The Professional vs. The Intern
On-Campus Interviewing at Virginia Tech begins next week so I thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about appropriate interview attire for women. It is acceptable for women to wear either a skirt suit or a pants suit for an interview, but the skirt suit is the most formal and may be the expectation in more conservative industries or formal business settings. Personally, I prefer the skirt suit and would rather err on the side of being too formal but it is definitely a personal choice. Since the black skirt suit is a classic, I picked one for Christina and I to both style for an interview. Here's how we each styled the same suit...
You can see that we were each able to express our own style using the same suit. Interview attire doesn't have to be boring or stuffy, but it should be "polished and professional". That includes paying attention to the details; such as classic accessories (accessories and jewelry are a great opportunity to express your personal style), a small purse or a business bag, polished shoes, and subtle make-up and hair. Your skirt length should land right above your knee (no shorter) and if you wear a blouse with buttons make sure they don't pull or gap at the chest. I recommend that you consider purchasing the classic 3-piece set: skirt, pants and jacket. This provides you with options for interviewing and can be the foundation for your business wardrobe. You can mix and match your pieces with cardigans and sweaters, other slacks and skirts, and blazers. These will be the "go to" pieces for your work wardrobe.
Also, be prepared to have your suit tailored. It is highly unlikely at your suit will have the perfect fit right off the rack, so don't forget to factor in tailoring for time and cost. I have watched far too many women walk into Career Services for interviews with the hem of their pants dragging the ground, even with heels on. This missed detail makes a person look sloppy and unprepared. This might cause an employer to wonder if you are sloppy and unprepared with your work as well.
Also, be prepared to have your suit tailored. It is highly unlikely at your suit will have the perfect fit right off the rack, so don't forget to factor in tailoring for time and cost. I have watched far too many women walk into Career Services for interviews with the hem of their pants dragging the ground, even with heels on. This missed detail makes a person look sloppy and unprepared. This might cause an employer to wonder if you are sloppy and unprepared with your work as well.
My favorite place to buy a suit is The Limited, but I also love The Loft. These are both quality and budget-friendly places to shop. J Crew and Banana Republic also have great suits but, unfortunately, those stores don't have locations near me and I like to try a suit on before I purchase.
Here is an example of a grey suit from The Limited, it comes in black also but I thought I would show you an alternative to black.
How would you style your interview suit? Do you prefer pants or a skirt?
