Interview attire question

[wineandcheese]

I have 2 interviews this week. I haven’t been to an interview in 14 years. My last job I didn’t even fill out my application until my first day of work.

The first interview is for a daycare/preschool teacher’s aid. They asked me if I can be there for 3 hours so I’m guessing it will include hands on with the children. Because of that I want to look nice but practical. I was thinking of skinny dark jeans, a nice button down shirt and ballet flats. Too casual?

For interview 2, it’s for an activities assistant at an assistant living care. I was thinking dress black pants, nice shirt, ballet flats and I’m going to try to find a blazer tomorrow.

My husband thinks both ideas are too dressy. He says to dress for the job but I want to make a great first impression. He literally work jeans, tee shirt and steel toe boots for his interviews but they were for printing jobs.

[pooh8402]

Both of those sound perfect to me.

[ewall]

Sounds appropriate to me. Good luck!!

[travelbug]

I think both of those sound perfect, good luck!!!

[katespade]

It’s always better to overdress than underdress for interviews - I think your outfit choices for both are good. One thing to keep in mind, though, is making sure any/all tattoos are covered, especially when you’re interviewing for a position in an environment that tends to frown on them, like childcare or an assisted living.

[wineandcheese]

Jul 8, 2018 19:18:09 GMT -5 katespade said:

It’s always better to overdress than underdress for interviews - I think your outfit choices for both are good. One thing to keep in mind, though, is making sure any/all tattoos are covered, especially when you’re interviewing for a position in an environment that tends to frown on them, like childcare or an assisted living.

Thanks for reminding me! I’ll have to get a long sleeve shirt or use concealer for both. I didn’t think of that! Thank you!

[grover]

What you have planned sounds perfect. Good luck!

[estrellita]

I think those sound great! I usually have worn dress pants to any interview I've done but I think for the daycare one, nice jeans are probably fine. I agree with it better to be too dressy than not enough. We can wear jeans and tennis shoes at my work but I'd never go to an interview like that here!

Good luck!

[MrsMB]

I tend to tell candidates to err on the side of overdressed. I'd be willing to do some sort of business casual pant to both. That's just me though. But yes, ditto katespade on the tattoos.

[katespade]

Jul 9, 2018 9:55:41 GMT -5 MrsMB said:

I tend to tell candidates to err on the side of overdressed. I'd be willing to do some sort of business casual pant to both. That's just me though. But yes, ditto katespade on the tattoos.

This is a good point, wineandcheese. I think you'll be okay with jeans, but when I had a working interview at a preschool, I did wear business casual pants. I just made sure that I had full range of motion in them. I'm sure my pants weren't the reason I got the job, but I did get the job. lol.

[pooh8402]

I also tend to err on the side of overdressed, which is why I like the idea of an ankle length pant (like Old Navy Pixie) with ballet flats for the day with kids.

I mean, I wear scrubs to work, but I usually interview in a suit.

Eta: I missed that you said jeans in your initial post. I think it sounds perfect, except change the jeans for business casual pants.

[HoneySpider]

Good luck!

[wineandcheese]

I ended up getting black Pixie chinos from Old Navy to wear for both. I couldn’t find a black blazer that didn’t look cheap or way out of my price range.

Today I was the dressier of the 4 people interviewing. It went well though and the teacher really liked me.

Tomorrow is the activity assistant interview.

Thank you guys for your help! I was so lost shopping yesterday. Poor H just followed me around, just as lost.