Quick help please - charity sector job interview

[violetsanddaisies]

I have a charity sector job interview on Friday and need to decide on an outfit. It's in the social justice sector and I'm worried about looking too corporate if I go for a suit or jacket and plain skirt combo. On the other hand, don't want to come across as too casual. I had a previous interview last month (with another organisation, same sector) and the interviewers were both in casual clothes (one wore a stripy top and cardi and the other a patterned long sleeve top). I've looked on this organisation's website and the staff portraits are all what I would describe as smart casual - men in shirts (two white, others darker solid colours), no tie or jacket. Women are mostly in "nice tops" some with a White Stuff sort of vibe and others solid colours.

Would a patterned dress be ok with a smart black jacket? The pattern is a subtle floral print, nothing controversial. The main colour is one of their brand colours although that's a coincidence. 😀

Or a black skirt, black top and either a brick red cotton blazer (very grown up, from Seasalt...) or a longer line grey blazer (a little more "fashion" in feel, from Asos) on top?

I also have a mid-blue plain dress I could wear with the black jacket instead if I wanted to avoid a pattern, although I prefer the shape of the other dress.

I think I’d wear a dress with no jacket, provided the dress is smart, or the jacket with trousers.

Good luck in the interview!

I vote brick red blazer and black combo. Sounds more like their in house style to me.

I think all your outfits sound fine. I’ve been on plenty of interview panels and I have to admit to just wearing day to day work clothes, I don’t tend to dress up smart for them. But as a candidate I always aim to be smart. So aim for a bit smarter than those on the panel from last time round and you’ll strike the right balance.

I went for my own charity position in navy trousers and a floral shirt with flat but smart shoes . In general the charity sector is much less corporate looking

This is what I'm thinking - especially as interviews are so much about finding someone who fits in with the team and the organisation and shares their values. I realise they won't make their decision based on what I'm wearing but unconsciously it could have an impact.

I think it depends on the job. Practitioner or creatives might dress more low key but if it's a fundraiser role or one that involves a lot of meetings with partners then you might l be expected to look more corporate. Charities aren't laid back, fluffy places - they have to fight and schmooze for every penny.

wear what you feel most confident/ comfortable in.

Provided you are clean and smart and on time you will be fine.

No need to wear a suit if that's not you.
Everyone at my Charity is fairly casual in the office and smart dress but not suits /corporate wear for public facing events (including fundraising).

Good luck!

I’ve interview and hired a lot of people in the charity sector. Some people arrive just ‘smart’ so say trousers and smart top or jumper, others in a full blown suit. Either is fine and doesn’t affect the outcome.

I work at senior level in the charity sector, I'd say go with your favoured dress option. Especially if that's what you'll feel most comfortable in. The only time I ever wore something more formal was Parliamentary meetings, though I think things have got a lot less formal there too these days.

NC for this. I volunteer intensively at a social justice charity. I agree with the advice to dress for the role, and slightly smarter than the team will expectably dress.

For a fundraising role, one of your more fashionable options sounds good. If the role is fairly senior, one of your jackets. (You might end up fashionably dressed with a jacket.). All of your options sound good to me except that the plain dress without a jacket might be a bit too understated.

No one has brought this up yet, but this probably isn’t the occasion for a large diamond engagement ring, if you ordinarily wear one and the wedding ring can be worn alone. I have heard comments to this effect. A nice piece of craft jewellery and/or a scarf fit the vibe, but only if you are happy in them.

The most important thing is to feel confident.

I have worked for several charities in senior manager roles and I have conducted many interviews to recruit staff at all levels.

In general the dress code once you are in the job is more relaxed than for corporate companies but that does not mean you should be casual at the interview stage. Even if the CEO is going around the office in jeans and trainers, it doesn't mean it is acceptable to do it in interviews.

I still remember one candidate, a woman in her 40s, coming in for an interview with a lot of shopping bags, wearing leggings and a ''loud'' floral top when I was looking for someone to give advice to people who wanted to start a small business. Totally inappropriate and she pretty much had no chance to get that job from the moment she walked in as far as I was concerned...

So although you don't want to appear too formal with a boring suit/white shirt, you also should look like you have made an effort and always keep it classy and understated.

The dress and jacket combination sounds good.

Any of your suggestions are fine. Absolutely do not wear a suit. Most people I interview wear trousers and a shirt or a floaty kind of dress or jacket, not a formal dress. Even CEO interviews aren't suits for men, I interviewed our last CEO when he was wearing chino's / shirt and v neck jumper with chelsea boots.

I’m a charity CEO and mainly wear dresses
we are very strict on scoring systems when interviewing and unless you turned up in ripped denim or filthy clothing it would not matter at all
Good luck