Career Fair attire? conserative? professional?

[bisson]

i'm a new graduate and i'm attending a career fair in a few weeks. the only problem, is that i have NO IDEA what is a proper attire.

the nursing spectrum website says dress professional, but that could mean so many things. some sites ( on professional attire ) say that one should always be conservatively dressed= serious suit buttoned up, and a solid bright shirt underneath. than another site said that not to wear a suit to a nursing career fair.

I had initially wanted to wear a blouse with a pencil skirt, no jacket because it will be very hot and humid, and i thought that the jacket is too business like. but than reading all this information, it seems that they want you to look very conservative?

i need help. jacket? no jacket?

[justme1972]

I wonder how people know they didn't get the job due to over- or underdressing. Unless it is the hiring person/HR person who is telling you this.

For OP: I'd say that you should wear a black suit with a white blouse, black shoes, black nylons, carry a black purse. Get there in time to go inside and cool off before hitting the booths. Surely it will be in an air conditioned place. So the outdoor heat and humidity should not matter.

My husband works in occupational psychology, so we have a ton of HR magazines all the time that come to our house.

It's interviews that places like careerbuilder.com or monster.com or other businesses that ask HR people and recruiters from every profession survey's and comments on why they hire/don't hire individuals.

They have sections in these mags each month for different professions such as banking, education, healthcare, you name it, they have it.

[greenergrass, BSN, RN]

Lots of opinions here - Some educated & experienced...

Having been in nursing leadership for years, & surrounded by nursing & healthcare leaders - We made the hiring decisions.

Wear what you want...If presented with 2 equally qualified applicants who both presented themselves well 1 in a suit & 1 in business casual, I would probably lean towards the one in the suit.

But, at a career fair, no one has the opportunity to determine equally qualified. It's all about looks & presentation. First Impressions.

Make the impression.

1. Sharply & Professionally Dressed
   
2. Well groomed
   
3. 1 page typed resume w/o errors
   
4. Reheorificed 30-second spiel about YOU (like a sales pitch)
   
5. Great handshake

Again, go get 'em!!!

[Kevin RN08]

I did an internship this summer and was amazed when the recruiters said to interview in casual dress, not business casual, just plain casual. Their advice was simply no jeans and t-shirts ... oh and turn off the cell phone.

I too have BA experience and agree to wear the jacket, business casual at a job fair would be the very minimum. If in true doubt about attire for interview day, ask the manager while you have them on the phone.

This has become grey area as many businesses have relaxed their dress codes. Also, if you are, (will be, or have,) doing clinicals at that hospital look around, see what the "admin" staff is wearing. The scary part for me is I know of more than one person that was downgraded on an interview because of over dressing, essentially they had out dressed the HR weenie and evidently she wasn't too proud of it and desided to make a point.

Business casual is: Khakis, button down shirt and a tie or suit with button shirt and no tie for men. Conservative solid skirt or pants with a conservative blouse and shoes for women nothing too frilly, loud, or revealing, with or without a jacket. Essentially, church clothes ... that may not work either since more and more those "standards" have been relaxed too.

Business formal is: Suit, white shirt, tie, shined black shoes for men, for women ... I'm not going there it is dangerous territory for a man to tread.

One last piece of advice, make sure whatever you wear fits properly; baggy trousers, stressed seams and buttons, and such are distasteful to most and possibly scary for others (a flying button to the eye), not to mention distracting and uncomfortable to you.

There you go, clear as mud.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

My only comment would to be avoid a pencil skirt. They are a little too sexy and unless you're built like a willow tree they don't flatter, anyway.

[SweetTeaRN, BSN, RN]

I'm going to go a little against the grain here. I think that a suit is always a perfectly acceptable ensemble for any interview. However, keep in mind that the best thing you can wear is something that is well-made and well-fitting. After my first bachelor's degree, I was planning on going into pharmaceutical sales, for which I had to buy my first suit. I spent a decent amount on mine and I have only worn it a few times, but I think it was worth it. It fits me well, it is conservative, and I know it looks professional. If you can't afford a nice suit, though, something that fits you well is going to look better than a friend's borrowed suit which is the wrong size. Also, I have been told by career counselors that women should avoid a black suit with a white shirt. A solid color suit, grey, navy, or black, should be worn with a lightly colored or faintly pinstriped shirt. You definitely want to remain looking professional, but you also want to not look frumpy. Also, if you wear the suit to an interview and you seem to be "overdressed" then it is much easier to remove your jacket than it is to sit through an interview uncomfortable because you know you underdressed.

[Xbox Live Addict]

Wow. I find this thread VERY helpful. Wanna know why?

Because I NEVER wear a suit to a job interview; I usually just wear casual business wear. Blouse and skirt, or even slacks. Don't ask for my reasoning.

This thread helps me realize though that I have probably been REALLY under-dressing for interviews and maybe that's why I have trouble landing jobs that are a little harder to get. :imbar

Fortunately I'm fairly happy where I am right now, but if I ever again look to get a new job, or even transfer to another department, I'll know to dress it up just a little more.

Here's a funny thing: Every job I have landed, I went to the interview in casual wear or scrubs. I have NEVER won a job in which I went to an interview in a business suit. But I never went to career fairs either, so take this with a grain of salt. :wink2:

I feel, in cases where I wore a nice shirt and tie, that the interviewer felt I was overdressed. I was applying for floor positions. I'd definitely go businesslike if I were applying for a management position though, since management is usually held to a more professional dress code than floor staff.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Career fairs are usually less formal than scheduled interviews. So, I wouldn't say that a suit is required (though it would be OK). I would probably wear something in the "next category down" -- a skirt and sweater set ... dress slacks and a jacket ... or something like that.

For a scheduled interview, I would definitely go with a suit or something very close to it (dress with jacket, matching skirt and jacket/sweater, etc.).

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

It really depends on where you are. If you showed up in a suit here you'd scare upper management. Even the women on board of directors wear slacks.

I've always worn, here, a nice skirt and blouse. And stockings - no bare legs. Never interviewed as a nurse except in the country.

For a job fair I would definitely wear a suit simply to stand out from the rest.

[lpnflorida]

I agree with the idea of a suit, I also like the idea of the sweater set with either pants or a skirt. I can also suggest a blazer with either skirt or pants depending on your preference.

Also bear in mind jewelry should also be of good taste. No loud statement in wearing earings. Simple studs will do, simple necklace. Keep rings to a minimum. One each hand, not on every finger. Do not forget shoes. Sandals , a no no.

Do not forget to smile as your introduce yourself .