Business Professional?

[meridionale]

I am royally in freak out mode right now. I have an interview Saturday with my favorite school, and the dress is business professional. I went and got a nice skirt suit that looks more appropriate for Spring, but the weaher would have made it fine.

Well, I am checking the weather now and randomly on the day of my interview, the weather drops to 40 and raining. The slew of days before and after are 65-70 and sunny. Obviously my luck isn't the best, so I am thinking I should go get a nice pants suit. Is it no longer taboo for women to be "business professional" in pants?

In addition to all this stress over an outfit and the weather, I was apparently supposed to receive a packet of info for the interview which I never got. So, now I get to be difficult and have to ask what it said. I am trying not to have a melt down, and I think once I had a moment of clarity to decide to just get a pants suit, I feel better.

I'm about to just to go the interview wearing jeans and a ripped up t-shirt! I'll let the rain get me nice and soggy, I won't do anything the information says because I never got it, and I'll interview as if I am doing nothing wrong. Okay, so I would never do that, but it would be a total Ferris Bueller moment.

[shellybe]

Good luck saturday! i hope you found something weather-appropriate, but either way i'm sure you'll be great. confidence is key.

[yin-bodhi]

I would never wear a skirt to an interview, but that's just me. I would go with a pants suit (red undershirt). Think about it... more and more women are getting graduate degrees only to have kids and not use their degrees. I would show up to the interview looking non-feminine as possible. Plus, women are starting to outnumber men on college campuses. I know what I am saying may invoke anger, but it's true. You have to sell yourself to these people as someone who is very serious and will use their degree. To wear a skirt and be "lady like" isn't very academic. Wear a pant suit, go easy on the make-up, wear red as a power color, don't spend too much time on the hair; and make sure you stand up straight, look them in the eye, and give off the impression that this is the only thing you want in life. Men? Kids? You don't have time for such things! You are worth their investment!

BEST OF LUCK!

[meridionale]

Well, today I went and got a black suit, and I feel much better about it! The temperature outlook has dropped even more, so I would have felt stupid in a skirt suit.

I think the only thing that could be worse than getting a rejection before they meet you is getting one afterwards! Luckily my nervousness fades as soon as I sit down and start talking, but Saturday night will not come fast enough for me!

[Guest guest]

can I ask which school?

[jennesy]

wear pants!

[PETRAL6]

I agree that a pant suit fits that situation, but not that a skirt is less appropriate. I hate that people thing to be professional you have to hide all femininity. This only give the impression that women must try to be like men to be successful, making it harder again for women. If a male prototype is made for success, women will never be able to out-male a man. First goal, look professional. Second goal, be comfortable and confident in the outfit you're wearing.