![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wishingstar on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
Wait! Please dont redirect this to work. I have a question in all this that I think might be better answered here.
Good news. I got a call from another organization for a second job interview today. It's at a psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents as a direct care worker. The interview is Monday, right after my interview for the crisis intervention job. It'll be a stressful morning but it'll be good to get them both over at once. I actually applied for this job many many weeks ago so I was surprised to hear from them, but its the one I wanted the most. I think it would be a little bit easier for me to handle emotionally and they have a high turnover so I wouldnt feel as pressured to stay if it turned out to be more than I can handle. My T used to work at this same hospital, so thats sort of neat.
Heres my question. It might seem silly, but what do I wear? When I was just interviewing at the mental health agency I was planning on wearing a black suit and a colored shirt of some sort - fairly formal. But that feels too formal for the second interview. Is it? Would slacks and a sweater or something be more appropriate? I'm not sure what is underdressed and what is overdressed. I know there isnt a huge difference and it probably wont matter anyway, but I'm stressing about it. Any suggestions?
Thanks all. :)
Posted by Kath on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by wishingstar on January 26, 2007, at 17:00:09
Jeez - I have no idea.
I wonder if the other board might be better?
Can you post there also? I don't know if that's 'cool' or not.
I imagine someone will be able to give you some input. How are you doing?
Kath
Posted by wishingstar on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear? » wishingstar, posted by Kath on January 26, 2007, at 17:21:33
Hi Kath. :) I know work is more appropriate in some ways, but it seems that people dont visit there too often and the interviews are soon (Monday) so I guess I was hoping more people would see it here.
I've been having a hard time lately. I've been posting more on the psych board than anything. Struggling to keep myself afloat right now and out of the hospital. Speaking of that, I saw that your son is getting out of the hospital soon - I'm so glad to hear that. Sorry for not responding when you posted before, but my ability to be supportive isnt always real high lately. But I'm glad it's working out! Thanks for asking.
Posted by caraher on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by wishingstar on January 26, 2007, at 17:00:09
I don't know, but as a rule of thumb it's probably better to err on the "overdressed" side. It's a sign that you are taking the interview seriously.
I assume the suit includes a jacket... you might be able to "tune" the formality of your style of dress by simply removing that. Is there much time between the interviews?
But more important than the wrapper you come in is what you have to say...
Posted by wishingstar on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by caraher on January 26, 2007, at 18:10:59
Yes, it includes a jacket. I'm not sure about removing that though for 2 reasons. The only tops I ever wear under it (that seem to look good) are actually short sleeved, and its COLD here! And secondly, although I think they look good paired with the jacket, the tops arent particualrly nice by themselves and I dont think it'd really look appropriate. Of course I guess I could always go out and get a new top that could go either way, but I'd like to avoid that. Maybe this calls for a raid of my closet to see if I have anything I'm not thinking of. The first interview is at 9 and the second at 11, and they are only a few miles apart, but home is 30 min away so I dont plan to go home inbetween. It's actually fairly close to my Ts office and I know there's a starbucks nearby, so I'll probably hang out there.
And yes, my biggest concern is of course what I say, not how I'm dressed. :) Crossing my fingers on that one.
Posted by Phillipa on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear? » caraher, posted by wishingstar on January 26, 2007, at 18:22:58
Have you been there yet? What is the dress code of the staff? I'd take a hint from that. A jacket would be nice over whatever else you decide to wear. Love Phillipa
Posted by wishingstar on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear? » wishingstar, posted by Phillipa on January 26, 2007, at 19:59:05
Unfortunately I've never been to either place, except for the lobby of the psych hospital to pick up the application. I did work in a similar mental health agency a few years back doing case management and the dress was fairly casual, but this is a different position, a much larger agency, and an interview, of course. So I'm just not sure.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear? » Phillipa, posted by wishingstar on January 26, 2007, at 20:01:02
I think you should wear the jacket/suit thing you were talking about. I really don't think you can be 'overdressed' for an interview. It shows that you're taking the job seriously and you are a professional woman etc etc. And women have the luxury of being able to 'fine tune' their outfits, so you could dress it down slightly or add a pretty broach or scarf or something if you don't want to look too formal. I think you need to show that you're taking the interview seriously and that you've thought about what you're wearing.
Another thing to be would be to try to match what the interviewer in your first interview was wearing - that is probably your best clue. Go with that, but try making it look alittle smarter than what s/he was wearing.
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by cubic_me on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:48
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 27, 2007, at 4:20:32
I'd agree with Meri, and it's better to be a little over formal than too casual for an interview. I'd always be more formal for the interview than for the actual job (if the job wasn't hugely formal, if you know what I mean!).
It will impress them that you've made an effort with your appearance, and I doubt they'll assume that what you wear for the interview would be what you'd wear for the job.
Posted by caraher on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:49
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by cubic_me on January 27, 2007, at 7:14:57
> It will impress them that you've made an effort with your appearance, and I doubt they'll assume that what you wear for the interview would be what you'd wear for the job.
That's a good point. When I was interviewing for academic jobs in physics I remember crossing paths with folks interviewing for other positions on the same campus, and my standing joke was that we would stand out no more wearing out suits if, instead, they issued use bright orange prison uniforms with the words "JOB CANDIDATE" stenciled across our backs! If I wore a suit on the job now I think people would ask why was looking for another job and what time my flight left for the interview...
Posted by happykat on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:49
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by caraher on January 27, 2007, at 10:38:05
I'd wear the suit. Always dress to impress.
Regards,
happykat :)
Posted by wishingstar on January 29, 2007, at 19:31:49
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by happykat on January 27, 2007, at 13:20:21
Thanks everyone! As you all have suggested, I think I'll just go with the suit. I'd rather overdo it than be underdressed, thats for sure, and either way, it wont be too far out of the ordinary. I'm not applying to scoop dog poop or anything. A suit isnt out of the norm. :) Now to dig through my closet and find something to go with it.... I'm not meant for fashion.
Posted by elanor roosevelt on January 29, 2007, at 21:36:42
In reply to thanks everyone, posted by wishingstar on January 28, 2007, at 9:53:54
good luck
Posted by TexasChic on February 1, 2007, at 19:00:21
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear? » Phillipa, posted by wishingstar on January 26, 2007, at 20:01:02
So when's the interview? Oh and i agree with the rest that its better to be over dressed than under dressed. Nobody's going to fault you for wearing a suit to an interview.
-T
Posted by wishingstar on February 1, 2007, at 21:12:31
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear?, posted by TexasChic on February 1, 2007, at 19:00:21
It was actually on Monday... :) Dr Bob redirected this thread on the day of the interview I believe... heheh.
I did end up wearing the suit. I was dressed very appropriately for the first interview, but somewhat overdressed for the second... they were all wearing jeans. But I'd prefer overdressed to underdressed any day. Both went well though.
I actually got offered the first job (the intensive in-home thing) on Tuesday and accepted it today. I'm starting Feb 12. There's a thread part of the way up the page about it on social. I'm not really sure how I feel about it. This evening I'm busy panicing that it means I'm going to lose my therapist, or at least have to cut back, and I'm NOT ready for that. We'll see.
Thanks for posting. :)
Posted by TexasChic on February 1, 2007, at 21:25:58
In reply to Re: Job interviews - what to wear? » TexasChic, posted by wishingstar on February 1, 2007, at 21:12:31
We're playing posting tag. i just replied to your post on social.
:-)
-T
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Work | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.