Interviews: What to wear

Hello again,

So you've now got an interview invite (congrats - that's more than halfway there) and you've been preparing (see my previous post for tips). Its now the week before and you're trying to decide what to wear...!

Keep it simple and understated - essentially, what would you expect a consultant to wear if you had an appointment?

BOYS: a suit is always the best way to go because you cannot go wrong. I'd go for a dark colour (navy, black or dark grey) with a simple tie. Shoes should be clean and polished and make sure your hair is nicely cut and looks in order. 

The biggest dilemma guys seem to have is: to beard or not to beard?!

Obviously if you've got a beard for cultural or religious reasons then you should 100% keep it.

If you have a beard for fashion reasons, then it depends. I like the trimmed beard/neat stubble look but it has to be neat. It can't just look like you forgot to shave for the past week. As with your clothes,  the idea is to look professional and be clean and tidy.

A lot of people say doctors don't have beards but that's not true so just make sure you're comfortable with how you look and that everything looks neat, tidy and professional!!

GIRLS: a suit would work (either trousers or a longish skirt) but so would a smart pair of "dress" trousers with a plain coloured shirt and either a jacket, cardigan or jumper. For girls colour (e.g.: a coloured cardigan on top of a white shirt with black trousers) can be a nice, feminine touch but don't be too outrageous. Shoes should also be clean (and polished if they are leather). Hair should be neat, either tied back or away from your face. 

Girls also face two beard-like dilemmas:

1) Heels or flats - well obviously no silettoes but a small heeled boot would be fine, but so are flats
2) Nail varnish - the NHS does have a dress code that states "nothing below the elbow" but this is an interview so if you have a nice, neutral colour (e.g.: nude or pink) then I think that should be fine.

For both girls and boys, you have to be comfortable in what you're wearing as interviews aren't the most comfortable of situations so you don't want to make it any worse - if you've bought new clothes or shoes, wear them once or twice so you feel comfortable (same can be said for boys who aren't used to wearing ties).

Post to come about other interview-related things (like body language, arriving early etc)

Dr Wannabe
xx