Summer Job Interview Clothes - YouLookFab Forum

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Summer Job Interview Clothes

Suzanne

Hi all! I have a job interview next week and I don't know what to wear! It's a communications position at a university in Portland, OR. I want to wear something that says "I am a creative professional," but I'm not quite sure how to do that because it's summertime! Do I still wear a blazer even though it's quite warm out?

I've been working from home for the past several years, so I don't have a lot of professional clothes right now ... I'll probably have to go shopping, so I'm open to suggestions! I just don't want to buy a suit, since everything is so casual here; I'm sure that even if I got the job I'd end up wearing separates most of the time.

Thanks for your help!

ETA: Okay, how's this? Apologies for the quality of the pics (and of my hair!) but here we have:

#1,2,3

* White Tahari blazer (new)

* Navy RL button-down with white dots (new)

* Black stretch pencil skirt

* Blue flats

* Vintage burgundy portfolio case

#4 is the same, but with a black square-neck tee instead of the blouse, for a more streamlined look.

#5,6 are close-ups of the shoes and bag so you can see the color. (Bag is actually burgundy, not bright red! Shoes need a polish of course.)

What do you think? Are the flats too casual? I know blue+black is now generally acceptable, but is it too weird for an interview?

The interview was postponed to next week, so I still have time to make changes! Suggestions welcome. My only requirement is that I keep the portfolio case, because I love it and I need it to hold stuff in!

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Urgent

30 replies

Latest reply was from Nebraskim

Laura

If you want to avoid having to purchase something specifically for the interview, stick with the basics. A crisp pressed blouse, conservative necklace, a pencil skirt and a pair of pumps. Add a set of earrings to match the necklace if you have one.

Good luck!

Meredith

Veteran

Have you read this post yet? Some general thoughts to hold you over until others can offer specific clothing recs.
http://youlookfab.com/2014/01/.....view-2014/

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Hi! There was a forum member who recently got some advice for what to wear to acampus for a job interview here in this thread.
Museumgal then posted what she wore in this thread.

I'm new and have only had one job interview in the last 20 years (and I wore a walmart T-shirt and dark wash jeans). So, I don't feel qualified to give advice, even though I got the job, lol.

shiny

Veteran

I am not the best to advise on the "university" and "Portland" aspect but can certainly advise on the "communications" and "creative professional" portion, as I am in high tech marketing.

While you can never go wrong with a formal, matching suit for this, you do not necessarily need one and can get away with coordinating separates that fit well and are up to date. Yes, it is worth going out and buying a brand new outfit if everything in your closet is out of date -- this is an investment in your future.

I definitely would wear a blazer/suit jacket, but it needn't match the bottoms-- it just has to "go" with them. That's where the "creative" part comes in. A bright, flattering color the blazer, with black bottoms, for example. You can also pair a blazer over a dress -- a sleeveless sheath works great. Keep the cut of each separate piece fairly classic (modern classic), but you do not necessarily need a matchy-matchy suit.

I'll go out on a limb here, others may disagree with this, but in summer I have worn skirts/dresses with no hose, and with strappy high heels that bare a nice pedicure. It's just way too hot to wear close toe shoes and hose, and sweating profusely while blisters build up on sweaty feet just never makes a good impression. And my feet do sweat in closed toe pumps, worn in the summer time. Of course when I say "strappy" they still have to look professional, not like you are going clubbing or out with friends or to the beach.

Definitely put some attention into footwear. Professional but also here is a great place to show personality and creativity. My go-to interview shoes are typically giraffe or snake print or something fun like that, which adds interest.

If you are going to be interviewing a lot, it does not hurt to invest in a 3 piece suit, should one happen to find you while you are shopping. When I was interviewing I did that though budget was tight. I got so much mileage out of that 3 piece suit, even though I rarely wore it as a suit. I just mixed and matched all 3 pieces with other stuff in my closet.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hmm. Shiny, I would also wear bare legs but sandals might not be necessary in Portland vs. Massachusetts. It's more temperate there.

Congratulations on the interview! I'm also in communications but my interview was over the phone (not even a video call) and my company hired me mainly on the basis of some contract work I did for them, so ... a very different situation.

The Pacific NW skews casual and universities typically do as well (although more so in some departments than others). So I would not worry about a suit, per se. But a great jacket will always take you a long way.

What is your body type? Do you face specific fit issues? Do you have a favourite store or a maker whose clothes tend to fit well? That might help us with specific suggestions.

rizamei

Your interview outfit may also depend on the level of your position: the more senior, the more formal! Yes, even in the Pacific NW, and even in the summer. I am a manager with hiring responsibility and I work in a generally casual organization in, yup, the Pacific NW. I would expect any candidate for professional or managerial position to wear a blazer with matching coordinates or a suit. That said, the outfit wouldn't have to be as neutral as what you might wear in a conservative field, like law. I think you could definitely skip the hose (stick with closed-toed shoes, nothing too high), and you could wear brighter colors or prints as accents than you might normally wear to an interview.

I've never dinged a candidate for dressing too formally, but I sure have wondered when some of them have dressed too casually.

Suzanne

Thanks, all--this is super helpful. It sounds like I'll definitely need a blazer, and decent bottoms. I've got several blazers but they all seem more fall-y or casual to me. A new one could be fun. I was looking at the JCrew stretch cotton ones:

https://www.jcrew.com/womens_c...../A0361.jsp

Meanwhile, I'm curious what people think about blazer/pencil skirt combos? They tend to make me feel like a real-estate agent, but maybe I'm just missing something ... is there some secret to not looking dowdy? I do generally prefer skirts to trousers. (I'm tall with a rectangle figure, fyi.)

rizamei

Just a follow up to say I saw this infographic at Business Insider today and thought of this discussion. http://www.businessinsider.com.....ire-2014-8 I think you want to be between levels 2-3 for this type of interview.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

If your figure is rectangular and you're tall you should be a great fit for J. Crew clothes. So definitely try one of those blazers. Maybe try one of their longer #2 pencil skirts, too -- how about a midi length? For instance this one.

You can make the outfit less "real estate" by taking styling cues from the site itself and/or from some of Angie's ensembles.

First up, footwear. Instead of the typical and conservative pumps, how about some kind of bootie? (Depending on weather of course). Or wear the skirt with some fun flats.

Instead of a button up shirt, how about a silk sweatshirt type top or even a light knit top with a welted bottom worn untucked, that "de-bombshells" the skirt? Later on you can wear a chambray shirt with the skirt, but maybe that would be too casual for the interview.

ma342

Do you know anyone who works in your field in Portland who you could ask about this? That would probably be the best source of advice.

I'm not familiar with Portland, so take this with a grain of salt--I know the west coast is less formal in general. I do, however, work in the publications side of communications at a university. For a job interview, I would wear a suit (I wore one when I interviewed for my current job). Yes, it was expensive, especially since I'd been unemployed and was flat broke, and no, I haven't needed to wear a full suit since--business casual office (I did wear the trousers half of the suit a lot, at least). Yes, it was too hot--the interview was in late spring. Still worth it. No one cared whether the suit said "creative professional"--they cared that it said *competent* professional.

As jk079 says, you're more likely to be dinged for dressing not formal enough rather than too formal. On the other hand, I know that some industries/institutions are exceptions to this rule--hence my suggestion to talk to someone familiar with the standards in the profession in your city, or even better, at the particular institution where you're interviewing.

Suzanne

Thanks! In general I dress more formally than most folks around here, so it's a little hard to judge.

Curious what you all think about the photos I posted?

Side note: my husband almost didn't get hired at his current job because he wore dress pants with a sweater and tie to his interview-- they thought he was TOO dressed up! (It's a web firm where everyone wears jeans and t-shirts.)

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I think your outfit looks great, Suzanne. My only reservation is the shoes, which look more casual than the rest of the outfit. Do you have something with even a slight heel? Or something a little dressier, anyway? Even an open toe or sling-back would be fine in this season.
I worked in communications at a west coast university several years ago, and I think you've hit the right mark of looking serious about interviewing but not like you're confused about the setting. I didn't really think of myself as being in a creative field, not like graphic arts or advertising. With communications you're dealing with facts, right? So it's good not to look too creative for the interview, in my opinion.

Suzanne

Thanks, Firecracker! It's a marketing job, so "dealing with facts" isn't the first phrase that comes to mind ... But yeah, it's not like I want to look cutting-edge or anything. Just like I have an eye for style.

I was thinking the same thing about the shoes. I don't really have another good option for summer, though I'm not opposed to another shopping trip!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Yes, marketing tends more creative than what I was doing, which was more public relations. What about the shoes in photo 6? I can't quite see them, but they look like they might add a little creative touch to the outfit while still being work-like. And your vintage burgundy portfolio is professional yet a bit creative, definitely not standard-issue.

fathenry

Veteran

I would go with pumps, unbutton the jacket and keep the sleeves scrunched. Add a piece of statement jewelry to dress it up a bit, but nothing that jingles or creates a distraction if you talk with your hands. This will add polish to your look. No hose but definitely a pump. To my eye the white jacket is too high contrast against the black skirt when it is. I would try it unbuttoned over a black silky tee or shell to create a column of black, and maybe a necklace?

Edited to add, congratulations on your interview.

Suzanne

@Firecracker they're all the same shoes, just different (bad) lighting. #6 is pretty accurate color wise.

@fathenry thanks, I'll try out those ideas! I actually hadn't considered unbuttoning.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Suzanne, that's a lovely jacket. Will you get chances to wear it after the interview? I hope so.

I think this is a great start. I agree with the suggestion to get a different pair of shoes, if you can, and maybe even a top that combines black or ink and white in a not-too-busy pattern? Assuming you have the time for a bit more shopping that is! Scrunched sleeves are excellent and the bag is great!

Suzanne

Thanks Suz! I'm into the jacket; I think it will be pretty flexible for non-work settings. Especially with jeans.

rizamei

One more vote for a different pair of shoes here. I think flats would be okay if they were more formal (pointy toe, or patent leather); otherwise a mid-heel would be best. I like fathenry's suggestion of unbuttoning or of finding a top with less contrast with the (fab) white jacket.

Love the portfolio!

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

The one thing that stands out for me are the shoes. They look a little casual to my eye, for someone after a professional job. However, if your schedule or your shopping budget can't stretch right now to a pair of dressier shoes that you truly love, then I would polish the heck out of these, and make them look clean and shiny. I have never heard of anyone getting turned down for a professional job in any field, because their shoes were too polished, or they looked too neatly groomed.

Otherwise, I think you look great! I like the square-neck top.

purple8

I am generally useless to give advice on ylf but after 15 years in hr and consulting, I feel like I've seen a million interview outfits and have had quite a few post-interview outfit discussions with hiring managers. (Oddly, they are frequently much harder on the men's outfits these days. And may god have mercy on your soul if you ever interview with anyone in the legal field--ridiculously critical of clothing...)

Anyway, my two cents...I like your outfit, and I would remember that fantastic portfolio as a cool dash of personality. Juxtaposed with the strictness of the buttoned up shirt, it reads as "creative smart type" to me. The shoes are cute but a bit casual; you might consider something else, but I doubt they'd be a deal-breaker.

Good luck!

Susie

Veteran

I agree that the outfit looks great but would prefer different shoes. You don't necessarily have to go with a pump but I wouldn't want to see anything too bare or strappy.. Something with a peep toe or a sling back is a good balance between conservative and weather appropriate.

Tessitura

I'm going to agree with the other commenters here... the first thing I would change is the shoes. Several reasons:

1) They look lighter than the skirt *and* the navy top, but there isn't enough contrast for them to be your "pop of color".
2) As several people have pointed out, they're too casual. The main issue is the lack of structure in the shoe...the thing about pumps is that they tend to be molded into a rigid shape. As a high heel avoider, I would never say that you have to wear a pump, but the shoe should hold a definite shape around the foot. I tend to feel that a block heel is mandatory for a "dressy" flat, and a slightly pointed toe is better than a round one.
3) Condition. For an interview, you'll want to make sure that your shoes look as new as possible, which means no scuffs... you can polish them yourself, or have a professional do it.

Since you're on the west coast, I think non-matching suit separates are probably great. With a high-contrast black/white look, I would personally choose the square-necked tee rather than the navy one, then add a pop of color at the neck in the form of a scarf. I think this would help lighten up the contrast and draw attention up to your face. If it were me, I'd invest in some good black shoes with as tailored a look as you can find, for this interview.

Whatever you choose, good luck! Please let us know how it goes!

Hil

(website)

Veteran

I went through the interview process a year ago and the YLF crew saw me through the process. My posts were here, http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ew-outfits and here.
Good luck!

Suzanne

Update: I wore outfit #1 (with the blue polka-dot button-down), with the addition of a new pair of blue pumps. It was 95 degrees that day (VERY hot for Portland!) but I arrived 30 minutes early so I had plenty of time to cool off, and went in looking crisp. It worked, I guess, because I got called back for a second interview next week! It's with a different person so I will probably recycle the blazer and pumps, possibly with pants (that still need to be purchased.)

Thanks again, everyone, for all your help!

shiny

Veteran

Crossing fingers and toes for you!

P.s. That portfolio bag is to die for.

Susie

Veteran

Yay!! That's awesome. I like the idea of pairing the jacket with pants for the second round.

bj1111

Veteran

Congrats on the job interview. I like the white blazer in concept. I think a shorter jacket might have better proportions for the skirt.

The shoes have akready been covered.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Congratulations and good luck!

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