What to Wear - Interview at SEC

[Anonymous]

Hello All - I am wondering, from those of you who either work at the SEC or who have interviewed with them in the past, what the typical female would wear to an interview with the SEC. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Is this for a lawyer job or something administrative assistantish?

[Anonymous]

Is the answer to this question ever not a suit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the answer to this question ever not a suit?

+1

And FWIW, I strongly believe there are jobs that one can interview for wearing a dress and jacket or other "creative business attire" ensemble. The SEC is not one of these jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the answer to this question ever not a suit?

+1

And FWIW, I strongly believe there are jobs that one can interview for wearing a dress and jacket or other "creative business attire" ensemble. The SEC is not one of these jobs.

+2.

[Anonymous]

It is a professional position, not an admin, but no, not a lawyer. I don't want to be too specific. It is a GS14 equivalent, fwiw.

Regarding suits - more conservative (black, grey, navy) or can I wear something a bit more stylish? Pants vs. skirts? Sheath dress with a contrasting blazer? I am just wondering what the norm is there.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, OP at 17:52. And thanks - I have consulted at many Fed agencies and very few require a suit at the interview (in fact, at many, you will feel overdressed). It's just that the SEC strikes me as more formal, which is the reason for the question. Suit it is. Black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the answer to this question ever not a suit?

+1

And FWIW, I strongly believe there are jobs that one can interview for wearing a dress and jacket or other "creative business attire" ensemble. The SEC is not one of these jobs.

yep - to be honest, i'm so used to suit that for those creative business type interviews, my version of 'casual' is light grey suit instead of navy blue or charcoal suit, no tie instead of tie, and deep color button down/pattern button down shirt instead of white/light blue shirt.

without a suit, i don't feel 'put together' for an interview and on my 'a-game'...not that it really matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is the answer to this question ever not a suit?

+1

And FWIW, I strongly believe there are jobs that one can interview for wearing a dress and jacket or other "creative business attire" ensemble. The SEC is not one of these jobs.

yep - to be honest, i'm so used to suit that for those creative business type interviews, my version of 'casual' is light grey suit instead of navy blue or charcoal suit, no tie instead of tie, and deep color button down/pattern button down shirt instead of white/light blue shirt.

without a suit, i don't feel 'put together' for an interview and on my 'a-game'...not that it really matters.

OP here - I feel like the female version of your grey suit with no tie is, in fact, a nice, professional dress (think a black sheath) with a nice blazer in another color. I can understand always wearing a suit as a man, but the difference between my dress scenario and a standard black suit is what I was asking about. You would agree with the black suit, then, specifically for SEC?

And any thoughts on skirts vs pants?

[Anonymous]

Skirt or pants. Black, navy, or dark grey suit. Clean. Impeccably tailored.

What do you have to gain by NOT wearing a suit? If it's a gs-14 non- lawyer position, it's probably either management or a specialized technical expert. I would expect a suit.

[Anonymous]

I would bring a dominatrix whip and then crack it on the table saying that's what you use to spank traders, TBTF bank execs, and hedge fund managers that have been naughty boys.

[Anonymous]

You know that guy on infomercials that wears the question mark suit and 'teaches' people how to get grants? You should wear something like that to fit in with the rest of the Wall Street / big law / dog catcher failures at the SEC that don't have a clue.

[Anonymous]

Just wear a suit. Even if suits are not often worn once you get the job, it's never wrong to wear a suit on a government job interview.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wear a suit. Even if suits are not often worn once you get the job, it's never wrong to wear a suit on a government job interview.

+1 and once you land the job it's anything you can find in your closet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wear a suit. Even if suits are not often worn once you get the job, it's never wrong to wear a suit on a government job interview.

+1 and once you land the job it's anything you can find in your closet.

And jeans on Friday!