I have a teaching job interview on Thursday and I don't know what to wear. It is at the school I already work and my kids attend. NO woman has ever worn a suit here, not even a pant suit. It would really look weird to be so dressed up. My fav dress is black, but that is too funereally. Any suggestions!
I live in Montana! Women don't wear suits and heels. I really can't remember the last time I saw a woman wearing a suit with a skirt and heels. Maybe a pants suit at the university? I know that I have never seen any of the teachers wear a suit at school, not even back to school night. There is 3 teachers at school I have NEVER seen wear a dress or skirt in 3 years. And if we do wear dresses it's with boots in the winter and sandals in the summer! There is a dairy farm across the street and we have icy snowy conditions from October to April so we dress for the weather. I can't imagine what would happen if we wore hose and heels and had a fire drill in the winter:)
Well the interviews are over. I wore a black pencil skirt, nice dress boots and a very nice royal blue blouse, No suit jacket> None of the 7 women candidates wore a suit! One woman just wore a nice sweater and slacks. Even one of the guys didn't wear a suit jacket. So I guess my gut feeling was right. We just don't do suits in MT.
I work at a middle school and while none of us wear suits on a daily basis, you better believe we break them out for open house. =)
I agree with the posters who advised you to wear the suit. I would always wear a suit to an interview to give the impression that I am conscientious and professional and that I take the opportunity seriously. I view it as a sign of respect for the employer.
Good luck!
If you have a suit, I would wear it. I never wear hose with slacks, so I would skip those, personally! If it would look way too formal for work that day, I would bring a cardigan or wear a top that work with just the pants, then just throw on the jacket for the interview. I can't imagine anyone saying that you look just way too professional for the job :) But if you would be very uncomfortable in a suit, a sweater set and pencil skirt is a close second for looking professional.
I just completed sitting on an interview panel for potential employees from volunteer through attorney. Almost everyone wore either a suit or slacks/skirt and a jacket. The one person who didn't, I noticed, and my impression was that they didn't seem to be taking the interview very seriously.
Wear a suit. That is what is expected.
Most K-12 teachers do not wear suits, but it is still expected at interviews. Actually there are many professions where people rarely, if ever, wear a suit once they have the job. A suit is still expected for a job interview.
You won't look out of place. You will look professional. You will look like you are taking the interview seriously, respect the administration, know that you are not guaranteed the job just because you currently work there, really want the job and want them to know that you are the right person for the job.
I was always told to dress at least one level above what I would normally wear on the job.
If you don't have a suit, wear something very similar.
Good luck!
The saying goes, "Dress for the job you want, not the job you have."
A "suit" does not have to mean a formally tailored one. A well made jacket over a good dress is fine, with hose and good pumps but not high heels.
Since this interview is in your school, consider that if you dress like you do every day, they may get the impression that you didn't really think enough of the interview to make a bigger effort and wear something different. You don't want them to think you believed, "Oh, well, it's just at my own school and they know me, it'll be no problem, I'm sure to get it"--which is the impression it could give if you do nothing much different from what you usually wear.
I live in Montana too. Wear the suit. Or at least a jacket with your dress/skirt/pants.
Women do wear suits to interviews, even women who don't wear them on a regular basis in their work. No one is going to make you dress like this everyday if you get the job and the dress code is more casual, but for an interview, dress to impress. No one will fault you for looking too professional, but they will for being too casual.
it's an interview. you're not dressing to walk into the classroom, you're dressing to impress them sufficiently that you're mature, intelligent and professional enough to be allowed to walk into a classroom and educate children.
wear a suit.
khairete
S. (wondering what kind of school it is where NO woman has ever worn so much as a pantsuit)
The women in Montana may not wear suits and heels to work, but I bet they wore a suit (and pumps?) for the interview.
I have never had a job where I wore suits on a regular basis. Occasionally for a specific reason, but never everyday. I still wore a suit to every professional interview I've ever had, including my interview to work at summer camp - it was at a job fair, so I was already wearing a suit anyway, but I got the job!
A suit doesn't mean heels, and it doesn't mean that's what you will wear to work. It's just one of the things most of us do to show the interviewers that we really want the job.
You may not need to wear a suit, but don't be surprised if you are the only applicant that doesn't.
I understand what the other posters are saying. But a suit is very far out of my comfort level and I would be self conscience about how "out of place" I looked. And high heels are a rarity for me. If I wore that, I don't think I would have done the best interview possible, I would have been more nervous and distracted. When I was looking for teaching jobs, I always wore nice, tailored slacks matched with a nice dress shirt. As for shoes, I wore nice black dress shoes...not heels. I did my makeup nicely and made sure my hair looked great too. I was offered four teaching positions from three different school districts, even without a suit and heels.
Definitely go with a suit... I agree with the poster who said to dress at least one level above what you would wear on a daily basis. A dress eould be fine, I think, but it doesn't have to be black. You should always look professional for an interview, even if it's at a place where they know you well.
I wore a suit to every teaching interview I ever had. Every other applicant also wore suits. Interviews call for a certain level of professionalism, above and beyond the normal dress culture of the particular job.
If you are dead set against a suit, I'd go for the black dress, but pep it up a little with a nice scarf or necklace.
I would also suggest wearing a suit. You want to dress like you really want the job and care enough to put the extra effort into what you're wearing. I was on an interview committee for a teaching position and a women being interviewed came in wearing khaki pants with a casual top...not dressed to impress. We hired the guy who came in wearing a black suit- overall he exuded more confidence to the committee.
Ultimately we would have hired the MOST qualified applicant, but when the playing field is level little things like professional attire can really make an extra good impression.
I wear jeans to work but I wore a suit to my interview. It does not matter what the dress code is for where you work, for an interview you dress for an interview. I know when my daughter interviewed for her teaching position she wore a suit.
Wear slacks and a nice tailored shirt/blouse. Not something fru-fru or mom looking. I'd wear something that shows you are willing to get down on the floor if needed but professional looking in the end.
All my slacks have a bias stretch, they're not stretch pants, they have waistbands, pockets, and zippers. It's the top that they will notice. The black pants will fade into the background.
Pick something nice and solid colored or nearly solid. A burst of colors/patterns will distract their eyes too much.
What does the principal wear? In our public school, teachers do not wear suits but the principal does. I would in that case wear a suit to the interview (dress up to the job you want to achieve eventually). If you are strongly against a suit, a dress with a coordinating jacket and pumps would be my next choice.
For an interview, I'd wear a suit. A pants suit, but yes, a suit. It doesn't matter if no one ever wears one to work on a regular day. This isn't a regular day --it's your interview.
I've worn suits for interviews for higher up positions in my school. No one knew that I was planning to interview until I showed up in a suit that day.
Wear what you would wear as a teacher for "class photo day."
The last interview I had, I wore slacks and a sweater.
Always a suit for a professional interview. Shoes should match or be close, minimal jewelry and nude hose.
Well, if you think wearing a suit is a bit much, my advice might also seem off. But I offer it anyway. :)
Whatever you wear, only bring one item with you in your hand. That leaves your other hand available for that great handshake when you enter the room and when you leave, offered to everyone in the interview room. So if you are bringing a briefcase with examples of your lessons and background, toss in tissues, a pen, your license and phone. Leave the pocketbook at home. You will look organized and professional.
All my best!
I always wore a nice black skirt and a white button down blouse. I usually accented it with a scarf or nice colorful pin. You could probably do nice dress slacks. Preferably black. No matter what the typical dress is in the school you should dress nicer than a typical day.
