There is a period of the year in which college students interview for med school slots. Part of that process is that they tour my hospital. They come in groups of about 10 college students per group. 90% of them (men and women) wear black suits. 9% wear grey suits. Seeing them all together, it looks comical, like some sort of uniform for a club or sports team.

Then there's that 1% who wears blue or Heaven forbid, brown. Or maybe they wear a tie that stands out or a shirt. Secretly, I always root for those guys -- the ones with the courage to stand out as an individual. (Either that, or they are disadvantaged because no one told them that the standard outfit is a very conservative black suit.) After seeing this parade for a couple of years, I mentioned my secret hopes that the "odd" people get selected and found out that many of my friends felt the same way.

To top it off ... I was walking down the hall with the hospital's Executive Medical Director last year and we passed a group of "black suits" as we usually call the tour groups. He turned to me and said, "I hope the guy in the grey suit gets picked. He's at least a little different and thinking for himself." It turns out he feels the same way as I do about it!

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Charcoal grey or navy with a faint pinstripe. No double breasted, to interesting lapels, three buttons max, a vent in back, no cuffs on the slacks if you're not long-legged, have them tailored to break properly over your highly-polished cordovan lace-up shoes. Wear with a white shirt that was professionally laundered and pressed, black socks, a white handkerchief in the breast pocket of the jacket, cuffs showing 1/2 inch below the jacket cuffs (may require altering) and please, no stubble, immaculate nails and a recent good haircut, no cologne or after shave, rep stripe tie.

I worked in corporate America a long, long time. You do not win by standing out.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Oh, and black socks that go over the calf. A flash of hairy pale calf when you cross your legs is a subliminal turn-off.

[KellNY, RN]

Oh, and black socks that go over the calf. A flash of hairy pale calf when you cross your legs is a subliminal turn-off.

That's a turn off for sure--not even subliminal.

I personally like a man in navy blue suit-no pinstripes. But that's just me. Black seems too formal, and grey....eh.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Black is funereal, which is why funeral directors wear it.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I'm sorry. I was not very clear in my earlier post. I wasn't really advising the OP to try to stand out ... just telling the story of how many of us are a little tired of the "uniform look."

Blending in is the safer choice.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

Don't get hung up on specific colors too much, but come dressed as one would wear in a office.

Blue, black, gray jacket & pants. Doesn't need to be a suit.

A nice set of matching shoes. Nice shirt with a nice tie. I don't even own a white shirt, but I have some really nice shirt & tie combos to wear.

[RNfaster]

I think a well-tailored suit is a smart idea. Color and pattern (if any) should be understated... I think navy, charcoal, or even a dark brown would work, depending on your coloring. I wouldn't do anything splashy style-wise, rather, err toward the conservative. Accessories such as good shoes, subtle tie, etc., complete the look. PDA can signal that you are comfortable with technology.

Good luck.