What to wear for a civil services grade 7 interview?

[Autumnnymph]

Calling on to the collective MN wisdom for help, please!

I have an interview for a grade 7 role in just over a week. I have worked in private sector with tech start ups all my life so very much used to people turning up in jeans for interviews. As I am sure that isn't the case in civil services; how should i dress?

Dress with a matching jacket?
Suit?

Conservative or smart casual? I am off shopping on Monday, help!

What kind of G7 role? I’m central government policy and I’d say you don’t have to wear a jacket if you don’t have one, but definitely smart, definitely no jeans. Dress and smart cardigan, trousers and smart shirt. A jacket over a dress would be absolutely fine too. Suit also fine but not required. My work clothes are largely Phase 8 dresses, little bit if Hobbs trousers and tops. Womem are definitely wearing fewer jackets these days (but no one would bat an eyelid if you did).

@Redskyandrainbows67 civil service* didn’t notice the extra s I seem to have added!

@widgeon it’s a project management
Role at Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

I really like the green and the cobolt dresses, but for work not for interview. I would wear a shift dress and jacket, with some discrete jewellery - pearl or diamond studs and conservative make up and nail polish ( if you wear any). Flesh coloured tights and court shoes. Are you being interviewed under the new Success Profiles?

I really don't think you need a jacket unless you feel more comfortable wearing one. 

I would judge anyone not wearing a jacket to interview tbh

You don’t need to wear the jacket for work every day but definitely to interview if you aren’t wearing a suit.

I will play it safe and wear a jacket. :) Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

How about this one with a smart black jacket? I am of Indian descent and can’t ever find nude tights to match my skin tone so will be pairing with black tights and sensible courts.

You won’t go wrong with a jacket, but I certainly wouldn’t notice or care if someone I interviewed wasn’t wearing one! All that unconscious bias training, has obviously done some good.

I’m no style guru, but that dress with black tights and sensible courts would be very much the ‘smarter than usual, are off you to and interview or speak at something big’ look where I work.

@Oatomatom same where I work! To be fair the green dress I linked before would get similar remarks.

www.divacatwalk.com/dresses-c14/carla-pencil-dress-p89
I’m wearing one of these for an interview soon. I also have the Polly dress in black and it’s fab. Goes in washing machine, flattering over tummy lots of colours. I am ordering another in cobalt too.

Just to agree with what everyone else has said - I'm senior civil service and if I was interviewing G7s, I'd definitely expect them to be in a suit or at least a very smart dress.

Good luck with the interview!

@FannyBurney Oh I love these! What’s the sizing like ?i am between a 8-12 depending on the store. I love the colours they have !

Sizing is smallish I think. I chose the biggest size even though I’m a rounded 14 but I wanted it looser than on the model. If you have time, I would order two sizes and send one back. I’m guessing medium? Im 5 foot 8 and mine comes to a very decorous just below the knee length which suits me.

I am 5.2 I wonder if they will be too long on me ? :(

I love the red dress with a black jacket

I think you looked smart and confident enough to wear red in it. Def a winner from me

@RedSkyandrainbows67 I have ordered the red one and will pick it up from Waitrose tomorrow - gives me enough time
To send it back if I don’t like it

Good work and good luck for you r interview. Read the success profiles and characteristics they are hiring for very carefully and have lots of practical examples you can give

"Flesh coloured tights and court shoes."

I would be so cold like that in November. Wouldn't thick black tights and boots be acceptable?