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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that a suit isn't necessary

52 replies

Bellabooboo · 14/07/2017 18:51

I am due to go for a job interview next week for a mid level HR role at a school in the south west. I haven't had an interview in 6 years.

I am considering wearing perhaps a shirt dress with smart heels or a shirt and patterned skirt rather than a stuffy black suit with a white shirt.

AIBU?

OP posts:
userofthiswebsite · 14/07/2017 22:40

A suit is a good choice. Better overdressed than underdressed...

Wear a pastel blouse underneath if you don't want to wear a white shirt.

NC4now · 14/07/2017 22:49

I think that dress is too casual for an interview too. And 90 quid!?!
You could get a great dress for that price that would be much more appropriate. A wrap dress with sleeves would be better, or even trousers and a blazer.

therealslim · 14/07/2017 22:56

Smart trousers or smart skirt and a blouse/shirt would be much more appropriate.

I don't think a jacket is essential in July but that dress is too casual.

Moose23IsHungry · 14/07/2017 22:59

Not that dress. If you're gobig to spend £90 buy a smart dress like this

m.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/smart-day-dresses/j0040/womens-honor-ponte-dress Blue or black

As for it being too hot for a jacket - do men wear a jacket to an interview if it's hot?

To be fair, I don't think you'd need a jacket with a sensible dress like the ones above.

user1497557435 · 14/07/2017 22:59

I agree. Schools and dress codes are tricky. You don't want to appear too casual or too corporate.

How about doing a drive by at the start of a business day to see what the current staff wear - that would give you an insight into the dress code culture of the place.

NC4now · 14/07/2017 23:00

I think if you're looking for a dress, something like this- might be more suitable.

Moose23IsHungry · 14/07/2017 23:00

Just realised the first dress I posted makes the model look like Mrs Claus when she's wearing the red!!! Grin

PollyFlint · 14/07/2017 23:08

I haven't worn a suit to an interview in about 12 years and in that time I've got all but one of the jobs I've been interviewed for. I work in a normal office environment, not places that are unusually casual. I started a new job in November for which I had two interviews. For the first interview I wore a pencil skirt with a smart cardigan and for the second interview I wore a patterned dress with a belt and a jacket.

That Boden dress with a jacket would be absolutely fine for the type of job you're going for in a school environment. A suit isn't necessary provided you look smart and nicely put together - it's not the 1980s any more.

BackforGood · 14/07/2017 23:18

Far better to be a bit more formal than needed, than not formal enough.
whereas a suit wouldn't be wrong - it would, IMO show you cared enough to make the effort - a dress would work fine, as long as it were thr right sort of dress - and I wouldn't call a shirt dress the 'right sort'.

Allthewaves · 14/07/2017 23:29

i'd go skirt and nice blouse

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 14/07/2017 23:32

I wore dresses to my last two successful interviews. I haven't worn a formal jacket for many years and they never got me the job in the days when I did wear them- they probably didn't help as I felt uncomfortable and artificial in them.

If a school won't award me the job over a jacket, then it's probably not a school that I'd feel myself teaching in anyway.

(How essential getting this particular job is could potentially override preferences on dress code)

Original poster
Bellabooboo · 14/07/2017 23:56

Thank you everyone. I need to buy some shoes though, I hate patent because it always marks really quickly and wanted a mid block heel but cant find anything!!!!

I don't really want to spend £90 on a dress but since having my kids and being totally flipping knackered I have used Boden as a default. I might try M&S as thats generally a bit cheaper.

OP posts:
Groupie123 · 15/07/2017 00:01

Hobbs has a sale right now. They have some amazing stuff in the 39-69 pound range

Intransige · 15/07/2017 07:38

Everything is on sale at the moment. Something like this might work?

StillDrivingMeBonkers · 15/07/2017 07:51

I don't mean to be rude but that dress looks like something a hotel uniform for chamber maids. It's absolutely awful.

If you don't own a suit then wear whet you would wear to a funeral - with a bright scarf and minus the hat of course.

KoalaDownUnder · 15/07/2017 07:57

I think a dress and jacket is fine, BUT it has to be a tailored, office-appropriate dress. Not that Boden one!

inappropriateraspberry · 15/07/2017 08:03

If you want to wear a jacket, how about a blazer style, or a smart Linen jacket? Not so 'suity' but still smart.

araiwa · 15/07/2017 08:53

I would never turn up to a job interview in anything less than a suit. I wore a suit when going for an interview at a place that i knew had no dress code and everyone was in jeans. But they worked there and i didnt- i wanted a job.

It shows you care and have made an effort- that you are serious and professional. Going in something you could have worn casually gives the impression you dont give a fuck and have made no effort and is a terrible first impression to give.

Original poster
Bellabooboo · 15/07/2017 09:37

I think I'm going to have to buy a cheap suit 🙁 I hate suits especially black as I am so so pale!

OP posts:
inappropriateraspberry · 15/07/2017 09:38

Do you have black trousers and a smart top? You really don't need to buy a suit!! Especially if you're not going to wear it again.

Original poster
Bellabooboo · 15/07/2017 09:45

I don't wear black generally as a rule. It was my granny's funeral a few months ago and I had to buy a black dress for that. I could do with a blazer for autumn so I might look for something to pair with that

OP posts:
CappuccinoSprinkles · 15/07/2017 09:46

You really don't need to wear a suit. A dress is fine but I would also go more tailored like the Hobbs & Boden dress linked to by PPs rather than the one you linked to.

If you don't want something so fitted then something like this could work too: www.hobbs.co.uk/product/display?productID=0216-5077-3854L00&productvarid=0216-5077-3854L00-MIDNIGHT-6&refpage=promotions/sale-dresses

n0ne · 15/07/2017 12:20

But I've never worked anywhere where women wear suits, BenLui. So to me it smacks of inexperience. If I interviewed a woman in a full trouser or skirt suit, I'd think she'd never worked in an office before or was a bit too 'serious' to fit into the team dynamic. You can look perfectly smart in the bottom half of a suit and a smart top or shirt, with appropriate shoes, or a tailored dress or pinafore dress over a shirt - there are many options. But add a matching jacket and it becomes stuffy and old-fashioned. Just my opinion!

crocodilesoup · 15/07/2017 14:24

What about the funeral dress, would it be suitable? With some non-funeral type jewellery or a scarf?

BackforGood · 15/07/2017 14:32

nOne - what you wear to do the job and what you wear to get the job are different though. I would always go more formal to an interview that the clothes I would be wearing to do the job.