Job interview help required!

[Moaningturtle1]

I have a job interview on Friday this week and am completely blank on what to wear!

Its a pastoral position (non teaching) in a boarding school, it seems fairly relaxed as a school and prides itself on being homely.

I haven’t needed interview clothes for 8 years when I was 1 child and 2 dress sizes lighter! My current work clothes are super casual. I’m a size 14 and 5’8” if that helps?!

I only have today and only have standard high street shops. Next, M&S, John Lewis, H&M etc. I can’t order online as there’s no one home all week to take deliveries.

Also I don’t have much money, under £100 for everything including shoes - I do have black ballet pumps already if they are acceptable?

Its all come very out of the blue and I’ve have only a few days notice. I feel so underprepared and out of my depth.

Do you feel you need advice on the job? (It would be well disguised within S&B.)

Are you familiar with boarding in general and the ethos of this school in particular?

Would you be based in a boarding house or in registration / applications / etc? Do you fully understand how they currently operate? Office hours or 24 hours a day?

What would you bring to the role? Past working experience? Sport or extra-curricular talents or enthusiasm? What makes you the best person to work with their senior pupils?

Tu used to have nice work clothes. This is good for an interview. with blazer over the top.

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/PETITE-Navy-Linen-Rich-Shift-Dress/140541466-Navy?searchTerm=:newArrivals&searchProduct=

If it were me and you'd use it again I'd use Next Directory to order a smart blazer to go over it.

I think the dress would be fine with a short blazer over it, nothing too fancy

This is perfect for an interview.

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Black-Blazer-/140249684-Black?searchTerm=blazer:newArrivals:department:Women&searchProduct=

In the past I've bought Oasis black blazer, H&M black blazer and Next Directory navy blazer.

I like that sainsburys blazer. I’d just go that over your dress.

Personally, I would never wear linen to an interview, as I’d look like a crumpled mess.

Thank you for all the links, I’m taking notes of everything. Just walked through M&S and they’ve got lots of neutral coloured linens that I like, but they have that kind of crumpled casual look. Some nice comfy loafers, but only in very shiny patent in my size with a big frill - too much?!

Thank you 😊

My background is in young person (16-24) safeguarding but more first line/emergency situations. This role is in the boarding house from 7am-9pm, either working the 7-2 or 2-9

I have no real knowledge of private or boarding schools but have read the website and prospectus back to front so have a fairly good idea of their ethos and values. But I can only guess at the day to day aspects of the role. I had a zoom interview last week which went well, they were very friendly and relaxed. The lady who interviewed me was wearing a light coloured sleeveless blouse with a light pattern. I took note just incase!

GonnaGetGoingReturns I know I’m a bit over-invested but I honestly don’t think a cheap black blazer would be best for this particular interview. It just wouldn’t give the right impression. By which I mean - it would give the impression that the OP is not at home in the boarding school environment so went out and grabbed something generic and more suitable for office work.

A pastoral role in a boarding school might mean comforting an A’ Level student whose parents are divorcing, or setting up a barbecue evening for the boarding house, or showing around parents swathed head to toe in Chanel, or doing all the make up for the house play, or whatever. She needs to look as if she’ll happily take on whatever is asked of her, and actively add to the joy of the school environment.

Ironed linen in soft colours - better!

So you’ve made a good start on learning about the school. I’d suggest you read the websites and prospectuses of five or six comparable schools and see what they do differently - this should help you to formulate some decent questions.

Trying to think what it would be useful for you to know. There will be differences between a single sex and a co-ed boarding school so make sure you know exactly what the school aspires to provide for its pupils, and how they go about things. How much freedom pupils have, whether they are in and out of the boarding house all day or only at specific times. How are they being prepared for university life? (In terms of domestic responsibility, assertiveness, timekeeping, health, etc?)

What are the parents like? Diverse or all a mirror image of each other? International or within a couple of hours drive?

Obviously your safeguarding background will be of interest - how do you think your approach might develop in relation to a mostly very wealthy student body? What proportion of the pupils receive substantial bursaries? How do pupils interact with the local population? Is there anything they don’t do that you think might be worth asking about?

@TottersBlankly - I see what you mean. The Sainsburys blazer though people have said it looks more expensive going by reviews.

I have a few other more expensive blazers too but I just find a smart jacket/blazer instantly smartens up a blouse/shirt/work dress, for interviews, meetings etc.

It’s the colour I’m objecting to!

We don’t know which school the OP is applying to but most traditional boarding schools are either deep in the countryside or close to market towns that thrive on an association with rural life. People dress rather differently to how they do in cities - and the OP has said the school has a reputation for being ‘relaxed’ in its culture. Older members of staff may wear tweed jackets / skirts or Tattersall check shirts. You wouldn’t wear a black blazer in such an environment any more than you would for a walk through farmland.

Ok after much stress and very nearly tears, I think I’m done. I saw many outfits that I would have loved but needed closer to £200-250.

I got an M&S navy linen shift dress in a charity shop, new with tags for £12.50. An oversized relaxed(?) beige blazer, looks linen-ish for £15 and went for some decent loafers in M&S with what I had left. I have a black soft leather LK bennett tote or black leather John Lewis smart back pack that I can use.

😬😬😬

Sounds perfect OP. You’ve got the outfit sorted. Now you can concentrate on questions to ask/things to emphasize from your past work experience

Result, @Moaningturtle1 !

Good luck with the interview

The dress on its own and with the jacket and a necklace. The jacket looks much better on! Obviously all needs a good iron.

Good job op! The outfit looks spot on. Put some simple earrings in and a silk scarf or necklace. Good luck!

Well done! You were really fast, too.

That will be a great interview outfit once ironed. (I’d suggest ironing on both insides and outsides, and spray starch on the inside if you think they need it.)

BTW, if the school is rural-ish, are you? Do you spend a lot of time being active outside? Could you, at short notice, volunteer to assist on a sailing or skiing trip? At some schools this might be the thing that clinches it for you. Others might be more interested in your past life as a choirmistress or leadership of an electronics club - or maybe that you play golf with all the parents …

Very best of luck in any event!

It’s not rural but many of the students will be, think Salisbury or Bath. I’m not much of a country person though as far as pursuits go! The school has a strong emphasis on performing arts, which is what I studied at college (it’s literally never been a potential asset for me until now!) so I can push that.

In my zoom interview I was told my job would be anything involving tissues. I think they are after a mother hen, which is very much my character.

Great outfit!

I think I know what you mean re area. Good luck!

Just here to wish you luck OP I hope you get it

Thank you 😊

Thank you 😊

I got a job as a team lead 4 years ago and I decided to wear a simple outfit for the interview, I work in an IT company so it also depends on the job (I'm surrounded by male engineers all that and they couldn't care less about what they wear).
I had navy blue jeans, a white shirt and ballet flats, a matching necklace and earrings and just a bit of make-up.

And lots of good luck, of course!