Things that are AWESOME...

[spndnchz]

No, the shirt would be higher, I wouldn't risk showing cleavage. I have to find a blazer somewhere between the suitjacket I own that's almost too stuffy and that. I have to find pants that don't make me look like a sack of potatoes. In short, I'm just not built for this stuff. I'm not looking at Fortune 500 companies. Other girls I know who've been interviewing lately have told me to wear cropped pants, flats, nice blouse, cardigan. Apparently that's what they wore when they got their jobs. But they're tall, thin, just have that look. I do not. They look chic and casual, I'd just ... well, not look good. 

 

I don't know. My self esteem is in the toilet anyways thanks to all of this, trying to find pants that fit is not going to help. I'm just not a classy looking person. This is going to be terribly difficult for me. 

 

I figured it was worth getting a male opinion, since that's who counts in the end anyways. 

 

What I did for my interview was stalk the job for a few days. See what the women are wearing, go with that.

[Weave]

I'll give my things that are awesome. Had my stress test today (follow up after the ER visit). The good news is, there is no bad news.

 

*relieved*

[darksabre]

http://www.anntaylor.com/Tall%20All-Season%20Stretch%20One%20Button%20Jacket/379565?colorExplode=true&skuId=19221106&CID=GoogleATSuitsSuitJackets&gclid=CMWInZrW9cwCFZA2gQodVgoICw

 

 

Something like that.  And you look fine.

This is what I was thinking too. 

[josie]

Creative arts jobs are so different from theengineering world I am used to. I have no idea if conservative is a better or worse choice.

Yeah, this is my dilemma. My current workplace... I swear half the people here don't bathe regularly. I get made fun of for dressing nice. I wore a conservative, polished dress to the interview and was told in the interview "oh don't ever dress like that again, goodness, relax".  After five years, I've forgotten what it means to dress up between casual and special occasion. 

 

I'll try a suit, I just worry I'm not built for it. 

 

http://www.anntaylor.com/Tall%20All-Season%20Stretch%20One%20Button%20Jacket/379565?colorExplode=true&skuId=19221106&CID=GoogleATSuitsSuitJackets&gclid=CMWInZrW9cwCFZA2gQodVgoICw

 

 

Something like that.  And you look fine.

I guess this is more what I meant. I just worry as an artist, wearing mostly black will lose me points. 

 

Thanks for all the tips, everyone. This may take me a few weeks, but I'm dead set on figuring it out before I dare start applying. 

[That Aud Smell]

No, the shirt would be higher, I wouldn't risk showing cleavage. I have to find a blazer somewhere between the suitjacket I own that's almost too stuffy and that. I have to find pants that don't make me look like a sack of potatoes. In short, I'm just not built for this stuff. I'm not looking at Fortune 500 companies. Other girls I know who've been interviewing lately have told me to wear cropped pants, flats, nice blouse, cardigan. Apparently that's what they wore when they got their jobs. But they're tall, thin, just have that look. I do not. They look chic and casual, I'd just ... well, not look good. 

 

I don't know. My self esteem is in the toilet anyways thanks to all of this, trying to find pants that fit is not going to help. I'm just not a classy looking person. This is going to be terribly difficult for me. 

 

I figured it was worth getting a male opinion, since that's who counts in the end anyways. 

 

I think you're 99% where you need to be, which is being resolved to finding something that works for you. And you will.

 

As for the matter of the male opinion, just keep in mind: If H.R. is involved -- at least as an initial filter/gatekeeper -- the opinions of a woman (or women) will matter as well.

[Eleven]

What I did for my interview was stalk the job for a few days. See what the women are wearing, go with that.

 

This is a great idea.

[JJFIVEOH]

Totally agree with this.

 

JJ50 -- time to reevaluate.

I don't like suck ups, it's just the way I see it. The interviewee shouldn't need to have to send a letter after they've had a chance to evaluate the situation and let the employer know they're still interested. If I were the employer I'd give them the rundown of the job and gauge their interest on the spot.

 

I know I'm not the only one. ;)

[That Aud Smell]

Yeah, this is my dilemma. My current workplace... I swear half the people here don't bathe regularly. I get made fun of for dressing nice. I wore a conservative, polished dress to the interview and was told in the interview "oh don't ever dress like that again, goodness, relax".  After five years, I've forgotten what it means to dress up between casual and special occasion. 

. . . .

 

I guess this is more what I meant. I just worry as an artist, wearing mostly black will lose me points. 

 

Ah, I see. These are good points. You should take the stodgy advice above with a grain of salt. If you're interviewing for and with creatives, then you should probably adjust accordingly. Stick with the same elements -- blazer, blouse, pants, low heels -- but welcome the opportunity to prominently feature a colour you favour, some vintage allusion that suits you, etc. 

[JJFIVEOH]

But if I were to send a letter, it wouldn't be an Email. That just shows laziness. If you're gonna do it, do it right.

[darksabre]

Ah, I see. These are good points. You should take the stodgy advice above with a grain of salt. If you're interviewing for and with creatives, then you should probably adjust accordingly. Stick with the same elements -- blazer, blouse, pants, low heels -- but welcome the opportunity to prominently feature a colour you favour, some vintage allusion that suits you, etc.

Also this. Start simple, add some small unique touches.

 

I would say that a straight black suit isn't necessarily essential, but I would avoid patterns beyond anything subtle. The shirt and your accessories are where you can be a little "you".

[nfreeman]

No, the shirt would be higher, I wouldn't risk showing cleavage. I have to find a blazer somewhere between the suitjacket I own that's almost too stuffy and that. I have to find pants that don't make me look like a sack of potatoes. In short, I'm just not built for this stuff. I'm not looking at Fortune 500 companies. Other girls I know who've been interviewing lately have told me to wear cropped pants, flats, nice blouse, cardigan. Apparently that's what they wore when they got their jobs. But they're tall, thin, just have that look. I do not. They look chic and casual, I'd just ... well, not look good. 

 

I don't know. My self esteem is in the toilet anyways thanks to all of this, trying to find pants that fit is not going to help. I'm just not a classy looking person. This is going to be terribly difficult for me. 

 

I figured it was worth getting a male opinion, since that's who counts in the end anyways. 

 

Oh FFS.  You're quite pretty. 

 

This isn't about looking hot anyway.  It's about (i) demonstrating the good judgment to look professional in an interview setting and (ii) showing the company that you respect it and the opportunity enough to show up looking like you're taking it seriously and you want the job.

 

Find a blazer that fits you reasonably well, put it over a reasonable blouse that doesn't show cleavage, and wear either pants or a skirt (as long as the skirt isn't too short).  Then forget about it, get to the interview 5 minutes early (but not more than 8 minutes early because that's weird and a bit annoying for them), show enthusiasm and appreciation for the opportunity to meet with them and ask some questions that demonstrate that you've done your homework.

 

You're going to crush it.

 

 

I'll give my things that are awesome. Had my stress test today (follow up after the ER visit). The good news is, there is no bad news.

 

*relieved*

 

Outstanding.

 

I think you're 99% where you need to be, which is being resolved to finding something that works for you. And you will.

 

As for the matter of the male opinion, just keep in mind: If H.R. is involved -- at least as an initial filter/gatekeeper -- the opinions of a woman (or women) will matter as well.

 

Oh!  Oh!  Feminist/assumption/white male/check your privilege breach!!

 

SJW code red!

[darksabre]

I'll give my things that are awesome. Had my stress test today (follow up after the ER visit). The good news is, there is no bad news.

 

*relieved*

:thumbsup:

[That Aud Smell]

You're going to crush it.

 

All good stuff - punctuated quite rightly with this.

Oh!  Oh!  Feminist/assumption/white male/check your privilege breach!!

 

SJW code red!

 

/grabs his personal cannister of beef jerky before fleeing

[TrueBlueGED]

I'll give my things that are awesome. Had my stress test today (follow up after the ER visit). The good news is, there is no bad news.

 

*relieved*

Congrats on vertigo :beer:

[spndnchz]

I'll give my things that are awesome. Had my stress test today (follow up after the ER visit). The good news is, there is no bad news.

 

*relieved*

 

 

Congrats on vertigo :beer:

 

I had vertigo once. It turned out to be a small calcium deposit in my ear, resting on the tiny hairs in there, that sent my brain bad waves.

[That Aud Smell]

I had vertigo once. It turned out to be a small calcium deposit in my ear, resting on the tiny hairs in there, that sent my brain bad waves.

 

calcium, man. a good and necessary thing in many settings. but in the wrong place? very problematic.

[nfreeman]

I don't like suck ups, it's just the way I see it. The interviewee shouldn't need to have to send a letter after they've had a chance to evaluate the situation and let the employer know they're still interested. If I were the employer I'd give them the rundown of the job and gauge their interest on the spot.

 

I know I'm not the only one. ;)

 

You have a rare talent for choosing issues to be on the obviously wrong side of.

[JJFIVEOH]

You have a rare talent for choosing issues to be on the obviously wrong side of.

 

A large portion of my friends are business owners, I've had talks with most of them about how the workforce has changed in the last 5, 10, 20 years along with the mindset of employees in that time frame. Most of them will tell you that they don't care for the potential employees that go out of their way to try and impress. That includes follow up letters, overdressing and sucking up. They'd rather see somebody come in wearing casual attire and speak from the heart. Most will tell you 90% of the potential employees are all the same, overdressed (giving false impressions) and the same scripted answers like they've been up all night researching what the latest trends are in job interviews.

 

You don't have to take my word for it. Wild asked for input, I gave it. But you may want to consider the fact that my side may be a little more obvious than you think. Asking for input and dismissing anything remotely opposed to the common view, isn't asking for input at all. It's confirmation bias.

[That Aud Smell]

Most of them will tell you that they don't care for the potential employees that go out of their way to try and impress. That includes follow up letters, overdressing and sucking up. They'd rather see somebody come in wearing casual attire and speak from the heart. 

 

I've served on hiring committees for four different corporate entities. Everyone on those committees very much appreciated follow-up letters, and took note of those who did not send them. None of us ever faulted someone for dressing professionally. And no one ever took a dim view of a candidate being bright, cheery, and eager to please. Rather, all of those were taken as givens because all of those things denote a level of seriousness, maturity, and commitment.

 

It was an ability to speak from the heart, as you say, or convey some aspects of who they were (provided they were good aspects) that differentiated those who were given offers.

 

The feedback from people you know may be a function of the industries into which they're hiring, of course. If someone were to come dressed casually for a job at the settings with which I am familiar, then they would not even get a serious look.

[darksabre]

I've served on hiring committees for four different corporate entities. Everyone on those committees very much appreciated follow-up letters, and took note of those who did not send them. None of us ever faulted someone for dressing professionally. And no one ever took a dim view of a candidate being bright, cheery, and eager to please. Rather, all of those were taken as givens because all of those things denote a level of seriousness, maturity, and commitment.

 

It was an ability to speak from the heart, as you say, or convey some aspects of who they were (provided they were good aspects) that differentiated those who were given offers.

 

The feedback from people you know may be a function of the industries into which they're hiring, of course. If someone were to come dressed casually for a job at the settings with which I am familiar, then they would not even get a serious look.

I think there's a certain cutoff in the job world where the normal professional etiquette stops mattering to a lot of employers. I've worked jobs where doing the "normal" things weren't really necessary. Pretty much any blue collar job doesn't give a crap about thank you letters, wearing nice clothes to an interview, etc. 

 

But Josie isn't ever going to be applying to work a job where these things aren't necessary. 

[JJFIVEOH]

I've served on hiring committees for four different corporate entities. Everyone on those committees very much appreciated follow-up letters, and took note of those who did not send them. None of us ever faulted someone for dressing professionally. And no one ever took a dim view of a candidate being bright, cheery, and eager to please. Rather, all of those were taken as givens because all of those things denote a level of seriousness, maturity, and commitment.

 

It was an ability to speak from the heart, as you say, or convey some aspects of who they were (provided they were good aspects) that differentiated those who were given offers.

 

The feedback from people you know may be a function of the industries into which they're hiring, of course. If someone were to come dressed casually for a job at the settings with which I am familiar, then they would not even get a serious look.

 

Like I've said, and even you mentioned, it all depends on the setting and it also depends on the person doing the hiring. I made mention earlier that it's not a clear cut answer whether or not a follow up letter is beneficial, some of it needs to be put on the employee to determine what kind of person they're dealing with.

 

It's just not fair for nfreeman to completely dismiss my post simply because he doesn't agree.

No matter how we look at it, best of luck to Wildcard!

[Eleven]

Great news, weave.

[MattPie]

We've: great news.

 

Josie: you're quite fetching so knock it off with the nonsense-talk; and I'll echo that you're going to crush it.

 

Awesome: new set of summer tires on the car; it's just so planted compared to the snows when it's too warm.

[Weave]

We've: great news.

 

Josie: you're quite fetching so knock it off with the nonsense-talk; and I'll echo that you're going to crush it.

 

Awesome: new set of summer tires on the car; it's just so planted compared to the snows when it's too warm.

Those snow tread patterns and silicone compounds make snow tires downright squirrelly in hot weather.

[darksabre]

I used to run snow tires year round on all my old B-Body GMs, and my Suburban. It forced me to drive more conservatively so that I wouldn't burn the tread out as fast.  :P