Civil service interview attire (female)

invisibility · 7 January 2018 at 2:14PM

I'm a former teacher and have a couple of outfits I normally use for job interviews. They are sort of collared spotty/floral dresses that I pair with heels and a blazer.

This civil service interview I've got coming up on Wednesday is making me feel I need a more formal outfit. Whilst my standard interview outfits look formal, they aren't business formal, not like a pant suit or pencil skirt look. Problem is I am plus size and I tried on some formal pencil dresses/skirt blazer suits yesterday and they make me look huge and cling in all the wrong places.

How formal should my outfit be? Do my standard ones sound okay? I'm panicking because I'm really struggling to find anything else to suit my shape

I guess I'm feel unsure all of a sudden because the civil service interview is probably the most "serious" one I've had. It's rare for a female teacher to wear a really formal suit so I never felt the need to wear one at interview. I dont know if im worrying for nothing though.

BorisThomson · 7 January 2018 at 2:26PM

What level is it far? HEO or lower and you'll be absolutely fine, more senior I would wear a suit. Trousers are fine either way.

[Deleted User] · 7 January 2018 at 2:26PM

As smart as can be.

If I can link interview guidance I had given to me under a council I will.
But I think it was a PDF there was an attachment in the interview confirmation - I just remember the guidance saying buff your shoes and put your very best attire on kind of thing.

ETA Sorry is a PDF which reads "Think carefully about what to wear, always dress smartly for an interview as the importance of first impressions cannot be overstated. Get your best suit out and polish your shoes! Please make sure you look both smart and professional"

invisibility · 7 January 2018 at 2:58PM

Thanks for replies.

Deleted%20User wrote: »

As smart as can be.

If I can link interview guidance I had given to me under a council I will.
But I think it was a PDF there was an attachment in the interview confirmation - I just remember the guidance saying buff your shoes and put your very best attire on kind of thing.

Yeah that doesn't surprise me. I'll ask for some opinions on how formal my outfits are. I may be overthinking it.

BorisThomson wrote: »

What level is it far? HEO or lower and you'll be absolutely fine, more senior I would wear a suit. Trousers are fine either way.

It's EO. Thanks for your reply.

BorisThomson · 7 January 2018 at 3:19PM

invisibility wrote: »

Thanks for replies.

Yeah that doesn't surprise me. I'll ask for some opinions on how formal my outfits are. I may be overthinking it.

It's EO. Thanks for your reply.

In that case, you could turn up in jeans and it wouldn't matter (although I'm not suggesting that you do!). You'll be assessed entirely on what you say - how you answer the competencies - and how you look or what you wear is irrelevant.

The civil service is generally very relaxed about attire, for interviews and in work. They won't notice or care whether your shoes have been buffed

Focus on preparing some excellent competency examples, that's what will get you the job. Good luck!

TELLIT01 · 7 January 2018 at 4:00PM

BorisThomson wrote: »

In that case, you could turn up in jeans and it wouldn't matter (although I'm not suggesting that you do!).

As jeans were on the 'banned' list where I worked I wouldn't recommend wearing them to interview. The type of clothing mentioned in the OP would be perfectly acceptable though. No need for a suit at EO level.

laura8417 · 7 January 2018 at 4:07PM

I had an internal EO interview back in July and I wore a blouse and trousers with a quite loud flowery pattern. As whats been said before, it is mainly about what you say rather than your attire, although if I had turned up in what I normally wear to work I'm sure that wouldn't have been looked on favourably and would have probably been part of the feedback. I wasn't wearing a suit jacket/pencil skirt anything like that, and I did get the job :j
Good luck

Silvertabby · 7 January 2018 at 4:37PM

When Mr S had his Civil Service interview (EO Tech) he wore his best suit and dress shoes.

10 minutes before his interview he rang me in a panic - seems when he got out of the car his shoe soles not only crumbled, but both heels fell off!

There was no way I could get another pair of shoes to him in time, so I just told him to wing it. It must have been a good omen, because he got the job.

bouicca21 · 7 January 2018 at 11:56PM

You don't need to power dress for an EO interview. Smart but comfortable.

marlot · 8 January 2018 at 9:14AM

invisibility wrote: »

...
It's EO. Thanks for your reply.

It may well be a competency based interview.

The job spec should say which competencies will be relevant (there are 10 in total).

Think of some good examples of when you've demonstrated the competencies. If you have a poor memory write them down.

Good luck!

I do lots of EO interviews. Dress doesn't matter unless its inappropriate. I'd be a bit surprised if someone turned up in jeans and a T shirt, but it wouldn't affect their scoring.

enjoyyourshoes · 8 January 2018 at 9:47AM

Competencies:-

Say what YOU did
Skills you used linked to competency
What the outcome was
What you would do differently

Civil service interview attire (female)

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