I have a job interview to attend and have a question about dress codes. Given the summer heat (yep, “heat” in the UK! ;)) is it “ok” to wear a suit minus stockings / tights (hose?)? Or, would it be appropriate to not wear a suit at all and arrive looking smartly dressed, but casual? eg: tailored skirt; blouse etc?
It could be that I’m stressing out unduly about this, but this interview is very important to me, and although ordinarily I’m a jeans / shorts / long skirts, t-shirt - clothes-are-for-comfort type of person, I realise that first impressions count.
So, if you’d share, I’d be really interested to know what your thoughts and opinions are?
*Anyone can share their thoughts - there could be male recruiters on the SDMB, but I doubt you wear stockings *
IMHO, it’s always better to be over-dressed than to be under-dressed. I know it’s hot, but wear a smart suit and hosiery, you can always strip down after the interview.
Is there any way you can hang around the place of business to see what the average business attire would be? Then you could dress accordingly.
I’d say it depends on what you’d expect the dress code of the job to be. If you think that normally you could get away with jeans and T-shirts, I’d say that was appropriate. But if you’d normally have to dress for the job, go for as professional as you can. It’s always a good idea to dress a level or two above your normal working attire.
It sounds like you plan to “dress” for the interview. Yes, you have to wear stockings/tights/hose, whatever you want to call them. Wearing a suit or dress with bare legs looks like you didn’t finish dressing. And I agree with Lyllyan–it’s always best to be overdressed rather than underdressed. P.S. My job has a 4 page dress code and the only thing in the code that annoys me is “no bare legs.”
First, for intervies dress one step higher than the actual job requires.
Secondly, consider wearing a nice sleeveless t-shirt under a blazer instead of a blouse. Its a more streamlined look, and more comfy as well. (Though emphasis on nice. I like Old Navy’s T-shirts for the soft material and plain colors.) However, if you’re not wearing pants, you need the hose. Sorry, I feel your pain.
Wear the hose. I’ve made it a goal of mine to never have the kind of job where I have to wear pantyhose every day, and so far–except for temp jobs–I’ve succeeded. But I always wear pantyhose and make-up to job interviews. It can’t hurt, can it?
I typically call ahead to ask what the attire is at the workplace. I’ve never had a potential employer get huffy or refuse to answer. Then, as Medea’s Child said, dress a bit nicer than that. At my current job, they told me that they wore “business casual.” I wore a nice pair of khakis and a sweater. It turns out that most of the people in the office wear jeans and t-shirts on a daily basis, so I think that was a good choice. I would have felt overdressed in a suit.
However, when you have no information to go on, I would recommend always going as dressy as possible. Nobody’s going to think badly of you for wearing a suit to an interview, but the reverse may not be true.
Yeah, unless it’s so hot they melt onto your legs…wear thigh highs, and after the interview, take those puppies off! Even if you’re not driving, you can stop in somewhere down the street, borrow the restroom, and stick 'em in your purse/briefcase. At the same time, take off your blazer, leaving you in a skirt, sleeveless top, and whatever comfortable shoes you hid in your bag. Repeat in reverse before next interview. It helps to carry a fairly large purse or a briefcase, and if it’s miserably hot, you can fit in a couple of moist wipes and extra deodorant if you’re the sweaty type.
Job interviews. Ugh! They’re the worst part of work.
I have to chime in and say, sorry, but hose must be worn with a suit. And if you aren’t sure, a suit is the way to go. I have to start interviewing soon and was trying to talk myself into a long skirt/top look but it just doesn’t “feel” right (regardless of comfort). You want to look like you have respect for the job and the importance of the situation.
gah! just missed your reply when I was typing my previous.
Suit: hard to explain - long, straight skirt - 30’’ length with a split in the back. Long sleeved jacket, coming to the hip. It has a zip up front. Tan & dark brown - very subtle- pattern. Both the skirt and jacket are lined, and the whole thing is exceptionally smart.
Well, even though the interview is over, I’m still going to give you my advice because, well, I just think it’s good advice. I heard this in a job-seeking course I took once, and it’s stuck with me; always dress for interviews for the job you would like to have. If you’re interviewing for office clerk, dress like the president of the company, if that’s what you’re shooting for some day. Of course, if you’re shooting for warehouse schlepper, I don’t know how that would work.
ugh - they said they’d ring yesterday, or at the latest this morning, and didn’t. Not sure if this bodes good news or not, so we’ll see. Thanks for asking though.
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