Interview dress

[dettu]

I've been asked to help interview my own potential replacements (I'm leaving the job of my own accord and looking for part-time work). So far I've seen three candidates, and was surprised that two of them were wearing pants (that's "trousers" for you UK/Aussie residents). One had a pantsuit, the other was wearing a jacket, turtleneck sweater and pants. The third had a skirt and jacket. ONE of the pantsuit wearers had a blouse open, as far as I could tell, too far down, and another interviewer described this person as "too much cleavage." My top candidate was the pants/turtleneck wearer.

Our office is casual. We can wear jeans; I usually wear nice pants and a blouse or sweater, sometimes with a jacket. I wear a skirt once a week or less. But if I were interviewing, even within the company, I would wear a dress or a skirt suit.

Are pants acceptable interview dress now, and I'm really behind the times? I'd 100 times rather wear a pant suit myself--it's really cold here in the winter, winter is coming, and I'm about to start interviewing and need to buy a suit. Can I forego the skirt suit? Or were these two interviewees unusual?

dettu

[Jackie G]

I think views have relaxed more about trouser suits.  I can't really remember the last time I wore a skirt, so I'd be comfortable with trousers in an interview situation now.

As long as they're neat and tidy and go with everything else, and the appearance is one of groomed respectability (without the low unbuttoned blouse!) I don't think what an interviewee wears is of too much importance.

Be interesting, though, to know what others think.

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[lauragfoss]

I think pants suits are perfectly acceptable.  I would want to see interviewees wear an actual suit, though, not separates.  In my opinion, I find it rather old-fashioned and discriminatory to require a skirt of women, after all, you are not hiring them for their legs so why should you need to see them?

[office_mom]

I agree that pantsuits are acceptable.  Things have changed in the last 20 years, but I believe as long it is a pantsuit, it's very ok!  --- so go get warm for that interview!     --- And for those who are not in the know, keep the cleavage 'under wraps'!!

Dawn

Edited by office_mom on 24/10/03 08:46 PM.

[gee4]

Trouser suits these days, are  much more practical.  I find wearing skirts ok but sometimes you snag your tights etc and it's a nightmare.  A smart suit can be dressed up or down and I think it's also much more modern for us PAs in the 21st century.

G

[andream]

I have to agree, smart trouser (pants suits) are more comfortable and I really like Gee's comment about the Modern PA.  We're interviewing at Deskdemon next week and we tell people,, hey, We're casual unless we've got a speech or a meeting to attend, but we tell them before the interview.  Not one has shown up casual however, bless 'em, do they think it's a trick?!
hmmmm.....

[Jackie G]

Andrea - probably!  Actually, 'casual' is the hardest thing to translate!

Jackie
www.iqps.org
Peer Moderator

[veracity]

I think that if it is deemed acceptable to wear smart trousers in the office environment it should be OK to wear them to the interview. I feel that interview wear and appearance should reflect how the interviewee comes to work each day - for example, I don't wear make up so wouldn't come to interview wearing it.

[gee4]

Good point.

However I would always go to an interview wearing a suit.  I would never go wearing a jacket and trousers.  Having said that, it really depends on the type of job you are applying for and the type of company offering the job.  I believe a PA should always look smart no matter what.  In my new job I wear a suit Mon-Thur and am a bit more relaxed/casual on a Friday.  None of the other females seem to wear suits but that's up to them.  It varies between the males - some wear shirts/ties, others are t-shirt and jeans.  I think that is based on whether you are in a job that's customer-facing.  A lot of male staff here are technical but I would say 90% of male staff, dress in shirts n ties.

An interesting topic of conversation.

G

Edited by gee4 on 27/10/03 11:34 AM.

[countrigal]

I agree with the pantsuits being acceptable.  I wouldn't choose separates to wear for an interview though, I'd be sure it was a suit.  Most of my suits are skirts and jackets, but I do have one or two that have optional slacks (instead of skirt) with them, and I feel that dressing for the weather and the job makes a better impression.

CountriGal
Peer Moderator

[Katie G]

I don't see anything wrong with a suit that happens to have slacks for an interview.  If you look at the harsh realities of a modern assistant's job, pants are really far more practical.  How many of us have never had to crawl under a desk to reconnect a cable, or prowl the depths of the storage room doing inventory, or have our arms elbow deep in the bowels of a copier or printer?  

I would, however, expect them to be classically tailored trousers.  Not the navel-baring, snug-through-the-hips, flared things out there.  (My pants are all at least three years old because I'm not buying another pair until they put the waistband back where it belongs!)

[gee4]

Enjoyed your comments didface - made me laugh!  How true.  

G

[beaintheuk]

Dettu

I'll go along with the others on this one too.  A trousers suit is usually what I wear for interviews, unless it's summer and I would wear a skirt.

I used to wear suits all the time at work but the company is quite casual and I started dressing down, albeit remaining 'chic'.  By that I mean I don't wear jackets any more but trendy, dressed-up tops instead.  Hope it makes sense.

Bea

[radaro]

Didface - I am TOTALLY with you on the style of pants these days.  We used to call them "hip huggers" back in the late 60s/early 70s when I was a kid.  They are designed for 15 year old girls who have never borne children and have concave stomachs!

I actually tried on a pair at Eddie Bauer.  They were pretty conservative - just below the waistband - but still they looked and felt awful.  I tried on a turtle neck with them and I looked like a rectangle!

I'm mainly wearing skirts these days but you can still find pants with a waist band at the waist in some stores (like EB khakis)  Thank goodness!!

But to get back on topic, yes, I think a pantsuit is appropriate for an interview but too much skin is not!

[joysmile60]

I agree with everyone else who believes that a pantsuit is acceptable for interviews.  Times have definitely changed, and it IS difficult to change the dry ink in the copier and dig around in the supply closet in a skirt!  Pants are more comfortable, anyway, and you don't have to worry about snags & runs in your hose.

Didface - I think I remember you being from the Philadelphia, PA area.....try Dress Barn for classic clothes....they have slacks with the waist just where it should be, they wash easily, and if hung up right out of the dryer, never need ironing.  They also come in average, tall, & petite.  

joysmile60