Interview Attire...Skirt suit still the go-to outfit?

[Anonymous]

Have an interview...it's a position for admin-level support. Do I wear a skirt suit? I've never worn one in the past. The most I've done is paired a jacket with a skirt (non-matching). Do I have to step it up? The position is mid 40's, so nothing that rises to the level of applying for an attorney gig. Help would be appreciated. I have a job, but this position is in an environment that offers lots of career growth, so I want this position BAD!!

TIA..and if you could provide pics or links along with your recs, that would be great!

[Anonymous]

I've only ever interviewed in a pants suit and it's worked out for me so I would say that is fine. I've interviewed at all business casual, but fairly conservative in terms of dress, companies.

[Anonymous]

If you want the position BAD and can afford it, I feel like a skirt suit is still the gold standard for interviews. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

time for a suit. top and bottom from the same set. as one who interviews, I don't care if it is pants or a skirt, although most come in a skirt.

Key is, a suit, not an outfit.

That said, a suit won't get you the job, so spend time on presentation etc.

[Anonymous]

depends on how conservative, old school and/or corporate the place is.

[Anonymous]

I'm disheartened when women say that you have to wear a skirt to get a job. I have worn both skirt suits and pant suits to interviews and my attire doesn't seem to have been a problem.

[Anonymous]

13:00 here. I didn't mean that you have to wear a skirt suit to get the job. It's just that some advice I've read has recommended skirt suits over pants suits. If it doesn't matter much to the interviewee, it seems like she's better off playing it a little safer with a skirt suit. I agree that the preference of some interviewers for skirt suits over pants suits is disheartening.

[Anonymous]

Definitely a suit - but as far as pants vs. skirt, it's whatever you feel the most confident and comfortable in. If your outfit make you uncomfortable, you won't project as well.

[Anonymous]

Definitely a suit. Pants or skirt, whichever looks better on you and will make you feel confident. I will say, if you truly have no preference and look equally good in both, that skirts remain more traditional.

[Anonymous]

Hillary Clinton has done extraordinarily well wearing pants suits. Personally, I think pants suits are fine and wearing a skirt suit looks strange.

[Anonymous]

I prefer candidates in pants and I am a woman but as long as it is a suit, you're fine. If you go with a skirt, not too short, heels not too high.

[Anonymous]

Also no French manicure and no corn in your pockets.

[Anonymous]

I don't think a skirt suit is necessary unless you are interviewing at a very conservative, old school thinking company. Working in HR, I would advise that you get to know as much as you can about the company before the interview to know what's appropriate. For example, the suit and accessories you'd wear to interview at a large, corporate law firm might be very different from what you'd wear to a small advertising agency. You can't go wrong in a suit but you might want to accessorize differently in one environment vs. another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hillary Clinton has done extraordinarily well wearing pants suits. Personally, I think pants suits are fine and wearing a skirt suit looks strange.

You poor thing. Your whiplash must be awful from goggling at all the strange-looking women around town.

[Anonymous]

look as sexy as possible.