To Wear Scrubs or To Not Wear Scrubs? That is the question.

Published

Ok, I just called a friend of mine who is a cna, and she told me to wear scrubs at my job interview, because it shows that you are ready to work, and can be possiby trained that same day. Is this a good idea???

Specializes in Med-Surg/urology.

Who would give out this type of advice.....?!? I've never known any facility (and I've been on a LOT of interviews @ nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, etc..) that would start training on the spot. They will probably offer you the job on the spot, but that's usually conditional b/c they still have to perform a background check & drug screen..and that takes about a week for the info to come back. Always dress professionally!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Spine, Neuro, Thoracic's, LTC.
Who would give out this type of advice.....?!? I've never known any facility (and I've been on a LOT of interviews @ nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home health agencies, etc..) that would start training on the spot. They will probably offer you the job on the spot, but that's usually conditional b/c they still have to perform a background check & drug screen..and that takes about a week for the info to come back. Always dress professionally!

Hahaha yeah

Maybe whoever gave you this advice didn't want you to get the job lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.

LOL I wore scrubs to my first interview for CNA and got the job! but now I know better and dress professionally. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

im going to have to agree with everyone else on this one, wear dress clothes not scrubs...scrubs are great things when your actually working in the medical feild but not for the interveiw...id say dress pants, nice shirt and dress shoes(heels, dress boots, flat nice shoes) or go with a knee lenght skirt (not a short skirt) and a nice top and just wear a nice clean coat...do your hair and look professional....if for some reason you think you will be trained that day (which i doubt but i am still in nursing school so im not 100% sure haha) then take a pair of scrubs with you and leave them in the car, if they want you to train that day then you have them on hand...i kind of see where your friend was coming from but trust me your future boss or who ever is doing the hiring would much rather see you come in looking professional and like you actually care about the job and took some time in preparing for it...the first impression is key and and trust me people doing the hiring notice things like what your wearing...good luck though on your interveiw!:D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I usually go dressy/casual, nice shirt, dress pants, belt, dress shoes. Then I put on my lab coat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've worn business suits, a grade below suits, or pressed matching scrubs to interviews. I actually feel the most comfortable in scrubs as I tend to match the clothing of those that I am interviewing with. I have sometimes felt a bit too dressed up in a business suit.

I think you should wear what you are comfortable in. If you don't have business professional clothes, wear your best plain (solid) scrubs. Iron them. Tend to details: shoes, hair, etc. I see nothing wrong in dressing as though you would be working. Show them how professional you look --so they can imagine you on their floor serving their patient population.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Ok, I just called a friend of mine who is a cna, and she told me to wear scrubs at my job interview, because it shows that you are ready to work, and can be possiby trained that same day. Is this a good idea???

Maybe she is interviewing for the same job and is setting you up lol ;). Really bad idea, dress professionally.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.

Wearing scrubs to an interview is tacky and ignorant. Dress nicely, but do not overdress.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I agree, wear nice clothes, nothing too tight or too low. No long fingernails and too much makeup, nice shoes, no flip flops.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Judging by responses here, it might be better to wear business clothes rather than scrubs. I have received offers in both types of clothing. I am surprised at the number of responses against scrubs. Eye-opener for me. I did have some interviewers ask me if I had come from work when I was wearing scrubs and I said no that I dressed to be ready to work. Maybe that is why I received that question.

If I am ever on a hiring team, I will not be phased by whether the interviewee is in scrubs or in business professional clothing. I will look at neatness, shoes, appropriate accessories, hair, etc. I will also look at communication style, answers, reflectiveness, intelligence, resume, and timeliness.

I have worked in business with CEOs and presidents who wore jeans to work. Employees at all ranks were encouraged to do this as well. Maybe that is why I am more okay than others with wearing clothes that are more functional to an interview.

Per the responses here, I will probably wear business clothes to my next interview. I wouldn't want to run into an interviewer who might rule me out for wearing scrubs. Yikes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have worked in business with CEOs and presidents who wore jeans to work. Employees at all ranks were encouraged to do this as well. Maybe that is why I am more okay than others with wearing clothes that are more functional to an interview.

Do you think those CEOs were wearing jeans to interviews though? Even though they wore jeans on a day to day basis, I imagine they were savvy enough to know that sometimes you have to dress the part and play the game.

I applied to a few new grad programs where the HR people scheduling interviews made sure to tell me that I should wear appropriate attire to the interview (suit or business attire) and I always thought it was silly they needed to say something. PLUS if they really were going to rule out those not dressing to impress, I wish they'd keep mum about it to thin the competition some!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Ok, I just called a friend of mine who is a cna, and she told me to wear scrubs at my job interview, because it shows that you are ready to work, and can be possiby trained that same day. Is this a good idea???

With all due respect to your friend, the answer is *no*, one does not wear scrubs to an interview, CNA or whatever. When was the last time you heard of a nurse showing up for an interview in whites or scrubs?

If you are already employed by the facility and asked to meet with HR or whomever is doing the hiring during your break or after/before starting a shift, that is another matter. Everyone else should wear "business formal", a nice suit (skirt or pants if a female), minimal make-up, hair, nails clean and neat and so forth. Doesn't have to be Chanel or Gucci, just something you'd wear to Sunday "going to meeting", or some such formal setting.

Showing up in scrubs is rather like asking about wages during the first few minutes of an interview. One does not want to appear too keen!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion