GreekChat.com Forums  

Go Back   GreekChat.com Forums > General Chat Topics > Careers & Employment


Register Now for FREE!
Join GreekChat.com, The Fraternity & Sorority Greek Chat Network. To sign up for your FREE account INSTANTLY fill out the form below!

Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail:
 
Image Verification
Please enter the six letters or digits that appear in the image opposite.

  I agree to forum rules 

» GC Stats
Members: 325,126
Threads: 115,503
Posts: 2,196,056
Welcome to our newest member, babobygooglet93
» Online Users: 1,043
1 members and 1,042 guests
MethrenLusia
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-08-2005, 10:35 PM
UWOAPhi UWOAPhi is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: London, Ontario
Posts: 52
Interview attire?

Do I need to wear suit to a job interview? I have an upcoming job interview with the Federal government. I would like to wear a navy skirt and striped blouse as my grey suit does not fit and I do not want to splurge on a new one.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-09-2005, 12:18 AM
ztawinthropgirl ztawinthropgirl is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 684
An interview with the federal government, I would say yes you need to wear a suit. If the suit you already have does not fit, then, it may be time to splurge on a new one. I would say wear a suit to any interview.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-09-2005, 08:48 AM
aephi alum aephi alum is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Crescent City
Posts: 10,014
Wear a suit. If you don't own a suit that fits, buy a new one. I recommend a suit with a skirt. Don't worry about splurging - you'll find other uses for the suit (other interviews, work attire, etc).
__________________
AEΦ ... Multa Corda, Una Causa ... Celebrating Over 100 Years of Sisterhood
Have no place I can be since I found Serenity, but you can't take the sky from me...
Only those who risk going too far, find out how far they can go.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-09-2005, 09:24 AM
Little E Little E is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Philly!
Posts: 1,050
Everyone should always have a suit that fits. Its what you do for job interviews. I'd wear a suit.

There are still many segments of society that do not accept a looser dress code, job interviewing is one. The suit also projects an image (presuming it is neat) that you are serious about the job interview and not just wasting their time. If you are applying to be a store clerk at the Gap, the skirt and button up would be fine, but that isn't what you are doing.

Good Luck with the interview!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-09-2005, 12:20 PM
valkyrie valkyrie is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: WWJMD?
Posts: 7,559
I think the outfit you've proposed is fine. Dress codes and expectations have relaxed considerably in the past few years, and I think a skirt and blouse would be perfectly appropriate.

I usually wear suits to interviews, but I wear them with open toed shoes, which I was always told was a no-no. I've worn sweater sets also.
__________________
A hiney bird is a bird that flies in perfectly executed, concentric circles until it eventually flies up its own behind and poof! disappears forever....
-Ken Harrelson
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-09-2005, 12:26 PM
33girl 33girl is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Hotel Oceanview
Posts: 34,489
if it was someplace else, maybe a skirt & blouse would work - but with the Federal gov't, definitely suit all the way.
__________________
It is all 33girl's fault. ~DrPhil
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-09-2005, 12:37 PM
valkyrie valkyrie is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: WWJMD?
Posts: 7,559
Y'all must think the feds are all terribly stuffy. I worked for the federal gov't for years and I don't think most people there gave a rat's ass what anybody wore to interviews.

While it may be best to wear suits to interviews, I don't think it's worth knocking yourself out about it, seriously.
__________________
A hiney bird is a bird that flies in perfectly executed, concentric circles until it eventually flies up its own behind and poof! disappears forever....
-Ken Harrelson
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-09-2005, 01:37 PM
EEKappa EEKappa is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 334
You can't go wrong with a suit. I do a lot of interviewing for entry level office positions, and I am always more inclined to hire a candidate who is wearing a blazer/jacket/suit. When an interviewee shows up with just a blouse or a shirt and tie, I wonder if he or she understands what it means to "put your best foot forward." I haven't seen much of a correlation between interview attire and job performance, but I will admit to "interviewer bias."

Oh, and be sure send a thank you note too!

Hope that you get the job, if you want it.
__________________

Kappa Kappa Gamma

Tradition of Leadership


Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-09-2005, 09:05 PM
CarolinaDG CarolinaDG is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 952
I dunno... I mean, I just went through interviewing for an assistant, and you wouldn't believe what little things I cut people on. I would think that if everyone else interviewing for the position wore a suit, and you didn't, that it would be pretty hard to win yourself back. Just my thought.
__________________
DG
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-09-2005, 10:24 PM
AChiOAlumna AChiOAlumna is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 383
I think you need to consider that environment in which you are interviewing for. Will the interviewer most likely be wearing a 3-piece suit? If so, you need to splurge and buy yourself that new "interview suit." If the office is more a "polo and dockers" environment, then a formal suit for yourself may make yourself more dressed than your environment and may not be appropriate.

I'll give an example. I was interviewing for a counseling position with a city clinic. I wore a skirt and blouse with a plain black jacket, stockings and heels. Can you believe that the gentleman who interviewed me was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and a wrinkled pair of khakis?! I saw employees wearing jeans and polo shirts. I was so overdressed for this environment, that I stuck out like a sore thumb!!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-10-2005, 12:30 AM
DGMarie DGMarie is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 810
Wear a good suit. It does not need to be expensive, but it needs to be nicely cut, a good color (dark blue is always a winner) with a skirt or nice dress slacks, and nice (CLEAN) shoes. You can find something inexpensive at places like Dress Barn, Kohls, any mid priced department store. For Federal Govt this is a must.

I would never dress down for a first interview. We are a business casual office. Even dress jeans and a trendy top are appropriate (marketing for a Fortune 100 company), when someone interviews they wear a suit. Entry level even. It makes a good first impression. When you get the job wear dockers etc, but not for the first interview.

My 2 cents after 13 years in corporate America.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-11-2005, 09:26 PM
texas*princess texas*princess is offline
GreekChat Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: ooooooh snap!
Posts: 11,150
Quote:
Originally posted by valkyrie
Y'all must think the feds are all terribly stuffy. I worked for the federal gov't for years and I don't think most people there gave a rat's ass what anybody wore to interviews.

While it may be best to wear suits to interviews, I don't think it's worth knocking yourself out about it, seriously.
I totally agree.

I did suits for a bunch of my interviews when I was looking for a job, but it just felt so unnatural.. which probably increased my nervousness.

On interviews that I got a call back from (and ultimately got offers), I wore some nice Express editor pants, a very nice 3/4 button-up collared shirt and cute accessories. I felt way cuter in that then in a suit, and I was more comfortable, which increased my confidence (suits make me feel like a little kid playing dressup with clothes from a mom's closet )
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.