What do I wear to a job interview?

[bookworm123]

I'm the same regular poster who asked for help on the Work board about filling in an application form.

Application form for the job as a library assistant has now been completed and sent off. My next worry question is what to wear to an interview if I get one. The last time I had a formal interview was in 1999 so I am a tiny bit out of touch!

I own a couple of suits but they are a bit dated and I'm worried that it would look a bit OTT wearing a suit to an interview when I wouldn't be likely to wear a suit in the job. I have also had children since I last regularly wore a suit and probably wouldn't fit into them comfortably.

So my thought was smart trousers and heels with a cardigan and some chunky jewellery. So looking smart but not OTT.

Any opinions/advice?

I wouldn't necessarily worry about wearing a suit to an interview just because you wouldn't wear one in the job - I always dress more smartly for interviews than I would expect to do day-to-day at work - it shows you are taking it seriously, that it's important to you.

However, that said, a suit isn't the only way to look smart - and an elderly, ill-fitting suit wouldn't do you any favours! I often go for a neat dress, something like this with good shoes and jewellery, as I feel more comfortable (I hate it when your shirt comes untucked when wearing a suit) and cooler (often too hot in both shirt and jacket). I also find it easier to acessorise the single piece of a dress, than dealing with jacket/shirt/skirt or trousers.

Your suggestion would be fine too, although would perhaps suggest a very white shirt under the cardigan.

Whatever you wear, make sure everything is clean, well ironed, and fits you properly.

And good luck!

Thank you.

I don't tend to suit dresses as my top half is bigger than my bottom half plus I have a short body and long legs so the waist tends to sit in the wrong place and either the top is too tight or the bottom is too loose!

Do you think something like this would be too casual?

Or I have this which I normally wear with jeans but looks fairly smart with trousers instead?

I see. Certainly sounds as though you'll be better off in separates in that case. The Boden top is really just "a top" - how would you dress it up?

At least the M&S one is vest/cardi/scarf, which makes it a bit more formal, but it would need a really good necklace to tip it into interview territory IMO. And the rest of the outfit would have to be right, of course...

A safer bet would be something with a collar, or a bow round the neckline, both of which say "smart" to me.

I would probably wear a fairly bold necklace with with the tunic if I wore it, but then I'm not sure if chunky jewellery is also an interview faux pas...

Aaargh I might not even get an interview and I am already stressed!

What about this with black trousers?

I think chunky jewellery is fine, it's OK to show a bit of imagination. Yes, that top could work, as long as you don't mind that you can't take the cardi off!

Thanks.

I have ordered both M&S ones to see what they look like. They can always go back if they look rubbish or I don't actually get an interview.