California Corrections RN Position Interview: What Should I Wear?

JDCitizen · Mar 10, 2009

From Georgia not California: Business attire.......... What will you be wearing to work?

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By the way long sleeve shirt: Its already hit the mid 80's here in Georgia.

Eric1233 · Mar 13, 2009

Competition is heavy in California corrections. Never thought that would be the case, but with better working conditions and higher salaries anything is possible. I recommend you come to impress. Many facilities are interviewing 30-40 nurses for 1 or 2 positions.

JDCitizen · Mar 15, 2009

I think with the economy being the way it is you are probably right:

Dress to the T.

Jarnaes · Mar 16, 2009

We had a nurse show up in her white almost see through super tight nursing uniform dress with a red thong. Needless to say, she was not selected to work as a nurse at the jail.

Still trying to figure out what she was thinking...

Back to the original thread, just as previous posters have stated, business attire is your best bet. Good luck to you.

SFRN · Mar 17, 2009

What prison are you applying to? I, too, have an interview at a California prison...kinda nervous.

eric909 · Mar 20, 2009

I went to my cdcr interview in a business suit and I got hired.

goldensfo · Jun 5, 2009

i have an interview next week with BOP. I'm nervous. what type of questions will the panel be asking? Thank you all in advance. :specs:

Troublant RN · Jun 11, 2009

I have sat on interview panels in CDCR and I recommend you do not go heavy on the make up. Dress semi formal to formal wear (no low cut tops, not mini skirt, no jeans, not tight clothing). If you wear scrubs, wear"grown up" scrubs (no cartoons, etc.). If you wear scrubs, dress as if you were going to work, so look professional ... no distracting jewlery, no fake nails, etc. Make sure you take your time to answer questions, ask questions, be yourself.

Don't be nervous, as mentioned by another post, CDCR nursing hiring process if very competitive which is not something California RN's are used to. You will be interviewed by a 3 - 4 member panel. Do not let this discourage you. Good luck to you,

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Jun 12, 2009

Troublant pretty much summed it up. Look professional. We often have people show up for interviews in scrubs, which we expect in this profession. Often people interview with us either just before or just after work. We look for other cues in the way these people dress for work. Are the scrubs clean, or do they look like they have been worn several times without being washed? Are the shoes clean and neat, or should they have been retired months ago? Is the hair clean, or disheveled? Excessive jewelry is another clue that someone may be more interested in impressing others than doing the job. One candidate looked very neat when she came in, but her body odor was overpowering. I could barely make it through the interview. (Along this same line, if you wear cologne, make it light. Some people are sensitive to it.) Another interviewee showed up in a very nice-looking scrub top and blue jeans. She sent a conflicting message - and she was not hired. I don't remember these peoples' names after many years of interviewing, but they left a lasting impression - and not the one they intended.

I am also suspicious of people who overdo it - people who dress too formally, as if they are hoping that we will be so impressed with their appearance that we will overlook their shortcomings. A general rule is to dress one step above what is worn in the workplace you will be working in. Medical scrubs make that a little harder to gauge, but business casual should be fine as long as it is clean, fits well and is flattering.