14 years ago
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
What to Wear AGAIN?
Over in Scientopia, I attempt to acquire data on What to Wear for a faculty interview in various academic disciplines. What is considered typical interview-wear for men and women? What is the range of generally acceptable attire? I get this question a lot, and now I seek nothing less than to create a comprehensive guide, keeping in mind that some advice will be strange and wrong.
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4 comments:
After reading the comments over at the other blog, it sounds like women faculty need to worry about their clothes falling into the following categories:
-- too dressy (people may think you are either incompetent or administrative staff or both)
-- too flashy or accidentally revealing (hate those gaps in button shirts while teaching)
-- too informal (people might think you are a student)
-- too uncomfortable
-- too bright of color
-- too masculine or too feminine
What's left to wear?!
Come on, people, just wear a moderate, neutral suit with comfortable shoes! A job interview is not the time to show everyone what a fun, crazy personality you have. A job interview is the time to show that you are professional, intelligent and capable of becoming a leader in your field. You can use your second visit to prove that you can drink everyone in the department under the table while wearing a thoroughly geeky T-shirt.
Whether you should wear a suit depends on your field, though. I have either been employed or had successful interviews at universities in the east/south, midwest, and west, and a suit would be weird for men or women. Men can wear a sport jacket and women can wear a skirt, and no one would hold it against anyone who wore a real suit, but it would be a bit strange in many earth science departments throughout the US. Those with close connections to industry might be more suit-oriented, I suppose.
I interviewed in Physics and Math departments, and the first few times I just asked the search committee chair in advance what would be appropriate and erred on the more formal side of that. For men, a shirt with a collar and dress slacks seemed to be the minimum, and a sport jacket was completely normal. A tie is optional. Especially in math departments, a full suit seemed like it would be too formal.
Whatever it is you wear, don't let it make you look uncomfortable---put it on and wear it out in the world a couple of times before you go. People can look pretty stiff when they're not used to the clothes they're wearing. And if it doesn't fit, find something else to wear.
I don't have much specific to say for women, other than to say that women's suits generally look a little less formal than men's and, since there doesn't seem to be a sport jacket equivalent, I'd say it's a good choice.
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