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When I was interviewing for jobs, I'd wear either a pant suit or a nice, work-looking dress (Tahari makes some nice ones for Nordstrom). I liked to do the suit for the first interview, and then the dress for the second interview. I just try to make sure there's no cleavage, not too much bare skin, hair looks business appropriate, and very light on the perfume and makeup. As bland and old as possible, pretty much :)
There may be situations where it isn't mandatory, but I just feel like you cannot make a mistake by choosing a dark colored suit. I wouldn't want my clothes to be the thing that makes or breaks an opportunity. It is just and hour or so in a suit, and once you get hired you can figure out the corporate dress code.
A dark colored suit, nice top (I prefer a cami, I hate button down shirts) pantyhose and clean shoes. Minimal perfume and jewelry.
I say, if you have a suit, wear it. I am a firm believer that wearing a suit makes a bigger and better statement that just about anything else for an interview.
You can probably get away with other clothing choices, but I think it really depends on the field more than anything. If you are applying for jobs in a more traditional field, like business or something in an office setting, I think you are expected to wear some kind of suit. Suit variations (like a blazer and skirt) are probably okay for more modern offices or in less formal fields like teaching or the like. I think creative fields are probably the only ones where you could get away with just about anything that looks dressy and appropriate.
Personlly - I'm with your husband on this one. IMO, the only really appropriate interview attire is a, preferably dark, suit (pants or skirt is fine).
Yes - some interviewers might be fine with some of your other options. But many won't be and is it really worth risking a great job opportunity by not wearing a suit to an interview where the interviewer expects one?
Part of my job is interviewing and let me tell you, I have seen it all!
It really depends on the type of job and the company. You can never go wrong with a suit, but its not always necessary either. My SO works in the arts field and they dress very casual. He wore nice pants and a sweter to his interviews. Yesterday I intervieed a woman who wore black dress pants and a collared shirt, and it was totally appropriate.
However, if its in the finance industry or something like that, then yes...a suit.
Honestly, always wear a suit. You are dressing to impress and nothing says it better than a classic fitted suit. The last job I interviewed for, I was told to dress formally beforehand. In the waiting area, I was the only female wearing a business suit (the others were all skirts with cardigans, etc) and I ended up getting the job. Obviously I had the credentials, but I feel my suit set me apart a as a "serious and professional applicant"
Unless you are interviewing for part-time retail/resturant type job, I would reccomend every bee wheres a suit. Keep in mind, I wear business casual at work daily, but I know those clothes won't "wow" an interviewer.
@AnnieAAA: can we ask what type of job you are interviewing for, or in what industry?
I think you can never go wrong with a dark suit, unless your field is uber casual. I don't think in a business setting that anything has changed, and I would almost always get a better first impression by someone wearing a suit over a nice shirt and pants.
Thanks ladies, you are all right - I have always worn a suit, and had that little voice in my head saying to stick with it. My reason for wanting to change is due to the heat & I sweat really easily, esp wearing a suit 
I work in science, and a nice suit would look out of touch and out of place. I usually wear nice business-appropriate separates.Peoplw wear jeans and fleece pullovers to work in my job.
My husband works in IT. If he were to interview in a suit, he probably wouldn't get the job. It screams "i'm unrelateable and take myself too seriously" to that demographic.
My impression - totally depends on the industry and the culture of the place you're applying. For my field, it is totally fine to wear dressy gray pants with a nice shirt and navy jacket - not a matching suit, but still dressy and businesslike.
Definitely minimize perfume - I personally hate the smell of most perfumes and can't stand it when I can smell them on people from across a desk.
I agree 100% with previous posters. A nice suit will always be preferred over anything else. Please don't overlook the value an interviewer puts on your personal appearance either. All other things being equal (or close to), my boss would always choose the one that wore the suit (and we are a pretty casual company).
You probably know this as well, but a handwritten thank you note is another great way to get a leg up on the competition!
I think it really depends on your field. If you work in a creative or technical field, such a graphic design or IT, you may get strange looks if you did wear a suit.
I am not one to wear the "traditional" suit, because they just look bad on me. I have my "cute" suit that is tweed with some nice detail work on the collar. Otherwise, I wear a dress or dress slacks/shirt combo.
I whole-heartedly agree about the hand written thank you note. Those leave a great impression. I am shocked how little people do this anymore.
@AnnieAAA: Well, at least the good thing about a suit is that it hides the sweat!!
I think a suit is the way to go for the interview process...once you land the job you can wear all sorts of different variations but for the first impression my votes with a classic dark suit.
Since I do some of the HR work at my job, I came across the notes my (female) interviewer (now boss) took about me at MY job interview. All she wrote was that I was cute and young and wore a suit. Needless to say- I might not always be young and cute, but I will always wear a suit on job interviews!
@MissShork: I am interviewing w/in the non-profit industry for a fundraising/ development position.
I will also mention that at my previous non-profit job I wore a suit & my interviewees did not.
But I do think it is better to be safe then sorry, so I'll be rocking my suit :)
Depends on what field you are in. I'm a lawyer so there's no question at all that I wear a suit to interviews. I've talked to people who hire in IT, and they've said a person in a suit would get laughed at. My bf works for a science org and he's casual everyday but even he interviewed in a suit (and he knows a candiate for another position lost it by being too informal). Where it's grey and uncertain - always dress up.
I wear a suit 90% of the time, but sometimes they're not as appropriate as other choices. For example, I interviewed at an art gallery, and I wore a jewel toned dress that fit much better than a classic suit would have. If you're in doubt, though, definitely go with a suit!
@kay01: excatly! It is that gray area. At my past job & all the non-profits that we worked with, day to day work wear was always business casual - so I do think that taking a step up and wearing a suit would be appropriate.
I always wear a nice dress with a glassy blazer. It gets the job done!
I think the most important thing to know is the culture/attitudes of the industry/business you are interviewing with.
There are a few places, like IT/Computer Programing where suits might not be appropriate, but I think for the majority of "white collar" jobs, suits should be worn to interviews. I feel that the day to day clothing of office/workplace does not detacte what should be worn to an interview.
If a job is conservative, I wear a white blouse underneath. If the job is more casual/artsy, I'd probably wear a brighter top and add statement jewelry. I'm not saying you can't get a job without a suit (obviously you can), but I think it helps your crediabilty as a professional. I'd rather be overdressed than under. And honestly, in offices, you rarely hear about someone overdressing for an interview.
@crayfish: Ditto.
In engineering, no one wears a suit to an interview. And when people do, it's perceived as out of place or under-confidence. Additionally, being a woman in a man's field... I would never ever EVER wear a skirt or a dress to an interview.
@AnnieAAA: Certain Dri...your new best friend. Swear. I sweat a lot as well, so I hate getting all dressed up for interviews because I hated having sweat marks on my nice dress shirt. Just put on Certain Dri at night for the few nights before, and you really, truly won't sweat! I still wear a deodorant during the day just for a fresh smell, but I haven't had any issues when I'm remembering to put on Certain Dri before bed.
In my opinion, it depends on your field and the company you are applying at.
I'm a web developer, which is a more "trendy" field largely dominated by peole under-40. And I work at a children's hospital.
I wore a black pencil skirt, a solid purple fitted sweater, and black heels to the interview for my current job.
And wear panty-hose if you wear a skirt!
After reading your potential opportunity, I definitely think a suit is most appropriate. Good luck :)
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My husband and I were talking about this, as I am looking to get back into my desired career field & will be interviewing soon.
He thinks no matter what, I should still wear a suit (skirt or pant, doesn't matter) but I feel this has really changed, and now women will wear a very nice work dress (like a dress w/ a collar,) or a dress w/ a blazer (technically not suit, but similar,) or even a very nice shirt w/ slacks/pencil skirt.
Granted, I wore a suit when I interviewed at my current job - but it is starting to get hot here in Texas, and I am going shopping for interview wear & am unsure if I should stick with the suit, or go a different route.
So what do you ladies think, do you live by the rule that the suit is the only outfit to wear to an interview?