CO mom

It can be very difficult to find more professional clothes for very slim young women. My daughter is a size 00 or 0 in slacks depending on the cut of them. She's found that NY & Co goes down to a 0 and has styles that are more appropriate for work that are also in her budget.

ucbalumnus

So do a lot of university student age men.

For whatever reason, it is hard to figure out which stores actually stock them from web searches. A web search for "athletic cut suit" bring up mostly mail order offers, often for colors other than the usual conservative charcoal (going to the stores associated with the mail order offers in order to try on the suits tends not to actually find them there).

So it is not surprising that a university student age man, who might not even know that an athletic cut theoretically exists (though it may still not have enough drop if he is actually athletic) will have trouble finding a properly fitting suit and dress shirt by going into suit stores (and they won't necessarily have the budget for more expensive or made to measure or full custom tailored suits).

BanjoHitter

So do a lot of people, but just university age students. And it's not just guys who are in shape, it's guys with barrel chests regardless of age and physique.

Skip the discount stores like Men's Wearhouse and go into actual stores. You'll get much better service and advice, even at a mall store like a Nordstrom's.

concerned123

Son goes to a well-known co-op school and is about to start interviewing for co-op positions. I saw the printed recommendations for intervew attire just this morning. Recommended attire for men is either a suit or a jacket/slacks/tie. For women it is either a suit or a dress with a jacket. So, this is an either/or condition. I did not take it as one strongly recommended over the other, although I will agree that a suit is more formal. I think either choice will be regarded positively and don't think it is necessary to go out and buy a suit if one has a jacket etc.

Son has a nice navy blue jacket, khaki pants and dress shirt and tie. That is what he'll be wearing to his interviews. I have recently intervewed some women (2) and one had a suit (a pantsuit I think) and the other wore a dress with a sweater.

iambored10

Does anyone know if wearing khaki pants, a nice blazer, and shirt will suffice or do you need to wear a tie to an interview?

Chucktown

It is always better to overdress than the other way around. I always suit up and I like it that way.

mamaroneck

Can anyone post pics (or links to images) of basic, no-frills women's suits? WHere to find them would be great too! Macy's? Sears? Kohls?

yagottabelieve

In general, one should dress for an interview according to the company culture, perhaps slightly more formally than it. Since the interview may involve giving some kind of presentation to a group and/or at a whiteboard, I would recommend shoes that are comfortable for standing. With regards to briefcases, etc., I'd recommend something that a thin laptop or notebook computer can be put in.

mamaroneck

^swank-city. I've never heard of an intern/co-op interview that demanded making a presentation.

fractalmstr

I think a suit is a bit overkill for guys, and shows a bit of insecurity.

Nice khaki's or black dress pants, good dress shoes, and a nice button up, neutral colored shirt with a normal-looking tie are more appropriate for an engineer IMO. Take a shower, shave, apply deodorant, and trim your nails. That's really all there is to it.

Chucktown

Insecurity for putting your best foot forward? YOU may think that, but I doubt that that you will find many, if ANY, hiring managers that would find the donning of a suit to be a sign of insecurity. haha.

I have interviewed and received multiple jobs and coops. Myself, and the other candidates were all wearing suits. This was for both engineering, and non-engineering roles.

A suit is not the end all be all but, I feel, you should at the least have a blazer/jacket, slacks/Khakis, and a tie. When there are 30 people interviewing for the same position, you may want to act like you take it seriously.

OP: You may want to check out this link from Vatech that gives a good guide.
http://www.career.vt.edu/Interviewin...ppearance.html

JonJon13926

Adding to this, at what point do you think one should purchase a suit? It's clear when one should be worn, and therefore you COULD purchase a suit right before you need it, but if you're not one of those guys who want to run to the mall because you have an interview the next morning, at what point should you buy one?

I don't have a suit. My daily wear consists of dressy shoes, jeans, and a dress shirt tucked in. I have ties, shirts, and shoes, but I can't say I have the proper attire for an interview if I got one right now. (Which is unlikely considering I'm a freshman and haven't applied anywhere).

cosmicfish

Buy a suit at least a month or so before you think you might need one, to allow for tailoring - it does not cost that much more, and the improved fit will feel and look much better.

Don't pick anything elaborate, you do NOT need to oversell your attire! Just pick something that is a decent material (i.e. not Polyester), subtle in color and pattern, up-to-date, and sized correctly.

NBrink

If you want to wear a suit (which, I'm not saying is necessary. As an engineer you'll more likely than not be interviewed by engineers, just don't dress like a slob and you'll be fine), buy it early, and this is important, get it fitted. Makes all the difference in the world...

ucbalumnus

Agree with the posts that suits or other dressy clothes should fit properly. A poorly fitting suit or other dressy clothes looks ugly and defeats the purpose.

In general, the minimum lead time is to shop so that there is enough time for alterations to be done ahead of the time you need to wear the suit.

College age men often have a hard time finding off-the-rack suits and dress shirts that are reasonably close to fitting properly (i.e. within reasonable alteration range). Most off-the-rack suits and dress shirts in the US are sized for a 6" drop (chest minus waist = 6"). "Athletic fit" versions (which exist but are not that common) are sized for an 8" drop. Men who have a 10" or greater drop may need to order made-to-measure suits and dress shirts to get a reasonable fit, although suit separates (with considerable alteration of the jacket) may be usable in some situations.

More on suit sizing: Determining Your Suit Size