Should I wear a suit to my interviews? (Nursing)?

Question

I will be a graduate nursing in May of 2008 and will be interviewing for RN positions soon. I am interviewing in hospitals and smaller offices. Should I wear a suit or just dress nicely? By dress nicely, I mean a nice pair of slacks or a skirt and a button-up collared shirt. I know the rule of thumb is to dress one step higher than what you would wear on the job, but I will be wearing scrubs so one step up is jeans to me. I'd never wear jeans to an interview! I think a suit may be too dressy, but I want to separate myself from the other people interviewing. Is it ever wrong to wear a suit? Thanks! :)

Answer 1

Given that you are a female, and I am a male, but I never interviewed for a position as an RN without a coat and tie. Remember you are also presenting yourself as a professional, who while you may wear scrubs in a work environment, would dress as a professional if the environment lent itself to that form of dress. I would think that too casual could indicate that you are not interested in the position. Consider dressing one step above the casual level of slacks and a button up blouse, and maybe going to a dress, or nice blouse and skirt. It is of course never wrong to wear the suit.

The most important things to understand about an interview are:
Look your best, wear conservative colors, with maybe a small accent of color, minimal makeup and jewelry, and no perfume or cologne. (Understand you interviewing to be a nurse, and nurses understand that odors such as colognes can be offensive to persons who are ill.)

Have a good resume - you may not have much experience, but make sure your resume looks good and presents your best features. Never use white paper it is hard on the eyes, never use pink or cute papers as they denote a lax attitude towards work.

Know the facility at which you are interviewing - try to find what you can from friends or online. Know what the facility specializes in and have some ideas of how you can help the facility.

Try not to push the questions about salary or days off. Wait until you have the job before you negotiate the particulars, you can always change your mind if they do not have a compensation package that meets your needs.

Relax, and try to be calm during the interview.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

It is never wrong to wear a suit.

I have also never heard of a candidate not getting hired because they "dressed up" more than the person doing the interview expected.

How you dress is a direct reflection of how badly you want the job, and what kind of image you will portray when you start working.

Too many people stress out over what to wear to an interview.

When I was working for other people, not once in my career did I ever ask anyone this question....just wear a suit.

PS: DO NOT call the receptionist and ask what other candidates are wearing or ask for directions...that screams laziness..mapquest it..that shows you are resourceful.

Receptionist's may have the keys, but they don't make hiring decisions...that is why they work reception.

Answer 3

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RE:
Should I wear a suit to my interviews? (Nursing)?
I will be a graduate nursing in May of 2008 and will be interviewing for RN positions soon. I am interviewing in hospitals and smaller offices. Should I wear a suit or just dress nicely? By dress nicely, I mean a nice pair of slacks or a skirt and a button-up collared shirt. I know the rule of...

Answer 4

If you really want to impress them, then yes you should wear the suit. You always want to dress nice, because thats a huge part of a job interview. How you look, specially when you are going to be working with a lot of patients.. if you get the job. For makeup just wear some coverup, VERY light mascara, and a gloss to make your lips shimmer. Thats it, you dont want to go all out with the makeup since "when your a nurse you cant wear makeup". So you want to show them, that you are fine without wearing makeup, by not pilling it on... And I think you should pull your hair back into a messy bun, or a slick back pony tail.

Answer 5

I would go with the suit! You can NEVER over dress and a suit shows personality, class, and professionalism. It will also set you apart from other people interviewing because most people that interview for a healthcare setting don't wear suits. Good luck on the interview!!

Answer 6

I always wore a suit to my interviews. Even before I was a nurse, I always wore suits, even for crappy jobs - which may have contributed to my being offered a job from every interview I have ever had. :)

No, it is never wrong to overdress for an interview.

Good luck to you in your last few months of school! You'll have no trouble finding a job. Start applying early - in March or April, and you'll have yourself a job waiting for you when you graduate in May.

Answer 7

I agree with what you've said, but to me suit would communicate administrative work at some level.

I believe a dress or skirt would likely be more appropriate.

To separate yourself from others, do your homework before you go--so if it's a hospital, go to their web site. What do they treat? (Few hospitals have burn units; most are not Level I Trauma centers, etc. So what does YOUR hospital treat? What area(s) would you want to work in--especially know something about that.) Consider dropping by a week or so before you interview and spend some time--go to the unit(s) you'd most like to work in and see if they have any volunteers who can clue you in--get a sense of how the families are treated in the waiting rooms. Go to the lunch room. Pay the exorbitant price and listen--maybe you will even find some chatty employees who will give you tips on applying. Far more sensible to stand out with knowledge and initiative than dress.

Remember, nurses are IN DEMAND. Granted, as a new grad, you don't have a lot of experience, BUT that can be a plus because everyone wants you to work THEIR system as you well know from clinical experiences. Plus you should be up-to-date on all the latest info.

Remember to skip perfume, long nails, dangling earrings, or hair that is all over the place because sensible units don't want that for their nurses as it interferes with proper care.

Good luck!

Answer 8

A suit might be a bit much. Dress pants, a shirt with collar, possibly a vest and shoes with shorter heels are the prescription here. Go easy on the makeup also. Don't forget, you only get one chance to make a first impression!
Best of luck.

Answer 9

I've worked as a lab tech, so same issue. I would aim for slacks, blouse and a blazer. When in doubt call the receptionist for "dirrections" and slip in a question about what other candidates are wearing.

Receptionists are the keeper of the keys.

Answer 10

dress professionally -black pants or skirt and a single colored shirt with sleeves, closed toed shoes, minimal make up and jewelry, and eye contact.
look into RN apprentice jobs at the local hospitals. you will be able to write your own hiring contract. talk to your instructors for more tips.