What to wear for interview-teaching at a college

[Noodge]

The last time I had an in person interview was almost a decade ago!

Usually at home I've just put a nice shirt or top on, but in person? I've no idea what the norm is now. Everything seems a lot more casual than it used to be and I don't want to turn up wearing a suit and be thought of as old-fashioned, but nor do I want to appear more casual and be thought of as not caring about the job/making enough effort.

Years ago I'd have worn a suit-is this still normal? If not, would nice jeans and a nice shirt/suit jacket be okay?

I'm early forties and slim.

Being interviewed by the head of department who turned me down for an interview for the same job a few years ago, although I am not sure he remembers.

Don't wear jeans as that is to casual. I have an interview coming up and will be wearing black trousers, office suitable top and a black cropped jacket. So quite smart but not suit level.

Okay. Wonder if I have anything in-between...

Suit or a nice dress

Maybe a dress with a slightly less formal blazer. Or wide leg trousers skirt with an informal blazer. Saw a nice cropped black blazer in M&S yesterday and loads of skirts and trousers that it could combine with. I

https://www.marksandspencer.com/linen-twill-rich-cropped-short-sleeve-jacket/p/clp60728480?color=BLACK&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_CrossBUStores&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22492993877&gbraid=0AAAAAD7g6bQX_1ZUu3NbsoA6nafF0b3Na&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5ubABhDIARIsAHMighaylgqUNR4oApJ3tMlwLlBW6Qjka2EQ6J8H9PwlRQ5RkraN6_P5W_oaAq-_EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I'd wear a smartish dress and a little jacket

Then you're neither over nor underdressed

Black trousers, not too skinny, blouse or plain t-shirt and jacket.

Nice dress, a blazer/jacket, flat smart slip on shoes.

Or smart trousers or skirt with a nice top- doesn’t need to be a shirt as such.

Thank you all, some really good ideas. I have a tonne of clothes so I'm sure I'll find something. Want to avoid buying new if I can. My suits are all a bit 'funeral formal' perhaps.

What about one of your blouses and trousers, I think that would still be smart enough.

I could do that, suit trousers and just pick a different jacket so I don't look too penguin-y.
🙂

I’m a lecturer and things are much more casual in my place since Covid. Only top dog senior management wear suits, whereas previously lecturers in eg business studies or law would have been quite formal. I teach a creative subject so even pre pandemic would have worn black jeans with a nice top, but now happily wear blue jeans some days.

I had an interview for a job in the QA team last year - split teaching and internal audit - and wore a midi dress from Oliver Bonas, black DM boots, and a black leather jacket. I didn’t get the job (which on reflection was good as it wasn’t the right fit for me) but the HoD interviewing me complimented me on my outfit!

Thank you. This is the kind of look or 'vibe' (!) I'd like to achieve.. I've lectured a long time ago and ideally would love to get back into it but scholarship has moved on so much so I ended up falling into tutoring after having to take a break from employment for personal reasons.
I'll find something smart-casual. 🙂

The current look now is to pair suits and dresses with a different jacket so it's not too matchey. For eg. you could put a grey jacket with black wide leg trousers and a white t shirt so it's smart without looking overly formal.

I’ve interviewed art teachers recently- most come slightly more casual/alternative than the rest of the school but definitely no jeans or trainers (not even with a floral dress). I employed the now head of art and she was wearing a smock dress and DMs but we are not a “everyone in suits” type of academy chain school😆.

Hope it goes well.

Thank you. Going to dig around in my wardrobe this evening

Any views on my shortlist? 🙂

I’m really sorry but none of those are close to suitable.

You could not possibly wear flowery trousers to a serious interview.

Nor a heavy looking tweed / quilted jacket in the middle of summer.

The other tops look odd and old fashioned.

The trousers - are they cords? They might look ok in person so perhaps it’s the photo making them seem just not quite the right shape.

If I were you I would iron, photograph and put all those things on Vinted. Having loads of clothes is no use if they’re unfit for purpose.

Can you afford new clothes?

These are more current trouser shapes and would be appropriate for an interview:

https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E475819-000/00?colorDisplayCode=03&sizeDisplayCode=003

https://shop.mango.com/gb/en/p/women/trousers/smart-trousers/balloon-pants-with-darts17031206

And in boiling weather you could simply wear those with a plain, ironed, (linen or cotton depending on your constitution!) shirt and loafers.

Or a dress, like this perhaps:

Cos linen dress

Anything plain and simple and fresh looking. You may have things like these in your wardrobe - it’s just that the things you’ve shown do look fussy, old fashioned and unseasonal.

(Can’t quite see what might be a long black waistcoat? That might possibly work.)

It's a suit jacket with cut-out sleeves, bought new a few months ago.

I'm in the north. It's warm here but it isn't sweltering.

I don't think my trousers look so much different to those in your link? Other than they're black. The second link won't open for me but I will try again later on.

I was trying to avoid being olde-fashioned and go for the suited look, it is a new one for me, it has been so long.

I don't know why the tops look old fashioned? The white shirt is new this season. The floral one is just a short sleeved shirt, are they a fashioned 'no no' now? Or is it more the turquoise?

Cords, no (🤮), they're just black suit-type trousers from Next.

I won't put them on vinted, I wore the pink shirt to a funeral quite recently (deceased requested pink or purple), my white shirt was bought this season and I don't think it would be wise getting rid of a black suit, they come in handy for a lot of things.

Thank you for the input both!

@Noodge I don't think the floral trousers are right for an interview. Could you wear the black ones with a plain white tee and a different coloured blazer maybe?

I disagree that you need to put them all on Vinted, the outfits are just not quite right for this occasion.

If I was going for an interview tomorrow, based on what’s in my wardrobe, I would wear some yellow-y/tan balloon leg trousers from Cos with a white crew-neck tee from Uniqlo, black chunky brogues from Dune, and I’d need to beg or borrow a black blazer, or possibly wear my wide-sleeved crew-neck black Cos cardi which looks quite jacket-y but might be a bit warm. Black Arket leather bag, gold hoop earrings and necklace, red lipstick. Done.