interview clothes..

personaltrainer

ok so Ive a very important interview next week and iv no idea what to wear..iv heard that a shirt and trousers arent really worn as much any more....nothing expensive...please help....

A proper suit?

Magenta

I always wear a suit.

Mimojo

I always wear a suit. They dont have to cost a fortune, and if you get a nice top to go inside, and nice accessories it is sorted. For a formal interview Id say most people would expect at least a trousers and shirt. If you are guy you would get away with trouser and shirt and tie, if you want to go all out full suit, you cant loose. Nothing worse that being too casual for an interview imo.

Qualitymark

Put yourself in the position of the person hiring. If you wear a suit - and you can get really nice suits in, say, M&S these days - a crisp shirt and a quiet tie, that's all that dealt with. The eye passes approvingly over the clothes ("Nice sense of style, good sensible lad/lass, nothing too wild, let's see what's under the bonnet"), and it's on to the questions: "Now, why do you think you'd be good for this job?"

Unless you're going for a clown with Duffy's, you can seldom go wrong with a tasteful suit.

DazMarz

Having sat on boards for interviews in the past (mostly there to make up the numbers!!!:o), I find nothing says "This is a reliable, confident and professional person" like a crisp suit (black or navy being the best), plain shirt (white or pale colours being the best) and an unintrusive tie. Make sure you wear dark socks to match a dark suit, coordinate your belt and your shoes (black works best with darker suits) and make sure shoes are polished and free of scuffs.

Though I would advise, don't wear a black suit, white shirt and plain black tie; you'll look like an undertaker.

personaltrainer

thanks...but im a female so shirt and tie wount really work!!!!!!

Improbable

Have a look here:

http://www.cvtips.com/interview/female-interview-clothes-tips.html

Lux23

Has anyone seen any suit style jackets in the sales anywhere? I have an interview on Thursday but I don't get paid till Friday and only have a few quid to jazz up my interview clothes. I have a full work wardrobe but never wear a suit as they just annoy me but think I should for this interview. I had a look at their website (potential employer) and everyone is dressed in suits so think I have to go with it for the first interview anyway.

Ollchailin

I wore a plain black wraparound knee-length dress to my last interview (got the job!) and I actually felt way more comfortable than in a suit. I just think suits on women can often look awful- I know there are exceptions but I think nowadays there are so many nice "power clothes" out there than you can feel confident yet feminine in.

Some of these I'm personally not mad about, but would give you some good ideas:

http://www.asos.com/Women/Work-Wardrobe/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=8309

quad_red

+1 on the suit. Clean, crisp, well ironed shirt. Plain, conservative tie.

I know people harp on about this but you greatly aid your chance of success but if you don't look the part, interview panels rarely give you the chance to prove that you can act the part.

cocker5

personaltrainer wrote: »

thanks...but im a female so shirt and tie wount really work!!!!!!

You can get lovely affordable suits either trousers / jacket or skirt / jacket in Next...nicve black suit with blouse.....

make sure your make up is perfect and hair... nothing sloppy

Best of luck!! Hope it goes well

cocker5

Lux23 wrote: »

Has anyone seen any suit style jackets in the sales anywhere? I have an interview on Thursday but I don't get paid till Friday and only have a few quid to jazz up my interview clothes. I have a full work wardrobe but never wear a suit as they just annoy me but think I should for this interview. I had a look at their website (potential employer) and everyone is dressed in suits so think I have to go with it for the first interview anyway.

was in Next on saturday.... go TONS of new clothes for work...

suit skirt €19
jacket €30

or suit dress €25

they have loads of stuff at excellent prices

Twee.

I think for a female a pair of wide leg black/grey/navy trousers or pencil skirt and a crisp white shirt should to the trick. It doesn't have to be the standard button up, something with a bit of flair to show your personality.

Shirt examples:
Asos
Topshop
Ted Baker

Instead of a suit jacket in the weather we're having (wet yet warm), try a trench coat instead Asos

Add a handbag, sensible/comfortable court shoes, discreet jewelry, and a coloured scarf Asos under the collar of the trench.

Hermione*

Twee. wrote: »

I think for a female a pair of wide leg black/grey/navy trousers or pencil skirt and a crisp white shirt should to the trick. It doesn't have to be the standard button up, something with a bit of flair to show your personality.

Shirt examples:
Asos
Topshop
Ted Baker

Instead of a suit jacket in the weather we're having (wet yet warm), try a trench coat instead Asos

Add a handbag, sensible/comfortable court shoes, discreet jewelry, and a coloured scarf Asos under the collar of the trench.

This is almost exactly how I dress for work and interviews! There are so many more ways for girls to express their personality and still be smart in a work environment that I think it a shame to wear the standard black trousers all the time. I don't even own a suit. I prefer to invest my money in quality separates. A great pencil skirt is one of the most flattering things you can wear, I think, and it's as smart as a suit.

Sugar Free

As a male I would definitely prefer to be able to use a bit more creativity with interview wear. However it's just too risky most of the time to stray from the tried and tested formula.

It does depend on the company of course but in my area (pharma/pharma services) you're instantly at a disadvantage if you were to present yourself at an interview in anything other than a full suit.

//Envious //

Hermione*

MediumWell wrote: »

As a male I would definitely prefer to be able to use a bit more creativity with interview wear. However it's just too risky most of the time to stray from the tried and tested formula.

It does depend on the company of course but in my area (pharma/pharma services) you're instantly at a disadvantage if you were to present yourself at an interview in anything other than a full suit.

//Envious //

Agreed. If I were a chap, I wouldn't wear anything other than a very well cut suit to an interview.

Pythia

I got a lovely pink and grey pinstripe suit in Warehouse recently. Very nice stuff in there at the mo.

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/TAILORING/dept/fcp-category/categorylist?resetFilters=true

They have some suit stuff in their sale too:

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/sale-tailoring/dept/fcp-category/categorylist?resetFilters=true

oohlala

What does everyone think of this as an interview dress? I clicked on a previous posters link and think this is gorgeous and really smart but is it too much for an interview?

http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-2-In-1-Tailored-Shirt-And-Pencil-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1169647&cid=8309&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=White%2fBlack

I have an interview next week in a high end department store btw. So i was thinking of going a little more on the fashion business side of dressing to put me apart from the usual suit candidates? I had a black wool dress that i got in pennys i was going to wear with a black jacket but i'm not sure if the dress would be too short when i sit down!

Qualitymark

oohlala, it's gorgeous, but that split in the front doesn't say 'interview' to me; it certainly doesn't say 'thinking seriously about work here'!

oohlala

What if i put a white string top underneath to hire the neckline? Or a tailored black jacket over it?

Thanks!!

Qualitymark

Yes, if there's something under it and a jacket over it, it would be gorgeous.

I remember meeting a girl on her way to an interview - brought her into my own workplace of the time so she could get sick, she was so nervous. She was rather well endowed, and was wearing a scoopy-necked black lace top, with see-through shoulders. Always wondered if she got the job.

Twee.

MediumWell wrote: »

As a male I would definitely prefer to be able to use a bit more creativity with interview wear. However it's just too risky most of the time to stray from the tried and tested formula.

It does depend on the company of course but in my area (pharma/pharma services) you're instantly at a disadvantage if you were to present yourself at an interview in anything other than a full suit.

//Envious //

This is where you have a little fun For example, full suit yes, then say a purple tie, purple pocket square and purple SOCKS that just peek out when you sit down

Check him out

LadyMayBelle

Twee. wrote: »

This is where you have a little fun For example, full suit yes, then say a purple tie, purple pocket square and purple SOCKS that just peek out when you sit down

Check him out

I'd hire him alright.

I think that black and white dress is lovely but really don't think it's interview suitable, even with a top underneath..maybe if you got the job it could be office wear, but not for the actual interview..


Still think it is lovely tho