Interview Attire Question

[Emrld]

(If this is not the right place for this thread . . .please move)

I am looking at getting a part time Holiday Job.
I did the online application.
Got a phone call that they will be having a meet and greet . . . first interview . . .question and answer scenerio.
Dress code for staff as seen by visiting store - Jeans, tennis shoes, store t-shirt, and sometimes an apron over.
I was told to dress casual for the event.
Which of course goes against everything I was ever taught - but does make sense.

Should I wear jeans? of Khaki's?
(I am female if that effects)
as for top, a button down shirt or a plain t-shirt?
add accessories (like belt) or stick to what I wear every day (one ring, one necklace, and stud size multiple earings.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

[Raieth]

khaki's always look better than jeans. Go with khaki's.

Personally I look a little wierd in button down shirts but that's just me. Were something nice, not wrinkleds and not low-cut.

as for accessoriess add what ever works best for your clothes. I beleve that less to be more on the accessories side of things.

[Gurndigarn]

Always one or two steps higher than the standard dress, at a minimum. In this case, kakhis or slacks, button-down or good polo shirt. Any shoes in decent repair. Go easy on the perfume, aftershave, etc., and don't use a heavy deoderant soap. If your house smells like stale tobacco, or you smoke Camels, Marboros, or other strong forms of tobacco, and if you have the wherewithall, wash your clothes shortly before heading out.

[TNT]

Believe this is or not, button down Oxford shirts are considered extremely casual by the well-dressed crowd.

I'm not a woman, but I think a jeans and Oxford shirt combo make a very nice casual statement for either a man or a woman.

[Seshat]

If you go for a button-down shirt, make certain it doesn't gape or pull at the bust. If buttoned or tailored shirts tend to do that on you, wear something else.

If you have that problem, and expect to need to interview for jobs often enough, it may be worth making or having made a couple of tailored shirts that are fitted to you. Princess line cuts are particularly effective for busty women, and the alteration is fairly straightforward (and 'princess line bust alteration' provides a range of advice).

If you don't sew, maybe a friend sews, or you can get it done at a dressmaker.

[edible_hat]

Dress slightly better than you will once you get the job.

[Der Cute]

No Jeans EVER.

Khakis, button front shirt...makeup, and clean shoes.

I'm interviewing for IT jobs, and I'm wearing Business Normal levels - not the casual, no khakis for me!

I wear black slacks, nice shoes, a sleeveless blouse and a black jacket.
I could make an appearance at a funeral or a wedding.....*sigh*

Cutenoob

[Jester]

"Casual" means slightly less than "professional."

It does not mean jeans. There are exceptions, of course. Like, say, if you were interviewing for a job on a ranch.

But you aren't.

Nice shirt, nice pants/skirt, without being overly dressy or formal.

As a guy, I would wear khakis, dockers, or slacks, and some kind of nice shirt, but no tie.

And when I say nice shirt, I am not talking t-shirt. T-shirts are rarely a good idea.

Again, there are excpetions. Like when I was interviewing for the DJ job I hate at a "gentleman's club". There a button down shirt and slacks would have set me way apart. I went in in short and a t-shirt....and that was appopriate for that place.

A corporate hotel? No. Not appropriate.

Think of you going out with your friends, but not OUT out, just out and about to maybe a casual dinner. You want to look good, but you don't want to over do it.

That kind of casual.

[Seshat]

And when I say nice shirt, I am not talking t-shirt. T-shirts are rarely a good idea.

If you're female, busty, and don't have a tailored shirt that's cut to fit your bust properly, you can get away with a knit shirt in a t-shirt-like cut.

But don't use a t-shirt fabric. Get one in a nice textured yarn or knit, or a soft wool or acrylic fabric. Anything that is a nice, classy fabric not a basic. Steer away from anything that looks or feels like a t-shirt polycotton.

And accessorise it. Wear it under a jacket if it's not summer, and if it is, wear it with a gossamer scarf or at least a good brooch.

[tacohuman]

personally, i've always thought it best to dress to impress in interviews, regardless of where it is or how casual the work environment is. for me, that's a suit, everywhere everytime. i think it shows a level of commitment, that you really want the job. especially now that i'm in management and doing interviews, when someone shows me that they're willing to take the time to dress up and look nice, regardless of how uncomfortable it is (and in the summers here, with 95+ degree temps, wearing a suit is quite uncomfortable), that really sets them apart from all the other people who just walk in from off the street, and i'm much more likely to overlook things i wouldn't with other interviews.

[Reyneth]

I'm just going to agree with everyone else who said to dress 1-2 steps up from the dress code of the job you are applying for.

My current job, the dress is Biz Casual. For the Interview, I did Biz Professional. Even when I was (supposed to be) interviewing for another position within the same group with supervisor/manager I see every day, I dressed up a notch - closer to Professional than Casual. It's just the thing to do.

[Jester]

...for me, that's a suit, everywhere everytime. i think it shows a level of commitment, that you really want the job.

I agree with you, but.....

A suit is not always appropriate. I have no problem with what you do, and I support it, but sometimes it is actually better to not do that. For example, every job interview I have gone on since I was 17 was in Phoenix or Key West. Where someone in a shirt and tie IS considered dressed up, and someone not wearing a suit is just fine, especially in the summer. That is partly a climate thing and partly a thing for the particular area--both places are sunny, hot, and laid back.

My point here is that knowledge is the important thing. Know the area, know the company you are applying for, know what is expected and/or appropriate. As I said earlier, I once showed up for a job as a DJ at a gentleman's club in a t-shirt....but had I showed up in a tie, they would have looked at me like I had five horns growing out of neck. Know the situation, and dress appropriately. Knowledge, after all, really is power.

[Shabo]

Is this for a clothing store?

If it is, then the style in which you dress yourself is extremely important. I would go in wearing their clothes, and try to look as fashionable as possible. Good luck!

[Emrld]

It is not a clothing store - but it is a store.

I truly appreciate the advice.

As I stated the manager on the phone said to dress as casual as I feel comfortable doing. The staff dress code is jeans and a t-shirt with the store name on it.

After having done laundry and taken a close look at my options . . . .I have cargo style khakis - that have a same color embrodiery print, making them somewhere between a kahaki and a cargo . . . a denium pencil cut mid knee length skirt . . . jeans (which we have already vetoed) . . . a pair of black slacks that must be worn with heels due to lenght . . .a black pencil skirt (pencil skirt meaning a straight narrowing cut - not glued to me)

As for shirts . . .depending on the bottoms I have one or two blouses I might be able to work with . . .I have a few made of knit v-necked look nicer than a plain t-shirts . . .yes I do have that gap bust issues . .. and the only tailored button down is white . . .white is not a smart choice somehow someway I will spill on it.

[Shabo]

I would say the denim skirt with a nice button down polo or sweater or something to that effect would be your best choice. The black skirt and pants would probably be too dressy.