School leaver college interview, what to wear?

Raspberry_Swirl

I work in the admissions team for my town's technical college (vocational not 6th form) and if anyone turns up for their interview in a suit they look completely out of place!

Some of them come in their school uniform as we start interviewing from 4.30pm, some scruffy, some casual and occasionally very smart!

As long as they turn up on time, speak loud enough so we can hear them rather than speaking to the floor and actually engage with the tutors rather than letting parents speak on their behalf they're onto a winner!

mrcow

cgk1 wrote: »

Do you think the interview is for a college or a nuns convent? Nobody in an bog-standard FE college will blink at some piercings.

That depends on how many there are and what they are. If you don't care how you look to people, then fine, don't bother.

But.....then again, wasn't that kind of the point of this thread? What to wear in order to make a positive impression?

If you don't think that people get judged on their appearance(whether at school, college, work, socially), then sadly, you are very mistaken.

in_need_of_direction

Whatever you decide, make sure that he's comfortable in it. An interview is stress making enough without worrying about what you're wearing. Go with smart casual as he will probably be happier in this

EndlessStruggle

Go casual. I work in a college and saw the latest batch of nervous interviewees yesterday, the majority were casual, some a little smarter and the suited and booted looked awkward. Most looked just like the other students who tend to pair chinos/jeans with t shirt/casual shirt/jumper.

Don't worry too much about the piercing either. Our college is full of ink, holes and metal on staff and students especially on the arty, musical lot.

Oh.. make sure he wears discreet antiperspirant (in case he is a nervy sweater), not smothered in lynx. Nearly died from what must have been a lynx bath on a few of them.

squibbs25

Hi guys.

Ds ended up in his chino, metalica tshirt and cons.
More importantly the tutor was very impressed with his portfolio.
The tutor said that ds will be hearing within the next 2 weeks, sign paperwork and get it sent back ASAP (so looking like he has a place providing he gets the exam grades needed)

Thanks to everyone for their clothing imput!

minerva_windsong

Glad to hear it went well and fingers crossed he gets the grades he needs.

peachyprice

That's great news, they usually confirm the place (subject to grades) once they get the reference back from the school.

Would he have felt totally out of place in a shirt and tie?

squibbs25

peachyprice wrote: »

That's great news, they usually confirm the place (subject to grades) once they get the reference back from the school.

Would he have felt totally out of place in a shirt and tie?

In all fairness yes peachy the shirt and tie as nice as it looks would probably have been way ott (maybe if had been an A Level interview and wanting to stand out then might be more suitable) def not for the course ds has applied for.

I think I was more worried than him tbh, i was brought up with the expression "the first impression is the ONLY impression"not saying we didn't used to flout the fashion but for interviews we would've looked the part, with no distinction between job or college interview.

Spendless

squibbs25 wrote: »

In all fairness yes peachy the shirt and tie as nice as it looks would probably have been way ott (maybe if had been an A Level interview and wanting to stand out then might be more suitable) def not for the course ds has applied for.

I think I was more worried than him tbh, i was brought up with the expression "the first impression is the ONLY impression"not saying we didn't used to flout the fashion but for interviews we would've looked the part, with no distinction between job or college interview.

That's the way I also used to think, that you had to wear a suit or as close to for every interview regardless. Then a few years back when job hunting I had an Employment Support Officer tell me to not to for an interview I had. It was in the offices of a school in a very deprived area. She told me the office was the first point of call for many parents and someone looking intimidating in a 'power suit' would run the risk of looking unapproachable and that would be considered at interview. She told me to think of the role and visualise how someone would dress for it, or to look at what others already doing that role were wearing.
I then looked at what the staff at my kids school were wearing more closely, not as deprived but not sited in the wealthiest part of town either, and saw where she was coming from.

Fingers crossed for your son. x

swampduck

I work in a sixth form college and the students wear all kinds for their interviews - some in smart school uniforms - some in scruffy school uniform - some in smart casual - some in smart suits - some hijabs or whatever their cultural norm is.
As long as what ever is worn does not contravene college rules - then it is acceptable. By that I mean anyone who wears a niqab or full face crash helmet or something that obscures their face would be advised of the college policy and things would proceed from then on.

Swampy