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Do you HAVE to wear a suit for job interviews?
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Hi girls, Last year at work we were recruiting a new member of staff. Somehow all those who were shortlisted happened to be women, and all four of them turned up for their interviews in dresses! I have to say two of them didn't look great, but the other two looked really good and professional. I am applying for a new job myself and I am wondering whether wearing a dress (a formal one, of course) to the interview (if I get one) would be a good idea. So far I've only worn suits to job interviews. What's your verdict?
Depends what the work is, I think. If it's anything like banking, finance, law, then a suit might be better. If it's anything to do with fashion, or some creative field like graphic design then I think you need to show a little bit of your creativity in your clothes. It can be hard to get a balance between looking like an individual and looking like you put more thought into what you're wearing than what you're saying at the interview. I think maybe bring a jacket along that can go over the dress, and if you get there any everyone working in the joint is in suits, you'll know what dress code you're dealing with and can leave the jacket on for instant smartness. If it's less strict then you can leave it off and wear your dress. Good luck, hope you get the interview.
I really think it depends what sort of job you are going for. Something in the creative side of working they would want to see you have made an effort to look smart, but also some individuality. When i go for my interviews I don't think a suit is imperrative for getting a job in nursing, but i am wearing smart pinstripe wool wide leg trousers and a puff sleeve 3/4 lenth sleeve white shirt, perhaps a nice belt and then a statement necklace to make it a bit less bland. To a previous interview, again for a carers post, I wore a smart wrap dress. However if you were going into something more office based I would consider a suit if you feel comfortable enough in one.
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I never wear suits anyway, I always just wear smart clothes - black trousers, white shirt etc but I def agree with spaghetti and nursie, depends what your going into job wise. Good luck x
i have never worn a suit and have always been offered the job in various admin/cust services management positions for my last interview the other week i wore black almond toe courts, fishnets, mid calf skirt (grey and black sort of 50's styled flarey thing) and black scoop neck t-shirt with kuduki beads - previously have worn flower print black and white wrap dress, tights and black heels - wide legged trews and a wrap top i tend to wear something that i almost plain but has a particular statement piece that stands out without looking out of place its more important to wear something smart and flattering and suitable for the office environment that you will be working in than wearing a suit imho however there are some professions that you would have to wear a suit for, lawyer for example, i would expect a suit to be essential as its what you would be required to wear daily
I second the general consensus here it does depend which job youre going for. Despite this, some creative industries do require you to look smart. Im a sports editor and whenever Im in the press box I have to wear formal clothes (and obviously no team colours!) and Im expected to always attend interviews with players/managers in suits, so Id wear one to an interview. Ive got a smart linen suit for warm weather, that has nice billowy trousers which Id pair with heeled sandals. Or how about being imaginative with three pieces? Try a cute blouse with interesting shaped sleeves, a cropped jacket in a tweed or a summery plain colour and pretty brooch and a plain pencil skirt or trousers? And take a Birkin-a-like or other structured bag and a folio if appropriate to bring past examples of work.
Thanks everyone for the ideas. FYI, the field I'm in is academia, so it's not as formal as law for example, but not as relaxed as the creative industries. However, the job I've applied for is a senior position. My dilemma is that on one hand, I want to appear professional and serious, but on the other hand, I don't want to appear boring. I still don't know if I have got an interview or not. If I do, the serious thinking will start! I'm still undecided, although I'm encouraged to ditch the suit for something a bit different by your comments. Fingers crossed!
I have a friend who works as a maths lecturer and she doesn't generally wear suits to interviews - usually something along the lines of a smart skirt and tweed jacket. The usual rule that I apply to interview wear is that it should be a smart version of what you'd expect to wear every day to work. g_k
Well I've never worn a suit to an interview (never even owned one) but I have always worked in the creative field. I had a job interview recently, so bought some smart trousers, a white shirt and wore heels (which I rarely do for work). I didn't get the job, but someone who wore jeans to the interview did! So I think it does totally depend on the industry. If it's academia, I'd go for smart but not necessarily a suit. Good luck with the application, let us know if you get an interview!
Well I agree with everyone else, it does depend on the industry. I work in a creative field too so now only rarely wear a suit for work (the odd important meeting does require it, as would court reporting if I ever did that....which I don't). But, I think the role you're going for within your industry does matter too. I wore completely different outfits for two job interviews in the last year - one was for a creative role in a department which sees itself as very creative so I went for my own style but a particularly good version of it - a slightly unusual blouse, layered under a dress, with heels and a great jacket. I would have been worried that a suit gave an uncreative impression. For another job, which involved managing people and for which I spent the whole interview being quizzed about "leadership", I very emphatically did wear a suit - with a vintage shirt and wedge sandals to avoid looking like someone else entirely. It sounds as if the job you're going for is more senior - so perhaps a suit wouldn't be a bad idea? I came second for both jobs, FWIW. Make of this what you will 
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