New Grad recruiting meeting, what to wear?

[Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP]

Next Saturday the hospital we do our clinicals at is having a meeting for all of the local soon to be new grads to come and talk with the clinical directors of all of the units. We can't apply for any jobs yet until a few weeks after this when the new grad jobs go up. I'm a PCT at the hospital already, so hopefully that'll give me a leg up on applying for RN jobs.

My real question is what to wear? I have a business suit that I will wear to actual interviews, but only just one suit. Would it be okay to just wear dressy black pinstripe pants and a nice sweater to this meeting? That way I can save my suit (hopefully) for any interviews that might come my way. I don't really have the budget right now to go and buy a second business suit.

Thanks!

[BabyLady, BSN, RN]

Yes, I would agree that very nice business attire, but not a suit, would be very appropriate for the meeting.

I am a huge believer in suits for interviews..but since it appears to be an informal "meet and greet" setting, I would think what you describe would be appropriate.

[SnowStar4]

You could probably get away with dress clothes, but consider the suit. Sometimes these things lead to impromptu job offers.

In these situations, I live by the phrase "It's always better to be overdressed than underdressed."

[Ardneth]

Go ahead and wear the suit, at the very least you'll look professional and it can help you stand out (in a good way) in the minds of the directors if no one else is wearing one.

With the number of people and the time that will pass between this meeting and a possible interview it is highly unlikely that anyone will realize it is the same suit X months later. Just make sure you have 2 or three different dress shirts to go with your one suit and that they are not all white.

[Fribblet]

Really?

You're meeting, face-to-face, with the people who will, ultimately, make the decision to hire you or not.

This is a first impression that matters. It should be a no-brainer. You want to look as professional as possible. It's that simple.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

I agree: look as professional as possible. Being a PCT is no longer the guarantee of a job that it used to be--you are still going to have to work your tail off during the interview process to stand out and impress them.

I'd really consider wearing the suit. You can always wear a different color blouse/dress shirt with it if you interview later on.

[kalami08]

I'd wear the suit with a nice blouse or button-down underneath; then if you get there and feel over-dressed you can take off your jacket and just wear the blouse & pants.

[Mike A. Fungin RN]

Better to be overdressed. Wear the suit. No need to buy a second for the interview, no one will remember and if they do they won't fault you for it.

[klone, MSN, RN]

It's okay to wear the suit more than once.

I would wear it.