to resent the bear trap of choosing what to wear for an interview?

[Morphene]

My first interview in 9 years...I have no clue what to wear and I really resent that I have to give this head space when I feel it would be so much more straight forward for a bloke....

So AIBU? or alternatively what the hell do people wear to interviews in universities these days?

I've worked for a university in a management role and I can understand a little why the OP is struggling as the range of clothing choices was very wide, from suits to jeans and everything in between (and totally outside too!). For my interview I wore an outfit that I've often worn to give presentations, smart black trousers, a long sleeved plain t-shirt and a soft long blazer. The blazer is my go to 'formality converter'. It would have been a bit difficult to judge what to wear there, the top roles were held by people who dressed as a mad scientist look alike, a smart businessman, a jock and an artist (complete with bright red hair).

I interview people occasionally and off the cuff cannot remember an occasion in last few years when I remember what a candidate wore
I suppose it would stand out a little if they were dressed very unusually eg fancy dress, wetsuit etc, very scruffy or wearing a ball gown
I am only interested in do they meet the criteria, answer questions well, give examples etc
We are very strict on scoring, aptitude tests etc and appearances can be deceptive
If you are successful - wardrobe etiquette is covered as part of induction

yep - definitely not trying to be subversive!

Thanks for the well turned out explanation - that is surprisingly handy to know. I will even try to remember to cut the ribbons off any new top I get. God, I should probably by a new bra so I'm not wearing something with actual holes in....I can't see how anyone would notice but hey!

I don't 'do' make up as such, so again if I slap any on it will make me not look like me, make me uncomfortable and also it will probably look like a child did it on account of me having no experience with it. So that's out.

I had a chat with someone in one of these roles who basically said, ahh yes, its probably not a good idea to go 'full suit' as he put it, on the basis that this would come off as slightly odd.

So I am definitely off to look at longer jackets and a new top.

Any idea where I should go to find said items?

I usually get all my clothes from Sainsburys because I hate clothes shopping. I'm average height, over weight (as in BMI between 25 and 30) around 40 yo. Money is not an issue at all. Getting thoroughly pissed off with having to shop after about 5 mins will be the far larger concern.

Thanks nooka and geek, I don't think its entirely my lack of interest in clothes that is causing this issue...I do think its hard to pitch academic things correctly.

Thanks for all the linky suggestions too...I cannot begin to wrap my head around many of them, but I am trying.

I have a lovely top I adore, but it just a T-shirty tunic thing, the necklines nothing fancy, but maybe a necklace could help? I'm still wondering if I can just find a smart jacket to go over, or even something thats not quite as structured as a jacket but more structured than the cardy I typically wear with it. Then I could switch out jeans for black trousers, buy a new bra, polish my boots and I think I might be there. Oh I don't know!

screaming the point if I have one...which I possibly don't, is that men can indeed default to suit, but somehow it isn't often sending the right message if women do. In most situations I wouldn't consider it. I'd say none of the women I have seen applying for roles as academics for instance have worn a suit. This is slightly different because its faculty level, and I don't know if that takes it all the way to suit for women or not.

Humanities or sciences?
I'm lucky in that I can buy a new smarter tunic and scarf, wear shiny heels instead of flats, and make sure my hair is under some semblance of control, and I'm good to go. Since moving to humanities life is way easier and all my jackets, suits and shirts have been retired (as has my hairbrush).
Don't be fooled by the bloke thing. Dh had a third (!) interview for a senior role this morning and left the house looking a colour blind retired colonel. The worst thing is, it was partly my fault. I had made an assumption about the jacket he was going to wear, and so expressed slight misgivings about the trousers he was ironing. He did explain that it was because he was trying to wear something different from the other two times, but I was erring towards 'well turned out' lol. Anyhoo - he picked up his jacket and tie as he left the house and I had to do that internal 'omg do I shout stop and throw myself in front of the car, or do I grit my teeth and wish him luck' thing... If he gets the job it won't be because of his sartorial skills.
Good luck! There is well documented research that women in academia are held to higher aesthetic standards than men (I am particularly fond of student's course evaluation comments about dress sense) so it IS a thing - but it is easily navigable. And once you have your shiny new role, you can thumb your nose at the hypocrisy and wear your converse again.

Current occupants of similar roles wear a range of stuff up to 'suit'

I think you are wrong that dressing smartly at any time will bring negative attention.

I always dress for the role above. Every day. I have done my whole career. No one has ever criticised my work wear.

People make assumptions about you based on how you present yourself.

Present yourself as the level above and people start to think of you that way. It makes it easier for them to promote you.

I have a capsule wardrobe for work. Three jackets, two skirts, four dresses, one pair of trousers and four tops. Everything goes with everything else and I switch them around. Everything is very smart but classic and subtle.

I give my clothes very little thought I just grab and go. I rarely go shopping, only if something needs replaced.

Polished shoes every day. Neatly styled hair. Properly laundered clothes (in contrast to much of MN I do own an iron.)

Build yourself a personal
uniform and then forget about it and focus on kicking ass professionally.

Sorry, but I think that you're setting the bar a little low for your appearance.
Yes, men can default to a suit, but it didn't just appear in his wardrobe. At some point he went to some shops, tried a few on. Perhaps had alterations done and bought a shirt, tie and shoes to go with it. Handing over £300+ in the process. It goes to the dry cleaners as he can't bung it in the wash. He put the effort in. How about and cotton rich tunic and slim fit cotton rich trousers with a pair of brogues or loafers? Less effort and expense than the man in the suit..

Other cotton rich tunics at M&S. The weather is improving, so you could plan for warm weather.

If you want the job wear something red.

If i was applying for a lifeguard job, i would go in a suit, not shorts and tshirt.

Always wear a suit- youd never get marked down for it but other outfits may

I’d probably wear a dress. It’s smart without being uncomfortable like a suit.

Quiz do jackets which are made from that kind of stretchy synthetic material, they're not long but are incredibly easy to wear, don't feel too formal but a step up from.a cardigan cdn.quizclothing.co.uk/version67/images/20171011093746/ap/445138/navy-3-4-sleeved-cropped-jacket-00100013674.jpg

@Mistoffelees nice, I’ve been looking for something exactly like that!

Appearances are ridiculously important in interviews, even when people know you. Yes I feel angry about this too. However when a job is on the line I include appearance in my preparation (but not at the expense of other preparation). Smarten up in advance of the interview so you don’t obviously walk in in all new clothes, new haircut, make up if you wear it.

Smarten up in advance of the interview so you don’t obviously walk in in all new clothes, new haircut, make up if you wear it

Great advice!

I have never seen any of the women in this department wearing a suit. Literally never seen it. So women wearing a suit would mean a level of smart or possibly even 'ambitious' that would draw negative attention.

This does actually happen to men too. I’ve seen people go for jobs with tech companies or hipster start ups where the suit has really counted against them because it sent the message of old, staid, conservative fuddy duddy.

It’s also not as just a suit. There are fashions in suit wearing for men too. You can usually tell by looking who is wearing a suit on his way to a job in the City and who is wearing it because they’re going to court to get an ASBO and their Mum threatened to smash their Xbox if they didn’t.

f i was applying for a lifeguard job, i would go in a suit, not shorts and tshirt.

You’d look like a dick and it would be inappropriate. Plus it would make them think you weren’t really interested in swimming because if you were you’d know pools are hot steamy atmospheres that you will immediately look crumpled in with a suit.

Often people who never wear suits look inappropriate because they are so uncomfortable. Like blokes who wear suits on Jeremy Kyle.

OP, going to be roasting this week. Wear a knee length plain dress and bring a cardie incase they have air con.

That’s true, mighty.

There is a huge difference between a men’s suit from Asda and one from Paul Smith.

brown that's a really good idea. I have a week of examining to do and I could reasonably smarten up for that and try out some different things and try and get used to them.

Not going to increase make up usage though - that just wrecks my skin and makes me feel horrible.

copper okay, but there are several people on here who have seen this in action (including myself) in academia....so maybe I'm not in fact wrong about that.

There are men in my department who always wear a suit, or suit related attire. There are men who have positions of higher power who have no such clothing and wear jeans and T-shirt all the time. There are men who have never been known to wear anything but shorts and sandals.

I think that firstly, there is no way a woman would get promoted to the same senior roles if they were never out of jeans, and also that there are no women wearing a suit everyday because of the negative associations of women in business dress that exist in the department.

I think the social dress code is both more restrictive for us, and more subtle.

Had a bit of a lol at the idea that some sort of dress etiquette would be explained to successful candidates...its just about plausible that happens in the professional support function of a university...I can't imagine what somebody would have to wear as an academic to draw official comment...I guess swim wear might do it...

I hate it. I work in a job where I wear jeans, tshirt and trainers. My own preference is for jeans, tshirt and trainers unless I'm going "out out". So when I have an interview (about every 5-6 years so far) I feel completely useless wondering what to wear!

"I think that firstly, there is no way a woman would get promoted to the same senior roles if they were never out of jeans, and also that there are no women wearing a suit everyday because of the negative associations of women in business dress that exist in the department."

I think it depends on the job. We can wear mart casual clothes to work. so we can wear smart jeans and shoes/boots - not ripped jeans and trainers/canvas shoes. There is a girl in our office who always wears scruffy jeans and scruffy shoes. She looks like she doesn't care or want to progress, and she always gets overlooked for management roles.

She is perfectly capable, but unfortunately you not only have to care, you have to look like you care.

No female I see nowadays wears a suit to work. If they are smartly dressed it is always a dress or a skirt and blouse/smart top.

I think the advice you have been given here is excellent and it is a good idea to dress like you look like you want the job.

I am no fashion icon, but do want to look nice. I'll be honest and admit that I don't understand why anyone - male or female, is so disinterested in what they wear.

There are some great "good grooming" threads on here as well, and basically the consensus is usually a good haircut, clean hair, clean and tidy nails (they don't need to have polish on, but just look manicured), tidy eyebrows and clean and tidy clothes.

And good luck with the interview