I got an interview....what about the peripheral activities

[daimiasue]

I have an interview this Friday but there are other activities which I'm supposed to participate in. One of the big ones is a dinner at the house of the department chair and I'm freaking out about it. What dress, shoes should I wear? There are also receptions with students and faculty..Help anyone!!!!!

[coyabean]

BE COMFORTABLE!!!

On my interview the folks pulling at ties and shifting in heels and hose were pretty easy to spot. It will be a long day or two. Dress for the long haul. Depending on weather I'd dress for outside temps and inside temps; basically do layers. A button-up shirt with a shell and a jacket or cardigan? Throw a pashmina in your bag. Comfortable shoes cannot be stressed enough. I ended going on The Longest Campus Tour In History. Perhaps a stacked heel mary jane or loafer that works well with both skirts and pants? Look around your current department -- or most recent one -- and wear a half step better than them.

And while I may get into all kinds of trouble for saying this let me caution about the academic prejudice against overtly attractive. I've noticed it. I've discussed it with profs. I've heard it talked about in back hallways at conferences. Nothing flashy. It's ripe with contradictions and -isms but some folks, especially old school types, associate flashy with un-scholarly.

Other than that some things I found useful:

-- Again, long day. Pack aspirin and shout wipes.

-- If you do wear hose, put a back up pair in your day bag

-- band aids in case you do not heed my advice on the shoes; you can always use them for chafed heels

-- a nice scarf, pashmina or shawl can add some interest and its practical

-- no need to do skirts unless that's your thing

Above all else, choose comfort and go to everything you're invited to. There were folks at my interview who skipped the social stuff with grad students and such and I do not think it was a wise decision.

Be present, relax, enjoy it for what it is. If you're lucky you will never, ever, ever again be a courted applicant. Enjoy.

[daimiasue]

"Above all else, choose comfort and go to everything you're invited to. There were folks at my interview who skipped the social stuff with grad students and such and I do not think it was a wise decision."

Thanks for the advice. I do plan to attend all activities as this may be my one shot..only interview thus far. Should I wear a suit to the receptions as well. I went on a recruitment trip to Purdue and wore a black cocktail dress to their reception. (maybe that's why they're yet to reply..lol). I was planning to do the same on this trip.

For the shoes, I'm quite comfortable in heels but I will heed your advice on the band-aids. Can never be too sure with those. My tour is on Saturday with students so I was thinking jeans and sneakers would be appropriate..YAY or NAY??

[coyabean]

"Above all else, choose comfort and go to everything you're invited to. There were folks at my interview who skipped the social stuff with grad students and such and I do not think it was a wise decision."

Thanks for the advice. I do plan to attend all activities as this may be my one shot..only interview thus far. Should I wear a suit to the receptions as well. I went on a recruitment trip to Purdue and wore a black cocktail dress to their reception. (maybe that's why they're yet to reply..lol). I was planning to do the same on this trip.

For the shoes, I'm quite comfortable in heels but I will heed your advice on the band-aids. Can never be too sure with those. My tour is on Saturday with students so I was thinking jeans and sneakers would be appropriate..YAY or NAY??

Yeah, I would ixnay the cocktail dress. Slacks or a skirt with the same business-y feel that you wear during the day is my suggestion. Maybe go with a brighter top or something as a nod to it being cocktail hour. But the entire event is an interview, even the social events. So, I would dress in a way that keeps you in that position.

And jeans on the tour are fine, I think. Just not the super hip ones with holes and rips and sparkly things across the arse. LOL Classic, simple jeans and a top should be fine for that. I would not have worn sneakers. I got some of those aerosole walking type shoes that look like a shoe but feel like a sneaker. But that's just me. Our tour was in the middle of the main visiting day so there was no chance to go to the room and change. And right after the tour we were back in the department office meeting more people. So I didn't want to be in sneakers for that. If the tour is solely with grad students though I'd be more comfortable going straight casual.

ETA: saw thison the Chronicle this morning. His bit on how to dress for an academic interview is a good primer.

Edited February 15, 2010 by coyabean

[jeanne]

I've been on two visitation weekends - one for an interview and one after acceptance. For the first one (interview) there were lots of business casual to suits. For the second one it was business casual to dark jeans and a nice top. I wore nicer pants, comfy heels, and a sweater to both and felt totally fine. I wore the same thing to the reception at the dean's house.

Both of these weekends were set up by a GA for the department. I actually emailed her and asked what attire was expected. She was very nice and told me business casual, so I felt perfectly prepared. I was already accepted to this department, so I wasn't as worried about making a "bad" impression.

For the campus tour, I would not wear heels, but I think jeans are appropriate.

[daimiasue]

Thanks Jeanne. I'll be raiding my closet tomorrow to see what appropriate attire I can take. I'll give feedback on the trip when I get back on Sunday.

[herself the elf]

Thanks to everybody for all of the insight about what to wear to these types of things. I've also been stressing about an upcoming day of activities, albeit at a school where I've been accepted. I'm likely to go there, so I want to make a good first impression. I'm thinking preppy: black slacks and some sort of plain sweater.

I agree with Coyabean that there is some prejudice in the ivory tower against female attractiveness and any sort of fashion sense, so we'll all just have to wait to break that out until we get the highest scores on our first exams

Crew neck sweater, here I come!

[LadyL]

The prejudice against "attractiveness" or attention to appearance makes me sad. I normally wear my hair curled and really like it that way, but have been blow drying it straight for interviews so it looks less "fussy" and high maintenance. The funny thing is that blow drying it straight takes way longer than curling it! But I figure better safe than sorry, go with a plainer and more "modern" look. I also wear minimal, natural makeup and soft, neutral colors. Normally I am the type to wear, say, blue leopard print tights with red mary janes so I definitely am suppressing my natural flair for fashion. I worry a little about what they will think when I get there and dress less subdued (no animal prints in the lab, of course, but i do like to play with color).

[coyabean]

The prejudice against "attractiveness" or attention to appearance makes me sad. I normally wear my hair curled and really like it that way, but have been blow drying it straight for interviews so it looks less "fussy" and high maintenance. The funny thing is that blow drying it straight takes way longer than curling it! But I figure better safe than sorry, go with a plainer and more "modern" look. I also wear minimal, natural makeup and soft, neutral colors. Normally I am the type to wear, say, blue leopard print tights with red mary janes so I definitely am suppressing my natural flair for fashion. I worry a little about what they will think when I get there and dress less subdued (no animal prints in the lab, of course, but i do like to play with color).

I hear you. I just add it to the long list of daily slights I have to navigate thanks to a range of -isms and keep it moving. My plan is to have a CV that negates all of that one day. But, yeah, it's a bummer. I'm an "extra" personality. I don't mean to be but I yam what I yam. I like sparkles and bright red shoes and belts and accessories and I wear them all with NO sense of irony. LOL I'm definitely not a Banana Republic type of person. I make conscious decisions for these types of things to take it down a notch...or three. However, I have a line. At a conference last summer a mentor -- with the best of intentions, I know -- suggested I wear my hair slicked back and all one muted color. Um. I would have felt like a ogre. I rebelled totally! A bright orange shell, 'ethnic' earrings and BANGS! LOL I still rocked it. The trick is to be louder than your outfit. LOL

[red_crayons]

This thread convinced me that buying shoes is a good idea. Only so that I can have good business casual shoes for my open house weekend. Of course.