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Interview dress - substitute for a suit
I'm graduating with my masters this month, and I got invited for my first professional job interview today. Except for those in higher administration, people in my field dress business casual for the most part. I've worked as a paraprofessional in my field, and always wore slacks and a blouse or nice sweater to an interview, and always felt fine (and got the job). This time around I feel like I need a suit. Unfortunately I don't have the money for one (poor grad student), and even if I did, I don't think I have the time to buy one and get it altered in time for the interview (which is early next week).
What I can I do to make my business casual attire less casual looking?
I have nice black slacks, blouses, sweaters and cardigans. I can afford a new blouse, but not a blazer. I have nice black heels.
Would slacks, a collared blouse with a black cardigan or v-neck pullover be okay?
Re: Interview dress - substitute for a suit
You can't buy a suit off the rack? Even JCP has decent ones for not much $.
I'd look for jacket deals. I'd rather you spend the $ on a jacket than another top.
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What's your field/business climate?
I had a bunch of interviews this summer when I was laid off. I was 5-6 months post partum and couldn't fit into my suits. I didn't have the money to buy a new one either, so I wore nice black slacks, a nice blouse and cardigan for most interviews. For 2nd interviews, I wore a black skirt and nice blouse. However, I live in Maine, and aside from banking, most offices/industries here are, at most, business casual.
I got 3 job offers, and was called in as a finalist for another position, but I'd already accepted another job.
If you know the setting well, you may be okay not wearing a suit. You'll want to be at least "one click above" what the people you're meeting with will be wearing. If that requires a suit, you can get one at JC Penney very reasonably - that's what I did last time and it fit well and was comfortable.
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I'm interviewing for a public librarian position.
It would hurt to squeeze $40 out of my budget right now. I have store credit at Lane Bryant that I can work with, but they don't have a blazer suitable to my needs. As for fit, it's the jacket that will need to be altered. I've never found at jacket that isn't too long in the arms and dumpy looking on me.
Then I would do the black pants, blouse and v-neck pullover.
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Do you have any dresses? I have a black coat dress that looks a lot like a black skirt suit.
I think it also depends a lot of the culture of where you are interviewing. DH had an interview this fall where they specifically told him to wear business casual attire on the interview.
If you do feel like you really need a suit, I've gotten some good ones on sale at Macys--with them being on-sale and coupons, I got a few suits that were originally $200+ for like $70. But it sounds like you are difficult to fit so you may not be able to buy off the racks.
I think it really depends on the company and the culture of the place you're interviewing at.
NO ONE here wears a suit, not even our executive board. What you described is what people here would wear on a day to day basis.
That being said, what you want to wear is too casual for an interview. I would at least purchase a good black dress (tell me you must have at least one!) and wear it with the cardigan and some tasteful jewelry. My first interview here I wore a black dress, a fitted blazer, and heels.
With a black dress, you can get some mileage out of it anyway, but you need to be polished. Save the slacks and pullover for after you get the job.
I just found a decent black blazer at a goodwill. I knew I would never where it again other than an interview so I couldn't bring myself to spend more than a few dollars. Also can't stand the new trend of shoulder pads in suits. In my field, a black blazer with black slacks and a v-neck sweater is more than dressy enough for an interview.
I tried on a couple of suits today and they all looked awful. Blazers look god awful on me - dumpy and boxy. I'm going with a black pencil skirt, a dark emerald green collared blouse, a black cardigan and black heels. I looked pull together and polished, and that's what I need more than anything.
Nude pantyhose or black tights?
Whatever makes you feel more comfortable, though I'd probably opt for black tights. Seasonality.