Not to wear a suit to a job interview?

[monoclepolish]

They've always looked awful on me but somehow I have the impression that you're supposed to wear a suit for a job interview, if the role is office based.

I really hate them and how I look in them. Would a smart, "corporate style" dress with no blazer or jacket be acceptable?

YABU: You need to wear a suit to an office based job interview.

YANBU: You can wear an appropriate dress with no jacket.

YANBU - unless the role absolutely calls for it? A smart, corporate type dress with low heels or v smart flats (or highs if you can walk in the damn things!) is perfectly acceptable.

I don’t own a suit so I’ve always worn a dress to a job interview.

Thinking about it, I do well in plain dresses. The two times I wore animal print (I know), I didn’t get the job.

So yes, but no leopards…

I've never worn a suit in my life.

I either wear a nice dress with a jacket/blazer, or nice trousers with a smart top. Never worn heels to an interview either!

Nice dress or smart outfit is fine. I interview lots for office work and can’t think of the last time a woman wore a suit

@ThatOtherPoster

I don’t own a suit so I’ve always worn a dress to a job interview.

Thinking about it, I do well in plain dresses. The two times I wore animal print (I know), I didn’t get the job.

So yes, but no leopards…

Maybe for a job at the zoo...

I would wear a plain dress or one with a conservative pattern. I'm not looking to make a statement with my clothes, I'm happy to let my dazzling personality do that. I just really hate wearing suits, whether they're skirt or trousers.

Suits can look incredibly dowdy if you don't have either a stunning figure or a stunning suit! I'd always choose to wear smart separates.

My 76 year old mum, who has never had a proper office job in her life, would lose her shit if she thought I hadn't worn a suit to an interview. I just wouldn't tell her.

I think it really depends on the industry and role. I work in quite a creative industry, if someone wore a suit to an interview it would be unusual. However, when I did interview, I still wore smarter clothes than I wear day to day (so smart trousers and a nice fitted jumper I think). I used to work in a more traditional industry, and it would have been really strange NOT to wear a suit.

A dress is fine, but I really think a jacket is required with it.

I would usually wear a dress with a non-matching jacket or smart cardigan. Never a suit. I'm not sure I've ever owned one.

I don’t own a suit either. I always dress smart for an interview though, either a dress or smart trousers and shirt.

I work in a City law firm. Very, very few women wear suits to interviews these days. A dress or trousers and a top with a contrasting jacket are much more common.

Business suits for women are old hat these days.

I always thought the rule was that you should dress a wee bit smarter than would be expected for day to day wear in the job role you're going for? So the dress you are planning to wear should be at least as smart as what people in that office wear day to day (and preferably on the smarter side).
If I've totally made that rule up (always possible!) then yep, reckon your dress is fine if it's smart and looks modest when you're sitting down. I've gone to interviews in black trousers and a smart blouse - I reckon a dress is similar smartness to this.

Depends on the type of industry & job

I bought a new suit & shoes for my last interview

I got the job, so I thought that it was money well spent

Forgot to add, that it was a trouser suit

The only time, Ive worn a dress to work was at the Christmas party

It depends on the employer and the job.

Yes, I thought you needed to be a bit smarter for interview than day to day. So I wouldn't expect to wear a suit every day if I got the job, even if I did for the interview.

I'm thinking of dresses in this sort of style (not these exact ones, but this level of smartness, and to the knee). Would that be appropriate?

Smart haircut too

I would say dress one-if longer. As opposed to Dress 2. 2doesnt seem smart enough for an interview IMO

No one can tell you as we have no idea of the culture and expectations of the employer

Surely you'd be better to find those things out so you can make an informed decision. There is no homongeous "office" policy on suits

I think you can't go wrong with flattering wide leg tailored trousers and a great blouse.

Ever watched Dragons Den ?

Some interesting interview garment choices

@B00k0ftheday4

Ever watched Dragons Den ?

Some interesting interview garment choices

No, bit I've seen The Apprentice. I like looking at all the Sex and the City style dresses but I don't know if they're a good idea in real life.

It's a creative role in a serious place, if that helps. I imagine the office day to day is no jeans, no trainers, but anything else (within reason) would be fine.

Smart blouse, black trousers, maybe a cardigan. And smart black shoes.

OP, I find blazer really uncomfortable and spend interviews feeling too hot in them! Got a lovely dress from M&S and I know everyone on mumsnet hates m&s but the material is lovely, it's flattering and comfortable, when I wear it I am not distracted. So I would say go for comfort.

Next have heaps of blazers in petite, tall, slim, standard fits. It really helps to stick a blazer on.