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One day we’ll demolish this antiquated and repulsive notion that a suit imparts anything other than the fact that someone had the time and money to buy one. Any shmuck can put on a suit. It doesn’t say a damned thing about your attitude, your ability or your personality, and any hiring manager who makes a decision on a candidate based on suit vs. skirt and blouse or nice shirt/trousers (especially in a casual/business casual company) is an idiot who doesn’t know jack diddly about jack diddly. Though, on the upside, they will have done the candidate the service of not forcing them to work for an idiot who doesn’t know jack diddly about jack diddly.
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I have some large chest issues as well, and one thing that sometimes works (I realize this is not for now, but in the future after you get this job and are replenishing your suit collection with the scads of money you will be making) is to look for the suit you like in one size larger than you wear, but in the petites section. So if you wear a size 8, try on a size 10P. This will probably not work out if you are extremely tall, because then the skirt would be too short. I have also noticed that some brands give you more room in the chest in the petites size than others, so I generally have to try on a bunch.
Have a great interview!
I’m in the “wear a nice outfit but the suit isn’t mandatory” camp. Actually, I’d kind of discourage the suit.
First, a story… I work for a large company well known for its casual dress. I had my first interview there as part of a hiring conference with many companies/interviews and so was wearing a suit. Before my follow-up interview I asked what the dress expectation was. I basically laid it out and said “I know your normal dress is quite casual, and while I don’t want to seem like I’m blowing off the interview, I don’t want to dress completely out of place with everyone else there.” The hiring manager who invited me back said “Good god, don’t wear a suit! People will think you’re a vendor and will avoid you.”
I think that not wearing a suit shows that you were able to pick up on the culture from your first visit and that you are comfortable in that kind of environment. For example, T-shirts / polo shirts and jeans are common in our workplace. I would expect an interviewee to notice that and maybe shoot a little above typical for a follow-up interview, but not a suit. (Say, a button down shirt and nice wool blend khakis for a guy (don’t know how to translate that for a woman, sorry). Someone who shows up after having seen the normal environment but still dressed considerably more formally than everyone else --and wearing a suit they’re not that comfy in to begin with-- is someone who is going to be uncomfortable, look uncomfortable, and probably make other people feel a little uncomfortable too.
My previous “don’t wear the suit” post notwithstanding, I gotta disagree with you on a number of counts.
- While any schmuck can put on a suit, many people do not really look comfortable or natural in one. In a type of job where wearing suits is required all or even some of the time, looking like a dufus in a suit off the rack from sears means you won’t be taken as seriously by the other lawyers, stockbrokers, acountants, etc. as someone who is (and looks) comfortable and natural in the “uniform of the day.”
- Wearing a suit where wearing a suit is expected shows both deference to the would-be employer and an eagerness to please. It says “this is important enough that I put on the most expensive, and most uncomfortable, thing I own because I am eager to make a good impression.” Eagerness to make a good impression is a great thing to look for in an employee.
- Wearing a suit where it is expected shows, in a small way, a willingness to bend one’s own personal desires at least a bit to fit into the culture of the workplace. A surprising number of people don’t seem to believe getting along and making accomodations to your employer and fellow co-workers is important. As a hiring manager, I think it important. If an employee isn’t willing to make even such a slight allowance, then what does that tell me about their attitude?
- If wearing a suit shows nothing except that you can buy and put one on, why are they expected at weddings, funerals, graduations, etc.? Because they just plain look nicer and are a generally accepted way of showing both seriousness and respect (at least in the US).
Jarbabyj - note that the above are all “where wearing a suit is expected” which doesn’t seem to be the case for you.
Jarbaby In the interest of cutting you a break… 
I just wanted to pop in and wish you the best of luck. Especially when you really want the job, this is one of the more stressful things people put themselves through.
Regarding being funny or not… just be yourself. If a couple smart one-liners pop out, that’s great – you’ll seem relaxed and comfortable enough with the situation to attempt humor. As long as you reel it in when appropriate and don’t try out your new open mike night standup routine…
You have a clever, witty personality. You’ll do great!
Please let us know how it goes. We’re all rooting for you. (I started to make a typo and wrote “We’re all rotting for you.” That would have been funny enough to leave in, don’t ya think?) What the hell…
I’m rotting for ya!
I’ll stick to rooting for ya ;)!
Total cock up.
So my interview, which I DID wear a suit to, the second of the only two suits I own, and the guy I was going to interview with (the vice pres) decided to take the afternoon off without telling anyone.
So I sat there for thirty minutes waiting, finally we decided (me and the lady I first interviewed with) to reschedule. Which screws me because i’m going to have to go buy a third suit! They’ve seen the two I own. I’m all jacked up, and pissed. I was so nervous, prepared, I’m sitting around in these uncomfortable clothes all day, wearing the most painful shoes of my life…and now I have to do it all over again.
I have a feeling my chances of working there are shot. Too many fuck ups so far.
Get the jacket tailored.
Don’t be too sure about the cock up … I interviewed on the day a major virus hit our company and was behind schedule all day (someone had thankfully printed out my schedule so I was able to get it all done eventually). Five years later, here I am …
Unless the suit was bright pink or something equally eye catching, I wouldn’t say that buying another suit is necessary, even if they’ve seen the first two. I’ve interviewed in the same suit for both the first and second interviews, and been offered the job anyway.
…That being said, I’m hoping it still holds true since I have a second interview tomorrow for a job that I desperately want, and I’m wearing the same suit I wore on Friday for the FIRST interview. Maybe I just have a “good luck” suit.
Sorry to hear about the interview fuck up. That bites. Might give you pause to re-think the whole thing - if the guy who’s going to be interviewing you can’t be trusted to keep his appointment or at least to call in, he may not be the guy to work for.
I wouldn’t sweat buying another suit, though. Just wear either one of the two you’ve got.
Good luck, how ever it turns out.
I’m sorry to hear that as well. Reminded me of a not-so-positive story.
I was interviewing for my first editing job ever. I sat and waited for 45 minutes. The Admin. Asst. came out and told me her boss was running behind and could I just wait a few more minutes? I told her I had to go to work soon, but I could wait a short time longer.
About ten minutes later, I was called in to the interview. It went fairly well and I got the job. Two years later, I realized the boss had made me wait on purpose to test my personality and see if I was such a pushover I’d wait for an interview for nearly an hour. And I was that pushover. And that pattern of manipulation never stopped the entire time I worked there because I never gave the boss any reason to think I’d grown a spine or any self-respect. If that same thing happened to me last week, I’d have told the assistant that my time is as valuable as the boss’ and if he had no respect for that, then I don’t want to work here.
I’m not implying that you are in the same situation but an interviewer forgetting and taking the afternoon off does not bode well.
The only thing I can think is that this guy is in his FIRST executive position. I’ve been told that he’s been a V.P. for only seven weeks. He’s never had an assistant before ever.
So perhaps he too is learning the ropes and responsibilities. We’ll see. Everyone else at the place seems really cool and fun. (and sexy…my god…the sexy!)
So - since they’ve seen the two suits, and you care but they really won’t, can you find something jazzy to accessorize yourself with?
Some people do great things with scarves (I’m not one of them, but I would truly like to be). There are pretty, colorful things to put in your hair. You could save the expense of getting a new suit and just get a blouse and a hair thingie, if your hair takes thingies.
A creative shirt (that you can use again) with a suit should be just the thing for a second interview at a creative firm. And for heaven’s sake, get yourself some comfortable shoes! No one deserves to wear uncomfortable shoes at a job interview.
Best of luck, Jar, you deserve it.
Why wouldn’t you want to wear a power color? I’m genuinely curious. My standard job interview outfit is a black suit with a red blouse. Grays and beiges make me look washed-out, and I love my one suit.
Nah. Just wear one of the ones you have. IMO, wearing a suit says “I know enough about interviewing etiquette to wear a suit,” not “I own sixteen suits.” It’s okay to wear the same one twice. I would try to make it look a little different – different jewelry, blouse and shoes, maybe.
And it’s hugely bad form to flake on an interview. The guy owes you a big-time apology, and deserves to have his butt chewed by his boss. Job hunting is like dating; both parties want to look as attractive as possible, and neither wants to look desperate. Standing up a candidate is not attractive, in the working world sense. It does not make him look competent or professional, nor does it reflect well on his company. So I wouldn’t beat yourself up over his mistake (though I know it was stressful); this will be a chance for you to be magnanimous and understanding (“These things happen”) while hopefully making him feel like he needs to sell the company to you a little more.
But continuing wishes for good luck! You’re still in the running. 
I have sat in on after interview talks. They always say that what an interviewee wears is the best she will ever look at work. So use that as a clue. Dress in your nicest outfit. I would say DO try to make it fit with what the interviewer wore in the previous interview. Overdressing is ALWAYS better than underdressing for an interview. Just an aside, we one had a gal come in wearing HOUSESHOES! :smack: Shoes should always be closed toe! NOT houseshoes, NOT sneakers-unless it is a sporting job