any moms in academia? need advice re: interview outfit

[SweetPotato]

I've been home with my daughter for the past 5 years, and am interviewing for an adjunct faculty position at a community college (I have a MS in geology). What do I wear?! My sister (who is not in academia) insists that I must wear a suit. My husband (who has spent time in academia, and who tends to be quite conservative on the clothing front) says dark dress slacks and a blouse. I've just spent 2 days shopping, and am hesitant to spend $$ on a suit that may never get worn again. I found a khaki-colored dress skirt (knee length) and a collared, button-up french blue shirt (with three quarter sleeves, and tailored to be worn untucked)-- I LOVE this outfit-- it's the only thing I've tried on that I look in the mirror and feel like "me". What do you think? I'd probably wear brown pumps with it. Would that be dressy enough? FWIW, I expect that the person I'm meeting with will probably be in jeans or maybe dockers with a polo or button up shirt and no tie. Please advise!! (also, being a geology, I'm always somewhat conscious of wanting to not give the impression of being too prissy or fussy. I'd like to look professional and pulled together but also not like someone who is afraid to get dirty, etc.)

[EFmom]

Here it's pretty common for interviewees to wear suits to interviews.

I agree that most of the faculty will be pretty casually dressed. At my institution, the deans and administrators tend to wear suits all the time.

[LynnS6]

I wouldn't do a suit. I'd do either nice slacks, a blouse and a blazer/sweater or a nice skirt, shirt and blazer/sweater. (When I say 'blazer' I don't mean a suit type thing... I would wear something like this jacket which has a little more personality.)

It's very common for the interviewee to be better dressed than the hiring committee. It's not a bad thing. It shows them you care.

I think the outfit you describe would do, especially if the shirt isn't 'frilly'. People who don't work in academia really don't get the dress culture.

[paintedfire]

I'm probably not the best person to be answering this question seeing as I'm a prosecutor who often wears shirt dresses and dress pants with sweaters to court, but I think the outfit you described is right on target.

The only comments I have on it are make sure you watch how much jewelry you put on and maybe wear a blazer or a light cardigan - depending on your climate, of course.

Good luck!


ETA: I have a doctorate in Economics and my law degree, so I've spent a lot of time in school.

[Geofizz]

I've seen everything from slacks and a blouse to a suit for interviewees in geology (R1 university). All you propose is probably ok, nothing interpreted as too serious. You can get too casual, but I don't think that's what you're describing.

And yes, FWIW, I'm currently wearing jeans and a polo shirt.

[Ola_]

I don't think you need a suit, but I would wear a jacket with your outfit, not just a blouse. Doesn't have to match your skirt, just coordinate but it will make the whole outfit look better IMO.

[JElaineB]

I would say if you dress nicely you will be fine without a suit. I've been an adjunct in biology at two different community colleges and I don't think I wore a suit to interview at either one (though I've worn suits to plenty of other job interviews, including for other jobs at CC's).

[DariusMom]

Originally Posted by LynnS6

I wouldn't do a suit. I'd do either nice slacks, a blouse and a blazer/sweater or a nice skirt, shirt and blazer/sweater. (When I say 'blazer' I don't mean a suit type thing... I would wear something like this jacket which has a little more personality.)

It's very common for the interviewee to be better dressed than the hiring committee. It's not a bad thing. It shows them you care.

I think the outfit you describe would do, especially if the shirt isn't 'frilly'. People who don't work in academia really don't get the dress culture.

Originally Posted by Ola_

I don't think you need a suit, but I would wear a jacket with your outfit, not just a blouse. Doesn't have to match your skirt, just coordinate but it will make the whole outfit look better IMO.

: to both comments.

I'm in academia (humanities) and wearing a suit would probably be over the top (unless you were interviewing for a tenure track at a R1 school, but even then . ... ).

I think adding a jacket/blazer to the outfit you describe would be fine.

And ... good luck!

[SweetPotato]

Thanks, ladies! I've now dragged my poor daughter around for 3 days shopping, and I think we're both pretty much sick of it. I haven't been able to find a jacket that looks good with my skirt/top combo, but I did find some fantastic shoes that dress it up a notch. Should I keep searching for a jacket, or just let it go? I could add a cardigan, but it is hot, and I kind of like the structured look of the shirt-- a sweater seems like it might soften it a bit too much.

[Carita]

should be just fine - especially for an adjunc position... i would suggest a sweater/jacket anyway if you can find one - don't stress yourself out, but sometimes interview rooms are chilly - or if you have to give a little teachin demo, you might want to hide some sweat LOL. I think for an adjunct position, you are just fine.