help turn a scruffy punk into a civil service managerial candidate!

[PersephoneSnape]

have very VERY important job test/interview coming up in about six weeks - i need serious serious advice regarding clothing/styling. I need to cover up as much as possible due to tattoos from neck to wrist (I love them, but appreciate they are not appropriate for interview which is for fast stream to civil service middle management posistion) will need a hair cut/colour. need to do something with my ears ( they are stretched and have tunnels - i suspect a flesh coloured plug and wearing hair framing face might disuise them) am a size 16/18 and have very very little £ as I'm a single parent with three.

what do people wear for interviews these days? i was hoping for charcoal grey trouser suit with bright pink/black very high necked blouse and some clarks - I don't actually own any 'sensible' shoes.

where i work at the mo, i can get away with being arty/creative/scruffy. don't think that washes for interviews, but all the books i read have neutral tights and black suits/white blouse. I don't wanto be uncomfortable and i still want o be 'me'.

advice much appreciated, I'm starting to obsess a little.

trouser suit sounds fine

a high neck shirt can be v severe - maybe try wearing a scarf inside the neck of a lower or open-collared blouse to get the coverage you need

If you're going to the hairdresser anyway for a cut & colour get them to suggest a hairstyle to minimise ear exposure

what are the shoes like? if they're black just polish them well and no-one will look at them twice

I used to work in the civil service and, whilst I agree you should try to dress well for the interview, you shouldn't obsess. I have worked with senior-ish people who wore: Bob the Builder socks; cricket whites all year round; red t-shirt and black tracksuit bottoms every day....

Your trouser suit outfit sounds very suitable.

Is it the Fast Stream selection board? Or for a particular job?

I only ask because I think the selection board pays alot less attention to appearance as they are not the ones going to work with you. I got through the selection board with very badly died punky hair and a tongue stud (but a very nice Zara suit).

I would go for a black shirt over bright pink. Once I was interviewing candidates for a civil service job and one of the other board members took against a candidate because she "looked too private sector". I think that meant she had on a neon pink shirt and spiky hair.

yes artichokes! thats it exactly - I'm currently a lowly grade C and everyone is used to me, so i do wear short sleeves in tehoffice and have a non public facing role, although i suspect i am sometimes judged on my appearence, no one will actually own up to it. I've got through the first stage of the in-house fast stream and whilst the next stage is a cognitive test, I'm pretty sure I'll be peeked at and my vans and cut-offs wouldn't be appreciated in a formal context! I'm fine with that, but i do want to retain a small level of my 'self' whilst conforming to the expecations.

bet your hair was lovely! i swallowed my tongue stud (yes all of it!) last year.

Mrs B - shoes are yet to be bought - i normally wear slip on trainers, I guess i'll get some clarks/hush puppies in black with a low heel.