Wildcats96
5-Year Member
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- May 12, 2013
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I have an interview this weekend and I'm not sure how to dress. I don't want to be over or under dressed. Anyadvice would be appreciated!
Interview
- Thread starter Wildcats96
- Start date
I have gone with my son to several nomination interviews both last year and this year. I believe that a conservative look is the best I've seen. A suit and tie is absolutely appropriate and suggested. By conservative I mean a color that does not make a personal statement and shows respect to the situation. Dark blue or grey is something I would suggest. The tie should not be loud (red, orange, etc) but should also be "conservative" - i.e.- one color and clean. A good suit, shirt, and tie can be bought at a reasonable price at a store like Men's Warehouse. In fact, that is where we went and my son got three suits for the price of one at the time. We mentioned the situation to the salesperson and he took pains to find a great looking, inexpensive package for my son (along with two other suits!) Total price was about $350. Nice deal, in my opinion. Anyway, simple and businesslike is the safest way to go. Hope this helps.
Pima
10-Year Member
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If you are a female, remember the little things matter too, such as, nail polish and jewelry.
Nail polish that is even slightly chipped or done in the school colors of orange and black because you cheered last night can be distracting.
Jewelry can be very distracting to the people interviewing you. Many girls do not realize that they play with their jewelry when they get nervous. They will move the bracelet around their wrist or move the charm on the necklace back and forth. They will do this without even skipping a beat talking.
Also if you wear multiple bracelets every time you move your hand they will make noise too which can be distracting.
I am sure it goes without saying no big dangling earrings, replace with studs, or nothing at all (nothing at all if you mess with your jewelry when nervous)
If you are like my DD and play with your hair when you are nervous, pin it for the interview to remove the temptation to do so.
As far as suits. If you own one, great, but if you don't, than wear Sunday best attire. Our DS were black dockers, white button down shirt and dress shoes. He got all 3 MOC noms. We did not go out and buy him a suit for a one day, 20 min. interview.
Instead we made sure that his shoes were polished, his hair was orderly, and nails were trimmed.
If you do buy a suit for the 1st time, make sure you wear it at home for a couple of hours 1st. Guys find a suit and tie restricting at 1st, and like girls and jewelry they unconsciously start messing with the suit, especially around the neck and cuffs, plus they don't realize that there is a way to sit in a suit jacket.
Same is true for girls, make sure when you sit in the skirt it doesn't ride up too high because you will be constantly playing with it scootching it lower.
All of those things are distracting to the eyes of the interview committee.
Finally, the most important thing is to remember they get you may be nervous, so enter with the knowledge that they are not expecting you to be anything more than a 17 yo kid.
Nail polish that is even slightly chipped or done in the school colors of orange and black because you cheered last night can be distracting.
Jewelry can be very distracting to the people interviewing you. Many girls do not realize that they play with their jewelry when they get nervous. They will move the bracelet around their wrist or move the charm on the necklace back and forth. They will do this without even skipping a beat talking.
Also if you wear multiple bracelets every time you move your hand they will make noise too which can be distracting.
I am sure it goes without saying no big dangling earrings, replace with studs, or nothing at all (nothing at all if you mess with your jewelry when nervous)
If you are like my DD and play with your hair when you are nervous, pin it for the interview to remove the temptation to do so.
As far as suits. If you own one, great, but if you don't, than wear Sunday best attire. Our DS were black dockers, white button down shirt and dress shoes. He got all 3 MOC noms. We did not go out and buy him a suit for a one day, 20 min. interview.
Instead we made sure that his shoes were polished, his hair was orderly, and nails were trimmed.
If you do buy a suit for the 1st time, make sure you wear it at home for a couple of hours 1st. Guys find a suit and tie restricting at 1st, and like girls and jewelry they unconsciously start messing with the suit, especially around the neck and cuffs, plus they don't realize that there is a way to sit in a suit jacket.
Same is true for girls, make sure when you sit in the skirt it doesn't ride up too high because you will be constantly playing with it scootching it lower.
All of those things are distracting to the eyes of the interview committee.
Finally, the most important thing is to remember they get you may be nervous, so enter with the knowledge that they are not expecting you to be anything more than a 17 yo kid.
USCGA_2018
5-Year Member
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- Jul 24, 2013
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DS is a high ranking JROTC member with several ribbons and medals acquired since freshmen year. Is it appropriate to wear the JROTC uniform to the MOC interview?
DS was originally planning on wearing a shirt and tie to his USMA interview. He wore it to school that day as the interview was soon after school ended. His SASI inquired about the tie and urged him to wear his AFJROTC uniform. He did, and it was actually a good jumping off point to start his interview.
Thoughts for or against wearing the uniform to the MOC interview are appreciated.
DS was originally planning on wearing a shirt and tie to his USMA interview. He wore it to school that day as the interview was soon after school ended. His SASI inquired about the tie and urged him to wear his AFJROTC uniform. He did, and it was actually a good jumping off point to start his interview.
Thoughts for or against wearing the uniform to the MOC interview are appreciated.
- Joined
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What do you mean by "way to sit in a suit?" Like what do you recommend?
Wildcats,
It's a good, if common, question. Let's put it this way... Have you ever heard the phrase "everything speaks"?
How you dress, your eye contact, handshake, fidgeting, all of it speaks to people. So, no it's not an automatic DQ if you don't wear a suit/skirt & jacket of course. Lots of amazing young men and women land nominations without dressing up. But if you are in the interview-of-your-life, what do you want to "say" with your appearance and actions?
If you are a guy, I can also 100% recommend Men's Warehouse; and tell them what the occasion is! I have spent thousands of dollars there and was never treated so as well as my DS was when he told them why he needed just a single new suit. It was extraordinary.
For the recrod, for 1st round of interviews DS went with fairly conservative look but brighter (youthful) tie. Afterall, you are 17 not 47. For 2nd round, we (Men's Warehouse and I) talked DS into purple tie and purple shirt with french cuffs and some Swarovski cuffllinks... the Senator and admissions counselor came right out and commented on how they "liked the purple". (He got the Prinicipal Nomination)
It's a good, if common, question. Let's put it this way... Have you ever heard the phrase "everything speaks"?
How you dress, your eye contact, handshake, fidgeting, all of it speaks to people. So, no it's not an automatic DQ if you don't wear a suit/skirt & jacket of course. Lots of amazing young men and women land nominations without dressing up. But if you are in the interview-of-your-life, what do you want to "say" with your appearance and actions?
If you are a guy, I can also 100% recommend Men's Warehouse; and tell them what the occasion is! I have spent thousands of dollars there and was never treated so as well as my DS was when he told them why he needed just a single new suit. It was extraordinary.
For the recrod, for 1st round of interviews DS went with fairly conservative look but brighter (youthful) tie. Afterall, you are 17 not 47. For 2nd round, we (Men's Warehouse and I) talked DS into purple tie and purple shirt with french cuffs and some Swarovski cuffllinks... the Senator and admissions counselor came right out and commented on how they "liked the purple". (He got the Prinicipal Nomination)
ca2midwestmom
5-Year Member
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- Oct 23, 2013
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- 1,335
My son was 1 of 4 male candidates (out of 72) that did not wear a suit to his 1st interview. He wore a new dress shirt & tie, dress slacks and dress shoes. He just received a nomination.
If you can afford a suit, by all means purchase one. If not, as long as you look the part as stated above by others (hair is clean/cut, clothes are appropriate, eye contact, confident, etc), don't worry. They are looking at the entire package, and a suit coat shouldn't make it or break it (IMHO).
Pima
10-Year Member
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- Nov 28, 2007
- Messages
- 13,900
nolife,
If you have never worn a suit, than you will realize the minute you sit and do not unbutton the jacket you will feel constricted. You will sit on the tails of the jacket which will yank your shoulders back and you will be uncomfortable during the interview. You will realize before you sit, after you enter to unbutton the jacket so you don't sit on the tail.
That is what I meant. Wear it in your home for a few hours so you are accustomed to the constriction around your neck, shoulders and wrists.
Honestly, I am not someone that believes you have to get a suit or wear a suit. We could have afforded a suit, but didn't purchase one. Our DS got all 3 MOC noms. He wore dockers, white button down shirt and a tie that played on our last name.
JMPO and 0.019864 cents, but how you handle yourself during the interview and your resume will matter more than if you show up in a suit or what you deem Sunday best.
There are many kids that can't afford a suit, and they should not feel that it is a make or break regarding the nom. Just like kids think wearing their JROTC uniform was the make or break.
Reality is it was the interview and their resume that earned them the nom., not the attire. Honestly, think about it for a second. Do you think that they sit there and say, his grades/ECs, etc aren't as strong as the other, but you know he wore a suit and they only wore a shirt and tie?
They will see you past your attire.
OBTW that doesn't mean you should look like you just rolled out of bed either. Cleaned nails, groomed hair and polished shoes will matter just as much.
If you have never worn a suit, than you will realize the minute you sit and do not unbutton the jacket you will feel constricted. You will sit on the tails of the jacket which will yank your shoulders back and you will be uncomfortable during the interview. You will realize before you sit, after you enter to unbutton the jacket so you don't sit on the tail.
That is what I meant. Wear it in your home for a few hours so you are accustomed to the constriction around your neck, shoulders and wrists.
Honestly, I am not someone that believes you have to get a suit or wear a suit. We could have afforded a suit, but didn't purchase one. Our DS got all 3 MOC noms. He wore dockers, white button down shirt and a tie that played on our last name.
JMPO and 0.019864 cents, but how you handle yourself during the interview and your resume will matter more than if you show up in a suit or what you deem Sunday best.
There are many kids that can't afford a suit, and they should not feel that it is a make or break regarding the nom. Just like kids think wearing their JROTC uniform was the make or break.
Reality is it was the interview and their resume that earned them the nom., not the attire. Honestly, think about it for a second. Do you think that they sit there and say, his grades/ECs, etc aren't as strong as the other, but you know he wore a suit and they only wore a shirt and tie?
They will see you past your attire.
OBTW that doesn't mean you should look like you just rolled out of bed either. Cleaned nails, groomed hair and polished shoes will matter just as much.
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