Put some thought into your interview ouift, it matters!

[heartsgal, ADN, RN]

I saw a former classmate at an interview yesterday and while she is a very sweet person and I genuinely like her, I don't understand why she wore an inappropriate outfit for an interview. It wasn't horrible by any means she has very nice clothes, but since I know her and that she is a persons of means, I simply couldn't comprehend it. How do these smart intuitive people, get so off the mark with their choice of interview attire, when they're is a wealth of information out there on what you should or should not wear? I'm no expert by any means but when going to an interview I dress conservatively and bring down my usual colorful dress several notches I wear slacks, a high enough necked blouse so if I bend down I won't show any cleavage, a suit jacket and closed toed shoes. I like to look sort of nondescript and wear minimal jewelry and change into a plain black handbag and leave my designer bag at home. I want the focus to be on me during my interview and what I'm saying not my clothing. The classmate I saw had on a tight curve hugging skirt with a bold pattern. A tight, dressy but stretchy tank under her open sweater, showing some ample cleavage. 4" peep toe black spiked heels and her Louis Vuitton handbag. An awesomely fashionable outfit for a wedding and one I would wear myself, but not to an interview for a new grad nurse. It kept nagging at me all day and then last night I read an article in Real Simple magazine about interviewing mistakes and there it was in print. A hiring manager said the candidates she doesn't hire are often because they are over dressed. She also said she hates it when she sees a woman show up in a pair of way to high heels because it shows they're not very serious about the job. So even if you don't have much money you can get a plain pair of slacks, flats or other sensible shoes and plain handbag at a discount store for all of your interviews and leave the spiked heels for a night out with your friends. You've worked to hard for your degree to chance losing a position over a bad clothing choice, so please put some thought into that too.

[mevsmom]

I completely agree.

I need to get an outfit for a job fair and I was thinking of buying a pair of slacks and a oxford style button up. Hoping that I could also use those pieces in a formal interview.

What do you think?