Teachers! What to wear for interview...

[ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged]

I have a job interview next week. Do I really need to wear a suit? I always think female teachers in suits look a bit 'try hard'. Will a smart dress or skirt & top suffice?

No-one ever failed to get a job in a school by being slightly formal.

Just saying.

well it worked for me
got job! yay! (stuffs suit back in poly cover for next few years)

Fantastic! Well done :)

Whoop! Well done Wild

Dress

Jacket

I interviewed candidates recently (all male) and was amazed to see one with a jumper on, another with a shirt and tie but no jacket, and only one in a suit. He got the job, not because of the suit but it was a reflection of his general professionalism. It doesn't mean he wears it to teach in, interviews are different. Unfortunately harder for women, with more options - if I didn't know inside info on the HT's preferences, I would always stick to a skirt suit for teaching interviews.

When I got my secondary job I wore a long smart dress I originally bought for a wedding.

Or no, maybe a trouser suit and a shirt, yes I think it was that. Most people IME don't wear a suit tho.

The girl who got the first job I went for was wearing a fairly skimpy silk summer dress that was very short and rather tight! She was very good tho :)

My mentor told me to wear something memorable - she wore a green jacket and everyone remembered her (tho they would have done anyway as she is FAB)

Well done wild

Hmm. Well I have a teaching job interview tomorrow and am wearing a smart dress and navy jacket. (Also blue nail polish, bit of a risk but there we go.) Will let you know if it worked.

Good luck Themumsnot

Good luck themunsnot

Gah. Just back. Didn't get it. Must have been the nail polish.

sorry themumsnot it's crap isn't it? At least you found out on the day, I had an interview last Wednesday and have been told that we will find out "some time this week."

The whole process from closing date to now has been around two months.

Whereabouts are you applying if you don't mind me asking?

South-west, Twylbach. Not many jobs around - and I have three kids so am not mobile.

It's scary how few jobs there are at the moment

thanks all
keep on, mumsnot, it's hard isn't it? I am similarly immobile and it is tricky - best of luck

I wore a black pin stripe trouser suit with a green top (not shirt) and got a job. I was told at school to wear a suit to any interview regardless of what the job is.

Just a quick update... I GOT THE JOB!! Whoop!!

So, smart dress and jacket are winners