Wear a Pantsuit
to an interview?
Answered by Kristen Kaleal

Good Morning Kristen, Thank you for your informative interview this morning on Channel 3 news.

I have a question regarding proper attire for a job interview. Is it appropriate for a woman to wear a dark business pant suit to an interview? Thank you for your assistance.

Iris

A. Iris, That's an excellent question, but unfortunately, it doesn't have a simple answer. Pantsuits versus skirt suits are a gray area in the interview world.

I'll give you the reasons for and against a pantsuit and you'll have to look at your own situation and decide if it's the right choice for you. Whether or not to wear a pantsuit for an interview depends on three things - your industry, location, and the company's corporate culture.

First, let's look at a man's business suit. The female equivalent is a skirted suit. A pantsuit is a step below a man's suit in terms of formality. So if you're interviewing in a pantsuit, you will be giving away some of your power and authority by simply being dressed in clothing that is a step below the highest level of business formal dress.

It may not seem "casual" to wear a suit, but in the sometimes wacky land of business casual, that's where the pantsuit belongs. If you're familiar with men's clothing, a women's pantsuit is equal to a sport coat and a pair of slacks, which is considered "corner office" casual.

Industry

What industry are you interviewing in? If you're in the financial world, it's business formal all the way. Even if women are permitted to wear pantsuits to work, it's much wiser to interview in a skirted suit.

If you're dealing with people's money, the idea is to look trustworthy. The highest level of business dress will help you land that job. The same applies for legal careers.

If you're in a more people-friendly career, it may be advisable to take your formality down a notch when you interview. Careers like social work, teaching, sales and even medicine require you to be knowledgeable and authoritative, yet accessible to ordinary people. In those cases, a pantsuit may not only make you seem more accessible, but it may make you more attractive because you immediately are perceived as being approachable.

Location

In the Midwest, we're certainly less formal than the banking centers of the Northeast, and we also follow a different dress protocol than the South and West. While a skirted suit for an interview may be de rigueur in Boston, you may be able to wear a pantsuit if you're interviewing for the same job in Cleveland.

Corporate Environment

We also need to look at the company where you're interviewing and what position you're interviewing for. Banking firms, some more than others, tend to be very conservative, so their dress code may be business formal all the time. If you have any doubt about what to wear, you can call the company where you'll be interviewing and ask human resources if a pantsuit is okay.

Another excellent way to determine if it's a pantsuit-friendly environment is to check out what the employees are wearing. Do some reconnaissance work beforehand. If it's a business casual environment, a pantsuit may be fine.

If it's a place where both men and women are in suits all the time, it may be wisest to opt for the skirted suit - at least for that all-important first impression.

When choosing your interview attire, weigh all three of these criteria as well as your own preferences. Some women are just more comfortable in pants for whatever reason.

It's very important to be comfortable during your interview so you can be yourself, while respecting the company and job you're interviewing for.

Good Luck!

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