Need advice re: interview attire...

[_jubilation_]

Hello everyone, I am brand new here and need some advice... I will graduate in May and have been interviewing for grad nurse positions. All the advice that I have heard says to wear a nice conservative business suit when interviewing. I interviewed at a fancy teaching hospital earlier this week, and that is what I wore. It felt appropriate, given that the recruiter and the managers that I interacted with were all dressed formally.

Tomorrow, I will be interviewing at my "first choice" hospital (an urban county hospital), in two different departments. I have spent time with both managers during my clinicals, and I know that one wears scrubs every day, and the other wears khakis every day.

Which brings me to my question:

Should I follow the traditional advice and wear my business suit, even though I know that neither manager I am interviewing with dresses that way? I am afraid of coming across as snooty or something if I am dressed up a lot more than the managers are. But I also want them to know that I really want the job!

Any advice is appreciated- Thanks in advance!

[Maudy]

I was told to always dress up for an interview even if you know the interviewer wears scrubs.

It's your choice though.

[livingthedream, APN]

I always would wear the suite. It shows your professional. And GOOD LUCK!!!

[justme1972]

You can never go wrong with a suit.

How you dress, directly reflects, how badly you want the job.

Recruiters will tell you the same.

My husband works as an occupational psychologist and is a consultant and works independently. How people dress for an interview is one of the top complaints of Recruiters of all types of business.

I have read on the boards where people have got jobs showing up in scrubs...that is fine, if the recruiter/manager knows you will be interviewing on your lunch break and knows you will be showing up in scrubs.

Once, I had to wear flip flops to an interview...the cheap kind...I told them inadvance because I had fell down the steps, hyper extended two of my toes and broke them...I told them before I came, "I just don't want you to think that I didn't know that Wal-mart flip flops didn't go with a suit." I couldn't get a normal shoe onto my foot from the swelling and my wedges put pressure on my toe.

When I showed up with my purple foot, they "got it" and I also "got" the job.

[LyndseyER]

I have gone on 3 interviews recently for a new grad position each in diff hospitals (large teaching in a metro area, community med center, large hospital) all three I woes black dress pants and a nice cotton sweater. It was dressy but not overkill and look stuffy. I agree about looking professional but a suit is sometimes to stuffy especially when you go for peds job.

I must have done something right I have been offered all three and the mgrs. added I had maturity that she hadnt seen in other job seekers

Good luck!!!.

[amj12]

Every job I interviewed for was a peds position. At every interview I wore a black suit/white button up shirt. I'm 22, but I could pass for 12. Wearing the suit makes me look older and also allows people take me more serious. Every job I interviewed for I was offered the job. Go with the suit it shows you are professional. I once had a hospital president as a teacher for a business class..he told us ad nauseum that we should always wear a suit to any interview for a professional position.

[_jubilation_]

Thanks to everyone for the advice! I ended up going with the suit. The recruiter and one of the managers I interviewed with were wearing jeans, and the second manager was in scrubs, but I was still glad that I dressed up, and the interviews seemed to go well. I am hoping to hear back before midweek!