<p>My D will be graduating from college with psychology degree next year. We have offered to buy her some clothes (will be taking her shopping) for upcoming interviews. Frankly, I am not certain if a college senior really knows what is and is not appropriate. I work from home and on the rare occasions I have a business meeting it’s business casual or a pants suit. SO my question is - what types of outfits are appropriate for interviewing for jobs in the human services? Should she have suit? Or dress, skirts, pants, jacket and interchange? Appreciate advice.</p>
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For the most part those should all work. No Dockers. Dress slacks and a jacket or better. A skirt and jacket are fine. Suit would be best. However, it also depends on the company. You probably don’t want a suit at a smaller, more casual company.</p>
<p>IMO, always best (safe) to dress more formally for the job interview than you would for the job. Unless it is an arty/fashion field (when dressing conservatively would hurt you), I think go for the suit or the dress skirt/pants with jacket alternative.</p>
<p>DS wore a sharp-looking suit to interviews; had good job offers. Never wears anything more formal than khakis and collared shirt on the job.</p>
<p>Speaking as someone that just graduated a few years ago, having suited separates that are washable is key. If you want to buy her one nice suit of the dry-clean only variety, that’s fine too, but when it comes to working it is great to have a couple of blazers, at least one pencil skirt, and a pair of pants that can all be interchangeable and can be tossed in the washing machine if you need to clean them at short notice. And don’t neglect the shirts. You can have any number of nice suit items, but they’re useless without an accompanying set of shells/camis/button up shirts. Personally I prefer a cotton sleeveless shell or cami under my suits just because it’s more comfortable and you don’t have to worry about gaps in between your buttons when you sit down. I don’t see that many young women in button up dress shirts these days. </p>
<p>For actual work wear, I work in a pretty formal place but tend to have a standard uniform of dresses/cardigans with nice black pants or black skirts/blazer/skirt combos. If she likes dresses, having one or more nice, office appropriate dresses to wear can be a god-send. They’re easy to iron and you don’t have to worry about any additional pieces, just one and done. Especially good if they have pockets. Convenient and chic.</p>
<p>A suit is not necessary but is always appropriate (unless it’s for an internet company, ad agency, TV production role or similar creative industry). A tailored skirt and a not terribly memorable jacket is perfectly fine if that’s easier on the budget than the suit- although a suit will probably last for the next five years worth of funerals and other “suit-worthy” occasions if it’s not too trendy. If she prefers a not matchy-matchy look (which most of the young women do these days) as long as she is covered up, looks “dressed up” and somewhat corporate, she’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Here are the no-no’s-</p>
<p>1-Sneakers, flip flops, mules, or sandals (even dressy sandals). Any shoe appropriate for “clubbing” or a party, i.e. extreme platforms, metallic, glitter, etc.
2-Cleavage. Period full stop.<br>
3- Any article of clothing which allows the interviewer to see the type of underwear being worn- nothing sheer, no bra straps hanging out, no thong edge hanging out of pants, etc.
4- Nothing with a political slogan.
5- No bare legs with skirts unless the skirt is below the knee, or unless the interview is in a resort area or it’s over 90 degrees outside.
6- no distracting jewelry. If it makes noise (clanking bangles, earrings with bells, spells out a profanity) that constitutes distracting.
7- no visible tattoos. Cover the rose on your wrist with a long jacket, cover the snake on your calf with pantyhose, cover the skull and bones on your chest with… well, it shouldn’t be visible anyway.</p>
<p>These days a backpack is fine-- it should be clean and not terribly ratty, but if it is black nylon it won’t even be noticed. No need to invest in a briefcase. It shouldn’t have stuff having off it.</p>
<p>As an old fogey I sort of long for the days when kids made an effort to look like adults on a job interview- but now adults look like 16 year old’s on the job… so I guess those days are over. My company still has to explain to people that thongs are not appropriate for casual Fridays (both the footwear and underwear thongs.)</p>
<p>But no need to break the bank on a full wardrobe of expensive clothes- something clean, pressed, and unmemorable is fine for most human services type positions.</p>
<p>When buying dress clothes for job interviews, make sure that they fit properly.</p>
<p>New university graduates or soon-to-graduate students often show up at job interviews with poorly fitting dress clothes, probably because the clothes are designed more for an older (more obese) demographic, and they may not realize how much tailoring may be needed (or may not be willing or able to spend the money to get the needed alterations or custom tailoring).</p>
<p>I disagree about the no bare legs thing. Most young women these days do not wear stockings/nylons either at work or on job interviews and in most cases it’s considered perfectly appropriate. I work in Washington, DC, a pretty conservative town when it comes to dressing for work and I never see women under 40 wearing stockings unless it’s cold out (and even then they’re likely to wear black tights), and that includes women in military uniform, lobbyists, government workers, everyone. You should however shave your legs and moisturize them so that as long as you’re showing skin, it looks healthy and well groomed. And obviously, no short skirts. When in doubt, go with Catholic school rules: if the hem doesn’t reach your finger tips when you have your arms by your sides, get something longer. </p>
<p>I also think tattoos are becoming a more common thing to be seen in the workplace and on interviews, so not too much trouble needs to be taken to cover them unless they have graphic imagery/explicit words/or are too large and distracting. To be on the safe side, do cover if possible, but it’s less of a taboo than it once was.</p>
<p>Smithie- I have no problem with bare legs if a skirt is on or below the knee. I think most young women are unaware of what happens when they sit (most job interviews) and their skirt rides up.</p>
<p>Bare thighs are not appropriate in an interview unless it’s at a cocktail lounge or similar.</p>
<p>Well, I think you’re entitled to your opinion, I just wanted to point out that in reality in the workforce today young women don’t and aren’t required to wear stockings. I know they were de rigeur in years past, but the OP was asking about what would be appropriate for a work/interview outfit at present. Certainly, if someone feels more comfortable in stockings, they can go ahead and wear them, but most women I work with, including myself wear skirts that are somewhat above the knee and forgo stockings except in cold weather. I know how a skirt behaves and a skirt that is so short it would bear my whole thigh when I sat down is not one that I would select for work anyway.</p>
<p>I had some similar questions about office attire when my D was shopping for business-appropriate attire (she is an accounting major and will be interning this summer.) I got some wonderful advice in this thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1089648-help-d-needs-office-wear-advice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1089648-help-d-needs-office-wear-advice.html</a></p>
<p>BTW - Banana Republic has some excellent 3-piece suits (skirt, jacket and pants).</p>
<p>My mother bought me (on her own) a business suit when I graduated college. It didn’t fit me right and I never once wore it. Please please take her with to pick things out on her own (with your guidance of course. 
)</p>
<p>When I went on my interviews, I went with a pair of nice dress pants and a nice shirt with a jacket. Kind of like the suit but I mix and matched and made it a tad less formal. My company is extremely laid back and on most days it’s even permissible for us to wear sneakers to work. (but no thong sandals ) Currently on ‘dress up’ days I will go with dress pants and a nice shirt. On less dressy days I’ll do nice jeans with a nice shirt… or sometimes dress pants or even a dress if I’m in the mood… On casual days I gotta go with my sports clothes and jeans w/ sneakers.(we do sports fridays… show your colors and support your team! :)</p>
<p>When my middle D graduated a couple of years ago, although she had an offer on the table, she wasn’t entirely sure where she’d be working. Still I wanted to take advantage of her free time to get her ready for a job as her wardrobe was entirely casual and she really had nothing that would work in an office. She was standing in the Ann Taylor Loft dressing room trying on a simple black suit when she turned to me and said “Now that I have the suit, I guess I’d better take the job.” In the end, she wore the pants to death but rarely used the jacket. Still she was glad to have it on several occasions.</p>
<p>Having just done this with one D.Everyone has a different body type. What works for one person will not work for another. Finding a well fitting outfit takes patience for many of us and it takes time.
My D prefers pant suits. She has gone through a lot of interviews this spring. Many companies also host an info session. In her case the info session was more casual and she wore slacks and a sweater. It is nice to have several outfits as sometimes you might have multiple inteviews in a short time period.
Stores with suit separates- Banana Republic,Ann Taylor, The Limited, also some department stores carry suits depending on your area. When my D and I were in Chicago Macys had an entire floor with suits. My D is petite and she found that Ann Taylor suits work for her. Banana Republic and The limited just didn’t fit her right.
Ann Taylor and Ann Taylor loft often have good online sales. Also we found that many stores only carry a limited selection of petites in the store. Many items are offered online only.
My D loves her Easy Spirit pumps from Macys. She said they are very comfortable if your interview takes place on campus and you have to do some walking.</p>
<p>Zegna suit. Enough said</p>
<p>Took her to Armani at the outlets. Bought a $2800 black suit(jacket and black slacks) for $370, one size too large and went to a good tailor to have it fitted (another $100). Granted, she wears this to opera auditions, but it would look fantastic at any interview.</p>
<p>I still get most mileage from sweater sets-not the matchy/matchy types, but interesting ones. I have a few Sigrid Olsen ones. The outer sweater of one is plum, in cable pattern. I have 2 different inside sweaters that match. I’d wear this with pants or skirt.</p>
<p>At my last interview, I wore a cashmere set with pants suit. I was overdressed, so just removed the jacket. A dressy white shirt with skirt or pants would also be fine.</p>
<p>Since your DD has a BA in psychology, she will probably be applying to residential facilities & outpatient clinics. BR and AT clothes will be fine. I’d check Nordstrums and other dept stores if she can’t find what she wants</p>
<p>College senior here - bought a beautiful black Banana Republic suit (pants and jacket) last summer and had it tailored… Wear it with heels and a pretty sleeveless blouse to any kind of professional interview. You can’t go wrong!</p>
<p>I work in corporate American; I personally interview kids every summer for year-long internship that we make available to new grads. Blossom has covered it pretty well. Could not agree more. And a natural or light look with makeup is best.</p>
<p>My daughter did many on-campus interviews this year. She always wore conservatively cut skirted suits in dark colors (she has black, gray, and navy) with white or pastel blouses. (She knows how to use safety pins to ensure that blouses don’t gap.) Pantyhose. Black dress shoes. Little or no jewelry. Conventional makeup and hair. The clothing was in the Lord and Taylor price range.</p>
<p>She also has some unmatched, slightly more casual office clothing, but she used those outfits primarily for the night-before-the-interview information sessions held by the companies. </p>
<p>She also wore suits for on-site interviews, except in one instance when the company specified business casual (and in that instance she wore a blazer and dress pants).</p>
<p>She got a job.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great feedback. I look forward to hitting Ann Taylor and Banana Republic with her. Can’t believe she’s almost a senior already…</p>