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[David]

I'm preparing to go on a number of job talks. From colleagues in my departemnt, it seems like there's a consensus that a suit is a bit over the top. Instead, male candidates should wear a sport coat and tie, slacks, etc. Yet, after what seems like decades of grad school, I have a very nice suit and no money to go out a buy two new sport coats, slacks, ties, etc. What's the thinking here? I like my suit and could probably figure out a way to buy a second-day outfit for job talks. Would a suit be too dressy?  If not, when do I wear the suit? The day I give the job talk?

[Professor J]

Absolutely, positively, wear a suit and tie. Better to "dress over the top" than be too casual. At my small rural regional campus most of the male professors wear a suit and tie every day and we would expect a candidate to show up in a suit.

[sidey]

I think we went through this last year, and seconding Professor J - always wear a suit and tie, even if the dept's dress code is otherwise.  I wear jeans, shirt and jacket on a daily basis, but would always wear a suit at an interview.  Good luck!

[On Search Committees]

A suit is always appropriate for a job interview. It shows that you are taking this seriously. We had someone show up in almost jeans and a T-shirt. It made us wonder whether he knew how to behave professionally. There were other things involved, too, like being late, so it wasn't just the outfit. Even if the people you interview with are dressed more casually, you should be in a suit or sports jacket. If you already have a suit you like, you could wear it.

[helpful]

Would depend on the discipline and the university. What discipline; what kind of university?

[Bboy]

helpful wrote:

> Would depend on the discipline and the university. What
> discipline; what kind of university?

With all respect, I think it doesn't really matter what discipline you are in, with very few exceptions - and I mean VERY very few.  Even if you're a ceramic artist who is covered in red clay 95% of your working time, a suit is appropriate for the job interview. Maybe a hipper suit for some humanities fields, or more conservative for that business school interview... but do yourself a favor, and wear the suit.

Would you send your CV in on a coffee stained piece of paper with your kids' crayon marks? I bet you'd be printing that puppy out again...

A suit is respectful, shows you care if you get the job or not.  In most cases, a choice in tie or shirt can show your personality or sense of humor.  If you feel that you really missed the mark and over dressed, you can always say it's a little hot for you, and take off the jacket (but leave the tie).

I think women have lots more flexibility (a suit versus skirt versus nice trousers, more colors, jewelry, etc), but men have to tow the line on this one. In some ways, it seems easier for men since we don't have to worry about a suit versus skirt versus nice trousers, colors, jewelry, etc

Just my opinion, from someone who wears lots of jeans and t-shirts.

[melba]

Yes, over dress. I work on a campus that is very casual in our actual day to day dress. And the candidates always over dress. But that's never judged as a negative. We know you are dressing up for the interview. At the same time, the best dressed candidate is the one who I can't remember what they were wearing--no distractions.

While on this topic, a note to all men: Be sure that the color and pattern of your tie does not clash with the rest of your clothing. Find someone who cares about color to evaluate your choices. And, please, leave the Looney Tunes tie at home.

And while I'm ranting away, a note to all applicants: do not wear perfume, do not wear cologne. Call me a selfish jerk, but I will have bad feelings about you if you make my eyes shrivel up into little balls of itchy pain.

[B.F.]

You would think that a suit would be appropriate for all disciplines, but according to some posters the last time we had this discussion, a suit was over the top in their discipline. In this case, David was told that in his discipline he should wear a wear a sport coat and tie, and slacks. Given that is the norm, a suit should not come across as over the top. It is not that dramatically different from the norm. I would wear the suit and not worry about it.

[asst_prof]

I've done one job interview in a sports coat, button-down collar shirt, and khaki trousers, and I've done one interview in a suit and tie.  I got both jobs, so I'm not sure if it matters as long as you look nice and professional.

[BF]

I'm in English, and--generally--there will be a "suit day" (day of job talk) and a "casual day" (day w/o job talk for meetings, etc.)  On casual day, I wear a long dark skirt or trousers with a nice blouse or sweater.

[Prytania]

The suit.

[Zarkov]

Given a choice, I go with the suit.  A sport jacket is OK, but make sure it is really a sport jacket and not 1/2 of a suit.  That is, a sport jacket is typically a blue blazer, tweed, corduroy, or camel hair. And wear slacks that complement that jacket, perhaps add some contrast, eg, blue blazer and gray slacks.

[newbie]

I could absolutely see the appropriateness of a suit for the job talk at a private college or research university but not at a CC.  Can any CC search committee participants comment on this?

[Dior]

I vote for the suit. Like the classic black dress for women, it is never wrong.

[%sig%]

[Ming the Merciless]

Well, advice from someone who has not worn a suit for years (ever since I took up my Imperial regalia) might not be entirely on the mark, but:

In my department, I don't believe I've seen a suit on any colleague (outside of funerals and retirement parties--does that hint at what suitiness symbolizes to some of us?) in years, years.  Some wear a jacket and tie on occasion to work, but a suit?  No.  The department is in the life sciences, and rarely, in my experience, are suits the norm in classrooms there.  In discipline-related seminars at the R1 up the road, the invited presenters, to my recall, never wear suits.  Who are the suits we see in our halls? Textbook reps.

What I'm saying is that some departments might find a suit-wearing candidate a bit distancing, even if not consciously thinking so.  But if a suit is all you have that's at all dressy, probably better to gussy up than to slum.

[%sig%]