interview clothes

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now this might seem petty to you but it is important to me. let me explain my dilemna briefly. i went on an interview recently. i don't have a need for business-like clothes so I have one dress that i only use for interviews. i put it on for the interview and change right after. i refer to it as my "interview uniform". anyway my question is for the fashion conscious out there. i have been invited back for a follow-up interview with the same person. should i wear the same dress or should i go out and buy something else. like i said i don't have a need for business-clothes so it seems silly to spend money on more business-clothes. any suggestions? :p

btw - i don't know anyone with the same size as me to borrow something.

i once bought a really nice suit on my credit card, wore it, and returned it right after my interview. i know, it's wrong, but sometimes when you have no money...you gotta do what you gotta do...

It is wrong and unfortunately, it creates the impression that you are dishonest...not a desirable trait in any professional.

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i once bought a really nice suit on my credit card, wore it, and returned it right after my interview. i know, it's wrong, but sometimes when you have no money...you gotta do what you gotta do...

And you have to live with yourself and your own karma.

-R

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In one of my classes the instructor said that all people had bought something, worn it, and returned it. I stated that I had not ever even considered such a thing and she took a poll and nearly the whole class had done so. Years later I saw that instructor at a seminar and the first thing I wondered was if she was stealing the outfit she had on.

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I had wondered this question. At a school I atteneded in CA they told us for our interviews to wear our scrubs. I didn't know if that was right or not. I guess it all depends on who is interviewing you??

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.
I had wondered this question. At a school I atteneded in CA they told us for our interviews to wear our scrubs. I didn't know if that was right or not. I guess it all depends on who is interviewing you??

Yes, I think it depends a lot upon who is interviewing you, what type of job, how good you look in scrubs, how "professional" you look in scrubs, etc. Sometimes, people look really sloppy in scrubs and other times they look great. So, you have to be really honest with yourself about how you look in them.

As someone who has conducted hundreds of interviews ... I would not mind someone interviewing in neat, clean scrubs that fit well and conveyed a tidy professional appearance. But remember that things like your hair style, your shoes, fingernails, etc. all become more important when you wear scrubs because the interviewer will look at those things when your clothes are sort of "neutralized" as a source of information.

Also, if someone wore scrubs or a uniform, I would expect them to explain their attire -- preferably in the form of a mild apology. To not dress in business attire displays a certain lack of respect that should be explained. If you are either on your way and/or coming from work -- that is a reasonable explanation and there would be nothing to be embarrassed about assuming that there were no infection control issues to be concerned about. If it's just because you don't want to bother investing in appropriate business attire, that raises a few questions about your willingness/committment to your career. As an interviewer, I would wonder how such a person would represent our employer in public -- at a professional meeting or educational event, for example.

As others have said, appropriate professional interview clothes can be obtained very cheaply. Why not make the little investment and keep your job search (and start your new job) on the right footing?

llg

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Sears also has some nice 2 piece suits that are affordable.

But, certainly the cheapest (and probably easiest) way is to go to Wal-mart or target and get slacks or khaki's and a nice sweater knit or dress shirt. Keep it really simple and classic...solid color slacks and shirt. It is easier to interchange if you pick up another pair of slacks or shirt. Pastels you can't really wear in fall and winter and brown you can't wear in spring and summer. Also...you might wear your dress to weddings...but you will probably wear this second outfit to wakes and funerals...gee, that sounded really morbid.

And, professional closed toe shoes (Leave the sandals at home).

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Specializes in NICU.
Also...you might wear your dress to weddings...but you will probably wear this second outfit to wakes and funerals...gee, that sounded really morbid.

I totally wanted to post that before but thought it sounded awfully morbid as well! It's very true - five years ago, my interview outfit and funeral outfit were one in the same.

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Specializes in Oncology/Haemetology/HIV.

One thing to be brought up and please do not flame me for it.

You say that you do not need a lot of nice clothes/business clothes. It always pays to have a good suit and a dress or two (or blouse with skirt or slacks outfit). You never know when you may need them. And it is nice to find the sort of function that you need them for and attend a few of those functions. It opens your horizons a bit.

And most NMs are a bit more impressed with the suit than scrubs.

As a traveler, most of my interviews are over the phone, with me in my jammies and big fluffy bunny slippers, but I still have at least one good suit with me at any assignment.

And you can find some great ones cheap at consignment stores or Goodwill.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept, M/S.

I was going to say also that you can get some really nice second hand clothes at a thrift shop or other second-hand store. My mother passed away very suddenly 6 months ago, and loved her designer suits from St. John, Donna Karan and Ellen Tracy. (Heck, I was disappointed we didn't receive a condolence card from Sax Fifth and Parisians! :chuckle )

We donated ALL of her 200+ suits (no, that's NOT a typo) to Dress For Success in Cincinnati. We know that is what she would have wanted, as she was a successful businesswoman who started her own company from the ground up, in a field dominated by men. It is places like these that let men and women succeed, by creating that GREAT, IMPORTANT first impression. You never know how much that means, so it makes sense to look you absolute best, even if they are clothes you bought second-hand or from a discount store. Neat and presentable is ALWAYS in fashion!

Everyone is right - you do not need a lot of clothes. If you make sure they mix and match (the tops and bottoms/skirts), and have a few different colored/styled blouses, you can have almost an infinite dressy wardrobe, and no one is the wiser.

Good luck! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.

I don't know if this helps exactly but I just had 2 interviews at 2 different hospitals, both nationally ranked level 1 trauma centers. I spent $200 on a suit to interview at hospital A where I had done an internship and was trying soooooo hard to impress that I sabotaged myself. I called hospital B afterwards and arranged an interview for the same day with the caveat that I wasn't perfectly dressed. Well, I appeared for my interview at hospital B in jeans and a shirt that was a little low cut. Needless to say, the HR guy told me that they didn't really look at clothes at all- hygiene maybe a little. I was relaxed and knew this was the place for me. I got the job 3 days later. I feel blessed that I met the crew at the second hospital where they have already proven to me that they are a superb and professional. After 2 weeks hospital A hasn't even called me back yet and I feel silly having spent so much of my time and money trying to impress them.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ER.
i once bought a really nice suit on my credit card, wore it, and returned it right after my interview. i know, it's wrong, but sometimes when you have no money...you gotta do what you gotta do...

Don't feel guilty. Is it right that the poor chinese textile worker who made the garment will only see a penny for that suit? Heck no. Is it fair that the daughter and/or wife of the CEO of the company who made the suit is going to go on a shopping spree at Saks with the profits she didn't work a minute for? Heck no. You didn't break the law. You purchased the item and returned it undamaged. You didn't cause suffering to anyone or anything so I am sure your karma is intact!

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i'm sorry for my last post, i wasn't condoning wearing and returning clothes. it was sort of a joke with a hint of truth. anyhow, please forgive me and let me make it better.

the nicest suit i've ever bought was from burlington coat factory. the place really is a gem and i know there are locations throughout the US, not just in NY. it's sort of like a tj maxx or marshalls, as far as it's designer clothing marked way down, but it's very organized and there are more than just one size in a style. i'm an awkward petite size and i can never find clothes that i don't have to have hemmed (read: 20 extra bucks). for 40 bucks i got a blue blazer/skirt suit and it fits perfect. there are a lot of options for different sizes, not just petite. it's my one stop shop for all business attire needs.

check it out. ....oh, and i promise you won't want to return it after you wear it... :rotfl:

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