Interview Clothes for women

panda100

Hey all,

I have an interview next week for a job I would absolutely love to do in the community sector. I always find dressing for interviews a real pain in the ass, and generally go for a trouser suit. Though due to my tall stature, I often feel a bit dowdy and lanky in them.
However, this job is a bit more of a senior role so I was wondering If I would look more professional wearing a skirt/dress suit?

I'm being interviewed by two women, so hopefully it won't come across like I'm showing a bit of leg to get the job

Would really like to get others opinion on here about what works for them in interviews?

Piglet85

I haven't done an interview in years, but just wanted to suggest that you have a look back at last night's Off The Rails on the RTE player. They did a segment where they gave two women who were job-hunting makeovers, and Sonya Lennon gave a lot of tips on what to/not to wear for interviews. I can't remember how far into the show that bit was on, but I'd say it was definitely in the second half of it anyway!

bagoftea

I always wear a skirt suit. Generally one that comes to my knees and is a pencil skirt - I have never come across any negativity! I think its important in an interview to make sure your shoes aren't too high and your skirt isn't too short, but if you do this there is no reason why a skirt is any less professional than a trouser suit.

Also if you feel better about how you look you will be more confident in the interview about yourself..every little helps!

Best of luck with the interview!!

I wouldn't wear a skirt suit myself just from personal preference, but there's nothing unprofessional about it.

Lia_lia

I read that as "invisible clothes for women". For shame!

SheRa

I wore skirt suits for my last two interviews as they suit my body shape better. A few of my friends wore them too and they look absolutely fab.

I know you are joking about not wanting it to seem like you are showing a bit of leg, but they do look really professional.

+1 to skirts to the knee or lower, they will rise up when you sit down.

I would def go with a skirt suit if you feel more comfortable with it and the very best of luck with the job:).

metrovelvet

Always err on the side of conservative for interviews, which means a skirt suit, navy or black, no patterns, minimal jewelry, a crisp collared shirt, panyhose, and court shoes.

panda100

Lia_lia wrote: »

I read that as "invisible clothes for women". For shame!

Hmm well I do think invisible clothes might give out the wrong impression :P

I'm just wondering is the skirt a bit too 'corporate'? I'm going for a job in the disability/community field so I don't want to look like some high flying executive type.

merlie

A nice simple plain black dress, with a complementary jacket and court shoes. You can wear a nice pair of tights that would complement the outfit.

I have seen many business women dress this way. I think it looks quite polished, smart, yet classic,

Pythia

I wore a dress like this to my last interview (I got the job)



It's what I call a 'suit dress'. A bit more young than a proper suit but still formal.

The_Minister

Pythia wrote: »

I wore a dress like this to my last interview (I got the job)



It's what I call a 'suit dress'. A bit more young than a proper suit but still formal.

There was a girl in class wearing one of those today and she looked absolutely fantastic, and completely professional.

I'm not sure everyone could wear it right though.

Stheno

I always wear a trouser suit, a good shirt, heels and makeup

Hasn't stopped me getting a job yet

The key is to look smart and professional.

panda100

Love that look pythia, and I was looking at something similar in Zara today. Only prob is I can't wear heels with it, as Im already 6'1, and those dresses just look ridiculous with flats

barleybooley

A small heel never hurt OP! I wore a dress to my first and only interview (because I got the job), I felt confident and thought I looked good so I was already going in there positive. My sister always wears the same trouser suit to interview because she feels good in it and she has yet to not be offered a job from interview. My mom has a skirt suit that she wears with a pink silk shirt and that she loves and she has yet not to be offered promotion from any interview she did in it. My hypothesis: feeling good makes you better in interview so go with what you feel good in OP!
Oh, and the best of luck, it's not easy getting even an interview these days so well done

biddywiddy

Pythia wrote: »

I wore a dress like this to my last interview (I got the job)



It's what I call a 'suit dress'. A bit more young than a proper suit but still formal.

Can I ask if you wore a jacket over the dress, Pythia? I would love to wear something like this to an interview - is it ok to go 'bare-armed', or is it better to wear a smart jacket over the dress?

Lynnsie

senelra wrote: »

Can I ask if you wore a jacket over the dress, Pythia? I would love to wear something like this to an interview - is it ok to go 'bare-armed', or is it better to wear a smart jacket over the dress?

I regularly wear dresses like that to work and while I often go bare-armed around the office, I would always wear a jacket over it to meetings and would take the same approach to interviews. Even if the dress doesn't come with a jacket, a plain black jacket works with most of them.

Good luck in your interview Panda!

mood

Miss Lala wrote: »

I regularly wear dresses like that to work and while I often go bare-armed around the office, I would always wear a jacket over it to meetings and would take the same approach to interviews. Even if the dress doesn't come with a jacket, a plain black jacket works with most of them.

Good luck in your interview Panda!

Jacket would be great unless it is a hot summers day.

metrovelvet

mood wrote: »

Jacket would be great unless it is a hot summers day.

It is NEVER hot enough in Ireland to justify not wearing a jacket to an interview.

Pythia

senelra wrote: »

Can I ask if you wore a jacket over the dress, Pythia? I would love to wear something like this to an interview - is it ok to go 'bare-armed', or is it better to wear a smart jacket over the dress?

I wore it with no jacket as I did my interview last August so it was very warm. Also, I didnt want to bring a jacket into work as it would arose suspicion since I normally didn't wear them and I did the interview on my lunch break, haha!

Azureus

Love that dress for an interview Pythia!
I always had the bare-arm debate with myself for interviews, but the small cap sleeve covers all bases.

I usually wear trouser/blouse combo to interviews, but I've never felt great in interview clothes (luckily never stopped me from getting the job, phew!)

Would love a classic pencil skirt/crisp shirt/blazer combo, i think it looks smart, professional and versatile, but never splashed out because I work in a front office job with a uniform. Gonna get one soon though I think

Up-n-atom!

I've never worn a skirt or trouser suit (I don't own one!) and I have a pretty good job-to-interview ratio, so I'd go along with the advice that it's best to wear something you feel comfortable in. I tend to wear black trousers and top combos or a dress and black tights. I have a nice blazer as well that I sometimes add to it, or a fitted cardigan. I've never, ever worn heels either, I only ever wear them when going out (in the day time I'd probably fall over or something!) Obviously err on the conservative side but since, as you said, you're not going for a corporate position but something in the community sector I think you can afford to loosen up a bit without sacrificing an edge of professionalism.

Good luck!

sam34

ive only ever worn a trouser suit to interviews, with a top inside, not a shirt and a low heeled shoe.

i wouldnt be comfortable in a skirt or dress, and i would be conscious of make-up rubbing off on a shirt collar and it then looking dirty.

rainbow kirby

I almost never wear shirts to interviews - I find it almost impossible to find smart shirts that fit me properly due to the boobage factor. A simple top with a trouser or skirt suit tends to work for me. I have a really nice skirt suit that I got from M&S about a year and a half ago that I wore for quite a few interviews since then - even if I'm not a big skirt person at all it still looks professional for interviews.

Kaffy

I dont think jackets are necessary esp with a dress like that which is lovely by the way!

my last two interviews i wore a high waisted pencil skirt with a purple pinstrip shirt and heels (even tho im quite tall) - i wouldnt feel smart enough without heels!
I got both interviews

i didnt wear a jacket - i had a coat with me which took off before the interview!
maybe a cardigan instead?

good luck with the interview

verywell

rainbow kirby wrote: »

I almost never wear shirts to interviews - I find it almost impossible to find smart shirts that fit me properly due to the boobage factor. A simple top with a trouser or skirt suit tends to work for me. I have a really nice skirt suit that I got from M&S about a year and a half ago that I wore for quite a few interviews since then - even if I'm not a big skirt person at all it still looks professional for interviews.

I am the very same. I got a lovely trouser suit in Next and I put a simple white round neck top underneath which worked perfectly. And I had a simple necklace showing.

I found that a shirt made it too much and I ended up fussing trying to get it to sit right under the jacket and have the collar the way I wanted.

Definitely the more comfortable you are the better.

I got the job

panda100

Kaffy wrote: »

I dont think jackets are necessary esp with a dress like that which is lovely by the way!

my last two interviews i wore a high waisted pencil skirt with a purple pinstrip shirt and heels (even tho im quite tall) - i wouldnt feel smart enough without heels!
I got both interviews

i didnt wear a jacket - i had a coat with me which took off before the interview!
maybe a cardigan instead?

good luck with the interview

I think this is what Im going to go for, as I have a nice M+S pencil skirt in my wardrobe. Just wondering did you tuck your shirt into your skirt Kaffy, or let it hang out over the skirt?

michelledoh

Can't go wrong with a black pencil skirt and heels and a shirt.
Hair tied up is also a must, and no showy jewelry.

Kaffy

panda100 wrote: »

I think this is what Im going to go for, as I have a nice M+S pencil skirt in my wardrobe. Just wondering did you tuck your shirt into your skirt Kaffy, or let it hang out over the skirt?

I would say tuck it in def - more streamlined shape and smarter and tidier than it loose out - but then thats what suited me - actually go for what you feel comfortable in!
my skirt is high waisted so it looks better tucked in but if yours is normal then what ever is most comfortable!

oh and i always wear my hair down and straight for interviews (im naturally curly

let us know how you get on panda ? best of luck

G86

I'd wear what I wear to work, a smart top and skirt or a dress. I don't think there's a necessity for a jacket, and tbh suits can sometimes be overkill dependent on the job you're going for.

mood

I've a 2nd interview coming up soon.
I wore a black suit and white shirt to the 1st interview.
Is a gray pants and black shirt ok to wear to the second interview?
I don't have time to go shopping!

Blush_01

I know someone who works in recruitment, and regardless of what job you're going for, always go with the suit. Better to overdress for an interview than not. You want to come across as professionally as you can. Regardless of whether you're interviewing for McDonalds or PWC, you're telling your interviewer that you take the role seriously, and will do your best if hired. Appearance (dress, carriage, diction, preparation) is a massive thing in interviews.

Always go for anything that will give you the professional edge. You don't dress for the job you have, you dress for the job you want.

panda100

mood wrote: »

I've a 2nd interview coming up soon.
I wore a black suit and white shirt to the 1st interview.
Is a gray pants and black shirt ok to wear to the second interview?
I don't have time to go shopping!

Gray pants and a black shirt is a bit like your working in a pub tbh. I would think white or blue shirt would look much more professional, but then I'm no expert.

Interview went okay. Got an 'I'm not over my ex' text from a guy I'd been seeing about an hour before I went in, and here I was thinking it was a good luck text!So that kind of threw me off a bit. But at least I looked great in my chic pencil skirt suit!Thanks for all the advice guys

cantdecide

panda100 wrote: »

...Got an 'I'm not over my ex' text from a guy I'd been seeing about an hour before I went in...

It might have worked as a distraction! I hate interviews. Good luck with the job.

mood

panda100 wrote: »

Gray pants and a black shirt is a bit like your working in a pub tbh. I would think white or blue shirt would look much more professional, but then I'm no expert.

Not if you saw both. They are not the plain boring type you would wear working in a pub at all. And like I said I have no time to shop so don't have other options!

panda100

mood wrote: »

Not if you saw both. They are not the plain boring type you would wear working in a pub at all. And like I said I have no time to shop so don't have other options!

Well then that sounds grand.I saw a women in town yesterday wearing dark pants and a dark shirt and it looked very professional.

So, I got a phone call at 6 yesterday evening to say I got the job!So excited, after years working really tough jobs working mostly nights and weekends, I finally made the breakthrough with an organisation I wanted to work with for years! I swear I studied harder for that interview than for any exam I did in med school! But I reckon it was Ladies Lounge style tips that really swung it for me in my v.professional skirt suit

LenaClaire

panda100 wrote: »

Well then that sounds grand.I saw a women in town yesterday wearing dark pants and a dark shirt and it looked very professional.

So, I got a phone call at 6 yesterday evening to say I got the job!So excited, after years working really tough jobs working mostly nights and weekends, I finally made the breakthrough with an organisation I wanted to work with for years! I swear I studied harder for that interview than for any exam I did in med school! But I reckon it was Ladies Lounge style tips that really swung it for me in my v.professional skirt suit

That is great! Congratulations

mood

That's fantastic panda100. Good luck with it.

johnn

panda100 wrote: »

Hey all,

I have an interview next week for a job I would absolutely love to do in the community sector. I always find dressing for interviews a real pain in the ass, and generally go for a trouser suit. Though due to my tall stature, I often feel a bit dowdy and lanky in them.
However, this job is a bit more of a senior role so I was wondering If I would look more professional wearing a skirt/dress suit?

I'm being interviewed by two women, so hopefully it won't come across like I'm showing a bit of leg to get the job

Would really like to get others opinion on here about what works for them in interviews?

Try and be professional ffs babes :rolleyes:






























*j/k Pic please :P*

Maple

johnn infracted for off-colour posting.

Please read the charter before posting again.

Maple

johnn

Personally I thought it was a complement

Maple

Nope, it was a sleazy comment.

Maple

johnn

Maple wrote: »

Nope, it was a sleazy comment.

Maple

Ok then, sorry about that babes.

Maple

johnn wrote: »

Ok then, sorry about that babes.

Clever.

Have a week off & read the charter before you come back.

Maple.

dfx-

Congratulations on the preparation paying off, panda100:)

Neyite

I just got a lovely suit in next - its the end of the line so was lucky I got it in my size.Ive gotten a few over the years there and they are great value and look great for the price.

I try to get the trousers and the skirt if I can because Im normally a trousers only girl, but nice to have the option of a skirt if you need to ramp it up a notch or two and still have a matching jacket.

Panda - Congrats on the job, hope it works out great for you