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[jobhire]

How conservative should you be? What is preferable or acceptable? What's not allowed for interviews?

1. black shoes vs. dark brown shoes
2. pinstripe suits or not
3. slim ties or regular ties
4. charcoal, navy or black suit

shirt/tie combinations:

1. white shirt with blue tie/red tie/burgundy tie
2. blue shirt with burgundy tie

shirt styles:
1. french cuff vs. button cuff
2. slim fit vs. traditional fit

[cactus]

Just wanted to say that I love these clothing threads.

I have worn all kinds of suits to interviews, even one that some said was too "sexy."  (They said it as I was on my way to an interview, so I couldn't change.  Didn't matter.  I was asked to fly back.  Anyway, I don't think the suit was "too" sexy.  It was just a little, tiny bit sexy.  My suit for the fly back was an unsusual color in a conservative cut.)  I think as long as what you're wearing isn't crazy (e.g., skirt suit + cowboy boots or something), then it doesn't really matter.

Wear something that doesn't make you itch or tug at yourself in weird ways.  Wear something that actually fits.  Try not to be too sexy.  ;-)  Wear shoes that won't make you want to cut  your feet off after a 5 or 6 block walk.  Don't carry your things in a back pack.  Some schools have a rep for being unfashionable.  If you're interviewing at one of those, then certainly tone it down.  If you don't know what the school's clothing rep is, then it prob. doesn't matter.

[larryc]

Black, not, regular, navy, white/red, button, regular.

[emperor_of_ice_cream]

Do you think it's a really, really bad idea to wear an eyebrow piercing to a campus interview?  I'll be dressed conservatively/classy in every other way -- lovely wool suit, nice shirts -- and conduct myself professionally, etc.  Removing the piercing is actually a big hassle.  I've had it for more than 5 years, and don't want to take it out.  Unless that will single-handedly ruin my chances, of course!  SC members, would a facial piercing cause you to have a negative first impression?

[angel]

Most people on these boards (you could do a search) will nix the pinstripe suit.  I think part of the problem is they can look too flashy or tacky (think pimp) or overbearing (think 80s power shoulders).

I feel great in pinstripe suits and have worn them to virtually all of my interviews. Fwiw, that hasn't stopped me from getting job offers and a tt position. I'm not advising you to wear one, just pointing out that the important things are to feel great or comfortable as long as it's not crazy or inappropriate.

[jobhire]

If you think this will look professional or not detract from a professional image, I would say go for it. Are you willing to risk 30 years of employment for a piercing?

Do you think it's a really, really bad idea to wear an eyebrow piercing to a campus interview?  I'll be dressed conservatively/classy in every other way -- lovely wool suit, nice shirts -- and conduct myself professionally, etc.  Removing the piercing is actually a big hassle.  I've had it for more than 5 years, and don't want to take it out.  Unless that will single-handedly ruin my chances, of course!  SC members, would a facial piercing cause you to have a negative first impression?

[jobhire]

I see. Where can I get a good professional looking bag at a good price. Any stores or specific brands? Any links?

Don't carry your things in a back pack.

[angel]

About the piercing: I do know a couple of people who interviewed with piercings (one eyebrow, one below the lip).

That said, you should take it out, and I know it's a pain. You'll be eyebrow man, or pierced man, or the bepierced to SCs and anyone you meet on campus. My SC (though not me), and I'm sure many others, would take this as a lack of seriousness and professionalism on your part.

It's a gamble, and in this job market it seems unwise to stack the deck against yourself. My friends who did this believed that any SC that would reject them on the basis of a piercing was not one they wanted to work for. Are you willing to take that stand? If not, take it out.

[losemygrip]

I too vote against the piercing.  And since it's such a hassle, just leave it out and let it grow over!  :)

Seriously, with few exceptions, obvious things like eyebrow piercings begin to look like a pathetic attempt to look young and trendy as you climb the academic career ladder.  It's more a badge of a grad student than a faculty member.  Even if you got away with it during the interview, it might cause you trouble later.  If you like them, get one in a less visible place.  It's true that you'll become known as "the pierced guy."

As far as other clothing, this topic's been beaten to death.

[emperor_of_ice_cream]

Sigh.  It pains me to know in my gut that you are correct:  it's time to let the piercing go (even though I don't want to).  But what if I *am* vainly and pathetically clinging to the last vestiges of my youth?  What if I'm just too boring without it?  What if (more to the point) my work just stinks and having a piercing and trying to look inappropriately hip might have distracted people from my poor performance at the job talk?  Aaargh, panic attack!

Forget the piercing, I need therapy!

[notaprof]

Speaking of not regretting piercings, I am wondering how it is going for the tattooed job applicants.  Have any SC's had a tattooed candidate?  The tattoo generation is coming of age now and I wonder how it is going with their job interviews.  I predict a big surge in tattoo removal places being advertised on tv in the next five years or so.

[angel]

I'm one of the tattooed. Not visible unless I'd go into an interview shirtless, which is obviously not going to happen. I do know faculty with tattoos at this and other campuses, but they're usually covered. Mercifully none of us chose to do full body art or choose a location like the hands or forearm.

[emperor_of_ice_cream]

I'm tattooed, too.  All places easily covered by clothing -- short of facial tattoos, most can be covered easily.

[seniorscholar]

Incidentally, I encountered at MLA one of our recent grad students (male), now on tenure-track at a good research university, whose changing hair colors and styles, piercings, tattoos, etc. were a source of entertainment as he moved brilliantly through the doctoral program. Don't know what he wore when interviewing -- but as an assistant professor appearing on a panel at MLA he was wearing a reasonably trendy suit (no necktie), slightly long hair in what may have been its natural color -- and no visible bodily decorations of any sort, not even the earring that a fair number of men, even senior and straight men in my department, sport without attracting attention.

[lux__]

The tweed jacketed, pipe-smoking professor image gets a lot of chuckles in movies. Pick your poison.

Wearing the same clothes decade after decade will become a source of amusement, if your work product is poor. Frumpiness isn't synonymous with excellent scholarship.