Volunteering meeting what to wear ?

WelshKitty

Hi all ,
I am looking to volunteer in a charity shop and they contacted me to meet them so we can see if I can volunteer with them with the skills I have, I get anxious in new situations and suddenly tonight I began worrying about dress code ! I was thinking of dressing smart casual but due to me worrying I feel it might get the dress code wrong .
Has anyone gone to a volunteer interview/chat ?

What kind of outfit did you wear ?

Thanks

AP007

I went to a meeting at the Guide Dogs for the Blind but it was for a treasuary roll. I wore a suit.

m3kx

I've done quite a bit of volunteering and for each meeting/chat I was always in casual clothing, nothing scruffy but my best jeans and tshirt - no suits or anything. I've found with these things they tend to be informal chats and thats about it, its not like a job interview and you won't get quizzed about the company, just asked why you want to volunteer. Now I think of it, one lady actually came to my house for a chat but didn't say what time - when she arrived I had big furry slightly dirty slippers on! Needless to say she wasn't bothered

Good luck and don't worry!

specialboy

Wear whatever you feel comfortable in, you are giving your time for free and if they don't like the way you dress then tough on them.

Mrs_Soup

I would just go neat and tidy. I would perhaps not wear jeans if you have other trousers/skirt but other than that just normal clothes.

noelphobic

I volunteer for 3 organisations and always go with smart casual. I don't dress up as much as I would for a formal interview for a salaried job and don't stress as much either. The interviews have been very much informal chats and a formality really, as I've never been in any doubt that they will take me on (and I'm not a confident person!)

Fieldsofgold

I'd go for the smarter end of smart casual, a slightly more relaxed version of what you'd wear for an interview. Volunteering placements can be quite competitive these days.

zugzwang

I've volunteered and felt over-dressed for a Volunteering interview.

It was an office role, so I went smartish. But everyone in that office wore casual and I gave the impression that I was a 'corporate' formal person and wouldn't fit in, with people who were quite anti-establishment.

It doesn't matter much though, they still took me on. The main thing is you just need to be presentable. They'll be more interested in the smile you're wearing;)

But aim for the same dress code as the role demands. I'm sure smart casual is fine and you'll be fine.

Horace

Be clean and tidy, there is no need to go overboard with smart suits, you are offering someone your time for free. If you go dressed too smartly then that may rule you out - they are wanting to see if you fit with them and that you like them.

I have volunteered in a charity shop before now and I made sure I always looked tidy but I didn't wear a suit because I would have been overdressed. Now I am Chair of a Friends group, again I make sure that I look clean and tidy - no need to wear a formal suit and if I have to do some work in the local park then I will wear clothes suitable to do that - eg. jeans, wellies etc.

WelshKitty

Thanks for all replies everyone I have an outfit in mind and will be going this afternoon to the charity shop to discuss stuff