We haven’t answered this kind of question in a while, so we thought we’d answer reader K’s question…
My dream job has requested an “informal” interview for this week. The purpose is for the potential new boss to become familiar with my communication style; a formal interview would follow if I am successful. He is looking to meet at a coffee shop anytime during the day, evening, or even on the weekend.
How do I dress for an interview that is labeling itself as low-key? I’m not a JD or MBA, but I do have an advanced degree in a profession known for being a bit more casual. I feel like a cardigan should be included, but beyond that, I am clueless. Thank you!
First off: congrats on getting the informal interview, and good luck on the interview whenever it takes place.
Second: Avoid the weekend interview at all costs. Talk about a confusing dress code! On a weekday interview, if you’re overdressed, then maybe it’s because of your current job’s requirements. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the evening or during the day, but the important thing is that you are coming or going to your job.
For my $.02, I would avoid a cardigan for a job interview. It doesn’t convey authority, competence, or intelligence — or really any of the general things you want a prospective employer to think about you. It might convey that you’re demure — it will definitely convey that you’re chilly. (I have no problem, obviously, with wearing a cardigan to work — I am wearing one as I type this.) I think that for an interview — particularly a first one — you want to make the best impression possible, and that, to me, means a blazer at the very least.
That said, were it my dream job, I would bust out a full suit. (Pictured, Elie Tahari Exclusive for Nordstrom ‘Ava’ Jacket, available at Nordstrom for $298. Also, be sure to check out our guide to interview suits here.) I’d probably stick with a pants suit for the “informal” interview — perhaps even in a “friendlier” color like a gray or a brown — and amp up to a skirt suit in a more severe black or navy for the “real” interview, but that’s me. If it’s a job that really, really does not entail any sort of professional wear then I might go with a sheath dress and blazer, or perhaps a pair of non-matching trousers, paired with the blazer. (Incidentally, I’m hard-pressed to think of a career that doesn’t require a suit occasionally — even a kindergarten teacher, who may be working on/near the ground with kids, would wear a suit from time to time. I often think of doctors as being fairly casually dressed in real life, but I would still think a suit would be appropriate for an interview.)
Readers, what are your thoughts for reader K’s informal interview attire? Can anyone think of a career where a suit wouldn’t be appropriate?
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I have an advanced degree in a technical field, and the kinds of jobs that I’ve done involve some working with my hands in lab settings. For interviews, I’ve always tried to convey the impression that I could start doing the job right then, if necessary, which means that I avoid skirts or shoes that expose my feet while still looking neat, put-together and a tiny bit stylish.
I do a lot of human resources law and am also puzzled with this concept of a coffee shop inerview. It just does not seem to make sense. I was once interviewed in a sort of fancy restaurant. I thought that was strange. I had trouble eating and aswering questions at once – three interviewers. Not a good plan. Interviewer needs to take notes. How to do that in a coffee shop?
I like Candace’s concept of dressing to set an example for kids; and V on the subject of how lawyers dress and why.
It’s not a formal interview, but an informational interview. The interviewee gets to ask questions about the company and vice versa. Usually when I do them there’s not even an opening, the interviewee’s just hoping to get on the short list for when there is one. It’s a great way for an interviewee who doesn’t already have an “in” with my company to get one. It also enables me to have a pool of preferred candidates ready when I do need to hire someone, and the fact that the interviewee usually got the interview because s/he has some connection to someone at my company means I already have a reference and have been assured of his/her quality.
The interviewer takes notes the same way as always — on a pad of paper with a pen or pencil, presumably.
Given that Starbucks and similar places seem to be the daily office for many people, it’s not at all unusual to see several people huddled over a pad as someone draws or explains something, or someone talking and someone else taking notes. It could be an interviewer and a high school student applying to college, or several professional colleagues discussing a given matter, or the informal interview that we’re talking about. Is this not the case at these types of places in your area?
This is a meet and greet. NO SUIT! You’ll look way too eager. Depending on your climate, I would do some version of casual Friday. Here are a few options (1) black dress pants with a colored (deep pink?) modal shirt and a white/black stripped linen blazer and Kitten heels; (2) light grey suit and a fabulous top underneath -depending on how casual the interviewer is, you can slip off your jacket and profess to either coming from your current job or from another interview; or (3) pencil skirt and a printed shirt with a solid colored blazer that doesn’t match the skirt (i.e., navy skirt/tan jacket). Good luck.
I like these suggestions.
I agree that, if its in a coffee house, a full matching suit is probably too much. I’d go with the blazer/pants combo or some of the other suggestions from Cathy. Great ideas!
I think the cardigan can be perfectly acceptable as long as she’s got a neat dress, skirt or pair of trousers underneath. Definitely no sandals. A belted cardigan is probably even better. I do agree that she should avoid the weekend interview at all costs. The prospective boss can’t be happy about the idea of taking time out of his or her weekend for work.
I’m 36 and I have never owned or worn a suit in my life. Admittedly, I have worked with people who do wear suits, so it’s not that the suit is inappropriate, just that it is not required. I’ve worked in the catering industry, as a school teacher, in churches, in academic administration and as a lecturer. I’ve always been able to dress smartly and appropriately without resorting to a suit.
Thanks Mel!
on the topic of work wear how about a little maniacal mad men for inspiration….
http://www.what2wearwhere.com/blog/post/2010/08/17/What-to-Wear-to-Work-Mad-Men-Are-You-a-Joan-or-a-Peggy.aspx
These days its not about suit v. nonsuit, its about, do I look like an attorney? or someone who works in the clerks office? A hard to articulate line, but, I ask myself every morning if I would be confused with one of the clerks – whether its my hair, or my outfit, or my shoes or everything.
I love this blog, but dont ever take it too seriously. Somedays, I get away with dressing more casually because Im just “feeling” confident. Some days, I need to wear the suit in order to feel and convey authority. I mean, “it all depends” about sums it up… An interviewer is probably looking less at whether your heels are 1-2 inches or 3, and more at how does this person carry themself?
Anon at 10:26, am I correct in assuming that you’re in a B-school? My finance prof often wore very matchy dressy outfits that would be completely out of place at the social science conferences I’ve been to. Humanities types seem to be dressier than us, but not in the “professional” kind of way of business school folk. Am I correct?
Sharon and K, that’s the point–if it’s a calling, you’re not supposed to waste your time on empty headed stuff. There is no separation of on- vs. off-clock hrs, at least not for the academics I know (but I suppose people at teaching colleges with very little research commitment might see it differently)
Dress like you would for a client meeting or a witness deposition. That is, wear one of the “fashionable suits” featured in this blog’s regular “suit” column. It doesn’t have to be black or navy or super-conservative, but it should look like you are trying to project a professional and authoritative demeanor on behalf of your company or firm, and nothing does that as well as a blazer/suit jacket.
Love the comments. Lots to read. I work in science and I have only used a suit for my PhD defense. We basically are never required to wear suits but as I learned from my very successful and gorgeous female friend: Hot girls need to dress professionally to be taken seriously. So a suit is never too much. Even in science.
I would go for nice trousers in a neutral color and a crisp white shirt. Dressed without being overdressed.
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