Should I wear the same suit to a second interview?

Sorry I've been really hit or miss the past few months. Life has been very crazy.

I have a wonderful problem. Two of my colleagues me about a new open position on campus and mentioned it to the gentleman in charge of hiring. I had an interview earlier this week and I got a call back for a second one today! Very exciting! Unfortunately, that's my problem comes in. I only have one suit, which I wore to my interview earlier this week. Is it ok for me to wear the same suit with a different blouse next week? Or should I go hunting for a new one tomorrow? I know I need another one, but I was hoping to go wait until I found the one that called out to me. I wore the skirt to my suit to the first interview and I still have a pair of slacks I could pair with my jacket, but I wonder if it will be too obvious. My jacket is a peplum style, it stands out a bit more than a regular blazer in my mind. I didn't get a pic of it, but I wore a great poppy red sleeveless blouse to the first interview. It's down in my finds.

What do you think? I've been searching the web and there doesn't seem to be any consensus.

J.Crew

Factory drapey sleeveless top

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8 years ago

Anonymous

I think that if you wear a significantly different blouse that should be fine. Maybe different accessories too if possible?
I can't help but think that pants are less dressed up than a skirt and that maybe it's too soon to dress down so I might stay with the skirt.
I would try to look just as fresh and put together as you did the first time, since clearly you made a good impression.
That's very exciting!

Deborah

Veteran

I think it's fine to wear the same Suit. Just change up the top and your accessories:). I find unless a person is a fellow fashionista:) most Poole joust notice if you are well dressed or badly dressed, they don't often notice if you are in fact wearing the same thing, particularly with suiting. Sound like, you work in academia? Would a pant suit be appropriate? If so then the pants would be an option with a nice pair of dressy shoes.

Firecracker (Sharan)

I agree, the same suit with a different blouse is just fine. I'm not sure about pants versus skirt. I like what Isabel says about looking "as fresh and put together as you did the first time, since clearly you made a good impression"--so wise!

Kristin L

Thanks Isabel, Deborah, and Sharon! I was worried I may tooted my own horn too much, but it looks like it worked. I have another nice, white drapery top that I think would go well with my suit. I'll ace to play around with that and accessories. The only thing that worries me is shoes. I have one great pair of black heels that feel good to wear and walk all day in. I may have to go look at shoes this weekend instead. I'm just a bit more nervous about this interview than I was with the first one.

And yes, I work on the admin side of academia. I think I could go away with my blazer and suit pants a bit more easily than I could if I was looking for a job in a big company.

Janet

(website)

I think you'll be fine wearing the same suit if you wear a notably different blouse/top, shoes, and accessories. Good luck!

Current

Active Member

I think that pants are totally acceptable for an academic interview. The gamet of academic style is broad. A proper suit, regardless of the type of bottoms, puts you at the outer limits of formality.

That said, I want to echo what the others have said, and suggest you wear what you feel the best in. Best of luck!!

annabelle

I'm with Deborah. If I'm interviewing someone, I'm focused on and entranced by their conversation, qualifications, and presence. I would notice if my candidate were conservatively or flashy dressed, but I wouldn't observe the exact items of her outfit, unless they were particularly dynamite. These guys want you to succeed and to see how you'd fit with the team. That's what they're obsessed with. If you dress appropriately, I think they will love you the same as the first interview. (P.s. the second interview probably is all different people, right?)

Lucy

Ooh good luck! It is so hard to get an interview these days, so well done.
Ive been on a few panels for academic jobs and I think the main thing is well presented, like you have made some kind of effort - but really the main thing is your research skills
I'd wear the same base outfit with the change of top. Most academics won't notice anyway! I'd also think pants were 100 % fine for an academic interview.
Goodl luck!!!

Helena

Another vote for same suit!

kkards

you can totally wear the same suit….especially as you say that you wore a skirt to the 1st and have pants that you can wear to the 2nd….

TraceyLiz65

Best of luck to You! A second interview is a good sign!

The same suit is fine, especially in academia. Trust me on this one. I've been around college professors and administrators all of my adult life.

Gaby Meyers

Same suit ok, but different top. You need to look fresh.

Yay! Thank y'all so much for the advice! I am definitely going with a different top and accessories than the first go-around.

@Annabelle - the gentleman I interviewed with for the first go around will be in charge of this one. From what I understand, I'll be going around and meeting everyone in the Dean's Office and Student Affairs (i.e., admissions, coordinators and their assistants).

Gaylene

Definitely wear the same suit with a bit of a switch-up in the top and the accessories. Of all the reasons to eliminate a candidate, I'd have to say that wearing the same suit for two interviews would be seriously stretching for a negative. Unless the candidate is dressed oddly or inappropriately, what a person is wearing is rarely the subject of discussion by the time he/she is at the point of a second interview. As a matter of fact, in an academic setting, wearing the same suit with a different top and accessories could actually be viewed as a positive.

..and wearing the same shoes is totally fine, really best case scenario because you already know they fit well and can put in the long hours. I'm always up for buying new shoes but I'd wear the proven winners for the second interview. You won't be distracted by some annoying little new shoe problem that will wait to occur until you're walking around meeting people, like squeaking, wobbling, pinching, etc. I really think the less self conscious you are the better, especially about your appearance, people can feel it when your attention isn't directed outwards.

I'm so EXCITED FOR YOU!

Mander

In the context of interviewing, I think that very, very few people would notice that you wore the same thing twice -- and even fewer would mark you down for it. If this were a fashion job it might be different but most academics or business types will only really notice your outfit if it is inappropriate in some way.

So don't stress about it too much, especially the shoes!

viva

This second interview sounds so promising! You will look fantastic. Best of luck!!!

MrsK

Another vote for the same suit being fine! I also think the same shoes are fine, and I'd be really hesitant to wear new shoes if you'll be doing a lot of walking. If you know your current shoes work well with the suit and can handle the type of meet and greet you'll be doing, I'd definitely stick with those. Good luck!

Susie

Repeating a suit is absolutely ok, except maybe in the fashion industry or for a creative position. And wearing the pants instead of the skirt is fine too. I haven't owned a skirt suit in many years so I have certainly interviewed in pants many times.

I do a lot of interviewing and I agree with the others that most interviewers won't notice the details as much as the overall impression of being dressed appropriately.

Your second interview sounds very promising...good luck!

Style Fan

I work with academics. The same suit is fine.

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