Interview clothes

[Lifesingflowers]

Hi Can you help me with interview clothes, I have two kids so bit conscious about my body as I have belly. How to dress smartly, and if people can give me actual suggestion and link to buy that will be helpful. I want to look professional and confident

Well done for being invited for interview! What is the role? Is the interview in person or online?

In person..irs for administrative role in the NHS. I felt very undressed at my last interview, when I saw another candidate all dressed up in a suit. He look so smart, I thought he already worked there

Black trousers, shirt and a blazer. You need to look as if you’ve made an effort but not as if you are going to a wedding. Doesn’t have to be expensive. Good luck

For my last interview I wore black wide leg tailored trousers with a blouse tucked in and loafers. Tidy hair, subtle make up, neat jewellery. Smart black handbag. Something like that would work.

Smart trousers, nice top/blouse (long sleeved, not low cut) loafers would be OK. I work in nhs admin

Can you send me any links? That will.be very useful

I would invest in a jacket you can wear (one of my last jackets I picked up in a supermarket TU and it has lasted a good 5 years of interviews) to go with any smart trousers or skirt.

Yes when heavily fat at size 22 couple of years ago I wore an oversized open collar blouse to interview for a 21k job with a courier who offered me the job there and then as they were similar build (and my cringe when I went to start and could only find jeggings as proper trousers were hard to find in Autumn 2021), funnily enough when trying for a 25k role within a couple of months later for a housing association as that same sized person I actually felt a slob then without a jacket. It was weird.

Now going under a size 18 knowing I can get into a jacket over any appropriate top I’ll always do so.

I’ve worn a jacket to any nhs or doctors surgery interview - to the point day 2 of starting as a gp receptionist someone working there was quite rude that us new starters weren’t following ‘uniform protocols’. No I had no matches in my wardrobe to a grey blouse with blue, white and red squiggles.

The problem I find with jackets is that, unless you buy it as part of a suit (and then I tend to wear the trousers out long before the jacket as I wear it more), it can be hard to find the exact same shade of black/navy and then they don't quite match. If you wear a whole suit frequently this is fine, but fewer and fewer roles require this post Covid and it's quite an expense for one interview.

What's your budget?

I tend to buy basic work trousers from either M&S or Next. Both usually have decent blouses too.

Around 50 pounds

I wouldn't particularly expect anyone to be wearing a matching suit now, it's not so much the done thing. More likely to be a jacket in a different colour/fabric.

For the whole outfit? Or do you already have suitable trousers/top and just need a jacket?

Struggling to find a good example that would be in your budget, but as a reference point the first picture here is what I mean by not needing the jacket to match the trousers:

https://www.marksandspencer.com/relaxed-pinstripe-blazer-with-wool/p/clp60625620#intid=pid_pg2pip48g2r2c2

If you have smart dark trousers and a top, you can just find a jacket in budget that suits you (and that you'll be able to wear again).

Hopefully someone else will come along soon with better links!

I would look and feel like bad of rubbish in trousers, blouse and blazer being middle aged and rather rotund. I find wrap dresses very flattering with a long jacket perhaps and high boots.

If you work in an office, wear what you'd normally wear for work. You don't need to go over the top formal. You need to look clean and smart but don't need to wear a blazer. I work for the NHS. I wore black trousers, loafers and a smart sweater from Sainsbury's for my last interview. I got the job.
Avoid trainers and jeans. Go for midi dresses, smart tops and trousers/skirts, a smart sweater. Look in Next and M&S.

I've never seen a female candidate wearing a full suit or blazer for any interviews we've done in the NHS department I work in.

Hobbs stretch black trousers (the ones with a crease down the front), black ankle boots with a heel, shirt and blazer/ jacket - Zara do great jackets. The Hobbs trousers flatter a larger stomach (the material holds it in).

Hobbs trousers about £70 but a great investment as you can wear them again and again. Hard working

I agree in general, however I feel less smart in a non-matching jacket and trousers than I do in trousers with a tucked in blouse without a jacket, so would be less likely to wear that to an interview.

Yeh that's fair enough and I agree about matching the environment you'll be working in. I was thinking it might be too cold this time of year for just a shirt.

Just seen some very decent wide leg trousers in M and S for under £40. Variety of colours.

For my recent interviews I've worn a white shirt and a suit I got from Uniqlo. Cheap but really decent