Bad move to interview in your scrubs?

[newtress, LPN]

I have an interview in the morning and then have to slide directly to work. Is is totally and completely unprofessional to do the interview at a hospital in scrubs. Most likely answer will be no. I didn't want to have to do the quick change artist in bathrooms thinking about how limited my time will be. Yay or nay on that.

[bratmobile]

I'm not sure what the official answer is but I've gotten every job I've interviewed for while wearing scrubs. I think it's a way for them to visualize you working there as that is what you will look like when you come to work (?)

[yuzzamatuzz]

I would feel uncomfortable interviewing in my scrubs. I'm sure some interviewers would be okay with it but some might not be, and why risk it? If you are thinking about this now, you will definitely be thinking about it at the interview...I personally wouldn't want that to distract me. I think the safest thing would be to dress up in regular business-like interview clothes and change into scrubs when you get to work. It's a pain but I think it will make your interview much more enjoyable.

[nursejami]

In school, we had an HR representative tell us that was a no-no. She said if it was absolutely unavoidable let them know ahead of time, but try to find an alternative.

[Meeh619]

Like bratmobile I have always interviewed in my scrubs & I have gotten every job. My first job I interviewed in scrubs, they called me back to pick something up I went in interview clothes.

After I got comfortable there the doc that interviewed me said that she liked it better when I went in scrubs. So I guess it's just preference.

You go to an interview ready to work so why not in your scrubs right.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

In this tough economic climate where qualified applicants outnumber the available jobs, I would play it safe and interview in business casual attire or professional attire.

I, too, have interviewed in scrubs. However, this was six or seven years ago when employers had the 'warm body syndrome' and were desperate to hire nurses. Those days are long gone.

[Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN]

In this situation -- the interview is scheduled before your current shift -- showing up in clean, professional scrubs is totally fine.

Was hired for my current job (just months ago) under these identical circumstances.

Good luck!

[Twinmom06, ASN, APN]

our Leadership instructor told us to inform the interviewer that due to time constraints that scrubs would be worn and if it wasn't ok to see if there was a better time to interview...

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Why risk it? You're never, ever wrong to go in casual business attire or, if you own one, a suit. Even in the OP's situation I'd go for the quick change. I agree with The Commuter - in this economy, you have to stand out.

I wouldn't want to remind the interviewer that I had a job elsewhere, even though they know already. And I'd be going in to knock their socks off.

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

What I've mostly heard is that it's better to not wear scrubs, unless you're specifically interviewing on a lunch break or something. Then some allowance can be given.

Wearing scrubs really opens up a conversation about your current position and why you want to leave though, so be prepared to have that conversation because you're basically begging for it to be one of the first interview questions you're asked. Standard advice would be to focus on the positive things of your current position, how much you've grown, and how now you want to expand your role and seek out new and more complex work that will help you grow in your practice. The usual lip service.

[Bruce_Wayne, ASN, RN]

P.S. if the interview is first and work is second, isn't it pretty easy to go from interview clothes to scrubs? If the situation was reversed and you had to go from scrubs to full-on fancy dress I could see how that might be a problem.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

I've always heard that it's best to dress for the job you want, not necessarily the one you have (unless you're making a lateral move). Even so, the idea of wearing scrubs anywhere but work is just, well.....gross.

Like The Commuter said, you can't go wrong with business casual (unless you're interviewing for a management position, which requires a more formal style of dress) and the days of walking in off the street and landing a job on the spot ARE long gone. I remember once going straight from my day-shift job to an interview at another LTC (in my scrubs, yuck!) and being asked to start the same night. That just doesn't happen anymore!