I have been interviewing. Last week I had interviews with two agencies. While sitting in the waiting room, two much younger people who had just completed interviews came out. There I was, sitting there in a sports jacket, dress shirt and pants and tie with a brief case.

There was a young woman in her twenties. She wore skinny jeans and a crop top. She carried a backpack. There was also a young guy in his twenties. He wore khakis, a sport shirt open at the collar and casual shoes.

Am I too formal? Am I overdressed? No one is hiring me. Is my attire wrong for the legal assistant, administrative assistant and secretarial jobs I'm applying for?

A tux is too formal. A suit for an interview can't be too formal. Honestly, I gave up suits a few years ago but I would never dream of wearing jeans. Even though I don't have a full suit I have dress pants and sweaters. The most out of the ordinary I have done is bring a sort of hippie type bag. That was because the company was a hippie yoga type company. But my attire was still black dress pants and a nice shirt. And shiny clean shoes. I think the shoes are important. They are the thing you replace the least often and business shoes can be the most expensive part of your outfit. It shows you put care into looking professional.

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You could leave the briefcase at home for an admin job though. Just a small binder or moleskine looking notebook for notes.

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Originally Posted by Michanne

A tux is too formal. A suit for an interview can't be too formal. Honestly, I gave up suits a few years ago but I would never dream of wearing jeans. Even though I don't have a full suit I have dress pants and sweaters. The most out of the ordinary I have done is bring a sort of hippie type bag. That was because the company was a hippie yoga type company. But my attire was still black dress pants and a nice shirt. And shiny clean shoes. I think the shoes are important. They are the thing you replace the least often and business shoes can be the most expensive part of your outfit. It shows you put care into looking professional.

The shoes are the weak part of my attire. I have VERY hard to fit feet are require shoes that are square toed with an Achilles notch. I have a pair of Sperry deck shoes - the top of the line - that I've been using. They are brand new. I can't find anything else that fits. I am not able to wear dress shoes because they don't have enough cushioning. It's a problem.

Originally Posted by Michanne

You could leave the briefcase at home for an admin job though. Just a small binder or moleskine looking notebook for notes.

I'll switch to a backpack. I usually don't like them because they wrinkle my sports jacket! That's why my casual canvas briefcase if preferred.

Originally Posted by unguy

I'll switch to a backpack. I usually don't like them because they wrinkle my sports jacket! That's why my casual canvas briefcase if preferred.

A messenger bag works. I think you could find one at a thrift store if money is an issue. Keep it black. A knapsack is fine as it is not lively racing striped.

What about adding those jell soles to dress shoes? If the topsiders are neutral (black if possible) they are probably fine. The point is clean

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Originally Posted by Michanne

A messenger bag works. I think you could find one at a thrift store if money is an issue. Keep it black. A knapsack is fine as it is not lively racing striped.

What about adding those jell soles to dress shoes? If the topsiders are neutral (black if possible) they are probably fine. The point is clean

I already have mandatory arches so the gel insoles are out. The topsiders are black with maroon accents.

I'm thinking of ditching the tie so that I look more casual.

[jenniy122]

Originally Posted by unguy

There I was, sitting there in a sports jacket, dress shirt and pants and tie with a brief case.

Am I too formal? Am I overdressed? No one is hiring me. Is my attire wrong for the legal assistant, administrative assistant and secretarial jobs I'm applying for?

Definitely doesn't sound overdressed to me. Sounds perfect for those jobs. If you think your appearance is a problem: Are your clothes well pressed? Hemmed to the right length? Clean shoes? Fresh haircut? Neatly trimmed/shaved facial hair?

[healingme4me]

Originally Posted by unguy

I have been interviewing. Last week I had interviews with two agencies. While sitting in the waiting room, two much younger people who had just completed interviews came out. There I was, sitting there in a sports jacket, dress shirt and pants and tie with a brief case.

There was a young woman in her twenties. She wore skinny jeans and a crop top. She carried a backpack. There was also a young guy in his twenties. He wore khakis, a sport shirt open at the collar and casual shoes.

Am I too formal? Am I overdressed? No one is hiring me. Is my attire wrong for the legal assistant, administrative assistant and secretarial jobs I'm applying for?

I cannot fathom, showing up, to any interview, well, within reason, I can think of some particular types of jobs, showing up the way you've described those two other people.

You sound fine, for the types of work, you are interviewing for. Even, a courthouse, has rules about attire, at trials. Appropriate attire is required, not quite verbatim there, but that's what my paperwork states, for an upcoming court date.

I'm not sure what those other two people were thinking
Even in my late teens, I would always wear some kind of dress pants and nice cardigan or blouse with nice shoes, simple but nice hair, small earrings, makeup- but very simple.

Now, depending on the position applying for I might wear jeans- but they are a pair that I have that are very dark, that are pressed and look a bit like trousers. I wear them with nice dress shoes and simple nice top when I'm not entirely sure about the dress of the place. But even then?

No sneakers, no crop top [REALLY?], I turn my phone off, I bring a note pad and a folder with at least three copies of my current resume and cover letter if i sent one [even if I already sent them a copy, EVEN if it is a standard app job]. I bring a list of three or four references, arrrive between ten and fifteen minutes early [any earlier and I go loiter somewhere else] and I try to wear a watch if possible.

Sometimes I will bring my tech back pack- slim and all black and made to carry laptops and look professional. Other times just my black purse. I don't bring any food or drink with me- not even water bottle. It's a distraction.

I would think, OP, that maybe the tie might be a step up for some of the places you are applying for, but not all. Some offices have a different feel- you can go to glasshouse.com, look on yelp about reviews from customers, things like that to get a better idea.

For what your are interviewing for I would say you are dressed appropriately. The last interview I had I wore khakis, a button up purple shirt, a black and gray sweater vest, and black dress shoes and that was for a job in the medical field.

[hvert]

Being too formal can be a problem, just as much as being too informal. It does sound like you've hit some ultra-casual law firms, though! Would it be possible to drive by these places before your interviews and get a sense for what other people wear?

[winter4me]

Originally Posted by unguy

I have been interviewing. Last week I had interviews with two agencies. While sitting in the waiting room, two much younger people who had just completed interviews came out. There I was, sitting there in a sports jacket, dress shirt and pants and tie with a brief case.

There was a young woman in her twenties. She wore skinny jeans and a crop top. She carried a backpack. There was also a young guy in his twenties. He wore khakis, a sport shirt open at the collar and casual shoes.

Am I too formal? Am I overdressed? No one is hiring me. Is my attire wrong for the legal assistant, administrative assistant and secretarial jobs I'm applying for?

The person who suggested a pre-drive by has a great idea.
But, don't get too hung up on attire, be clean, neat, but comfortable; your initial interaction with the person interviewing you is more important than what you wear. Relax, have a "natural" confidence, know the work.
(I say this as someone who usually dresses well for interviews but once, forgetting I had an interview, showed up in jeans & a tee---I said nothing, interviewed---at the time I was young(er)---mid twenties, at the end of the interview the person said "You present yourself very well, just don't ever wear jeans to an interview again---that is when I explained (very briefly & apologized)...the job I applied for was taken, but I soon got another, same place) So, dress well, you've gotten some good advice, just make sure you feel comfortable enough to "forget" the clothes when you walk in to the interview.

[Bolivar83]

Dear Unguy:

My sister is a legal secretary - when she was looking for work, she wore a sharp suit and would not have dreamed of showing up in jeans and a crop top!

Maybe lose the briefcase, small messenger bag was great suggestion. But agree that for employees that deal with lawyers, clients, court there is usually a business-attire dress code.

I think it's just a numbers game really in this market... I'm experiencing the same frustrations finding work. It will take more apps/interviews that it used to; try not to get discouraged! It's hard not to doubt ourselves or feel there is something we are doing, but it's just a tough environment right now.

Are you registered with any temp agencies/employment agencies? They want you to succeed, and could provide you some feedback/reassurance.

Good luck with your job search! Take care-Bolivar