I have an interview on Friday

[Kirby]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
lol.

I know some people here may WORK at said firm or others like it and may know what goes and what doesn't. Also, there does happen to be a few women lurking in these parts.

Which contractor are you going to on Friday... LM or BAE?

EDIT:

Oh and I've found that you should essentially always be as dressed up as your interviewer or more. I wore a suit when I interviewed but I saw others that were just dressed nicely (a step up from business casual I guess?)

LM. Yeah, that's what I've heard. I just don't want to go in there looking all done up like a barbie doll. That'd be the wrong kind of dressed up.

As long as you keep the suit dark and conservative and the makeup non-clown-like, I think you'll be fine.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
LM. Yeah, that's what I've heard. I just don't want to go in there looking all done up like a barbie doll. That'd be the wrong kind of dressed up.

Ohhh you'll have to sneak away from your group and say hi then!

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
LM. Yeah, that's what I've heard. I just don't want to go in there looking all done up like a barbie doll. That'd be the wrong kind of dressed up.

Ohhh you'll have to sneak away from your group and say hi then!

Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

 

[Epic Fail]

Win

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: nkgreen

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
lol.

I know some people here may WORK at said firm or others like it and may know what goes and what doesn't. Also, there does happen to be a few women lurking in these parts.

Which contractor are you going to on Friday... LM or BAE?

EDIT:

Oh and I've found that you should essentially always be as dressed up as your interviewer or more. I wore a suit when I interviewed but I saw others that were just dressed nicely (a step up from business casual I guess?)

LM. Yeah, that's what I've heard. I just don't want to go in there looking all done up like a barbie doll. That'd be the wrong kind of dressed up.

As long as you keep the suit dark and conservative and the makeup non-clown-like, I think you'll be fine.

Well, it'll be a difficult task, but I think I'll manage to not look too zany.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: Epic Fail
Win

YOU win for sending me this! Thanks a bunch!

EDIT: That makeup is damn expensive. Holy crud.

I read somewhere not to use gloss but rather lipstick because it looks more grown up. My problem there is that most shades tend to wash me out or make me look like a clown because I've got fuller lips. I guess it's time to scrape up some dinero and go shopping. Ugh.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

I don't think it can be any worse than one of my interviews . It is a really long day though so I would recommend not wearing anything uncomfortable. I believe I was there from 7:00AM until 4:00PM.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Is this your first or second interview? At least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first interview (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well) I haven't interviewed with companies that are not mainly software companies, mainly because where my interests lie.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

I know I only interviewed on a single day with them but you do two to three interviews in a day... I'm not 100% sure, but I think some people can even do four... but don't hold me to that!

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

I don't think it can be any worse than one of my interviews . It is a really long day though so I would recommend not wearing anything uncomfortable. I believe I was there from 7:00AM until 4:00PM.

They said mine would run from about 7:30am to 1:00pm. Another issue is if there is going to be much snow. I don't know if I should wear a jacket or just leave it and risk freezing to death.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

I'm just saying from my experience, during the interviews the interns and the full time prospects all interviewed at the same time with the same questions and so on. Granted they'll give interns more slack during the decision making, but at Intuit, MS, Thomson Reuters we were all asked the same questions and had the same number of interviews and so on as the full time prospects.

However, my first interviews were always just one, about 45 minutes long. All the second round interviews were from 8ish am until 5 pm, with 3 to 4 interviews during that time.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

I'm just saying from my experience, during the interviews the interns and the full time prospects all interviewed at the same time with the same questions and so on. Granted they'll give interns more slack during the decision making, but at Intuit, MS, Thomson Reuters we were all asked the same questions and had the same number of interviews and so on as the full time prospects.

However, my first interviews were always just one, about 45 minutes long. All the second round interviews were from 8ish am until 5 pm, with 3 to 4 interviews during that time.

Yeah, I'm not sure how they work it. I know they tend to do interviews Mondays and Fridays so they have you go around in "groups" of other potential employees. I don't know if the questions they ask are the same or not.

 

[Lola]

i think it depends on how formal you want to be.if you wear a business suit with a skirt bottom it is more formal than wearing pants.
wear your hair the way you feel most comfortable. i always wear my hair down because i feel prettier and more confident and approachable that way.
wear heels but not over 3 inches. closed toed shoe too.

one secret... dont bring your purse to the meeting. if you have a portfolio type thing, bring that to keep your pen and note pad in.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: Lola
i think it depends on how formal you want to be.if you wear a business suit with a skirt bottom it is more formal than wearing pants.
wear your hair the way you feel most comfortable. i always wear my hair down because i feel prettier and more confident and approachable that way.
wear heels but not over 3 inches. closed toed shoe too.

one secret... dont bring your purse to the meeting. if you have a portfolio type thing, bring that to keep your pen and note pad in.

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering what to bring with me. The skirt is a no go though, I'm sticking with pants. I don't like my legs and fear I'd just feel awkward the whole time worrying about it. The hair issue is another thing for me too. I think up looks nice, but I've always been told mine looks better down. I guess I'll have to try a few things and figure it out.

Thanks Lola!

 

[JDMnAR1]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

I don't think it can be any worse than one of my interviews . It is a really long day though so I would recommend not wearing anything uncomfortable. I believe I was there from 7:00AM until 4:00PM.

They said mine would run from about 7:30am to 1:00pm. Another issue is if there is going to be much snow. I don't know if I should wear a jacket or just leave it and risk freezing to death.

If you have a suitable jacket to wear, by all means wear it. I know for men, your standard tan London Fog overcoat is pretty much accepted as a given if made necessary by the weather.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you have a designed matching top to go with the business suit use it.
Otherwise a beige/off white blouse with charcoal suit is better than white.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

I don't think it can be any worse than one of my interviews . It is a really long day though so I would recommend not wearing anything uncomfortable. I believe I was there from 7:00AM until 4:00PM.

They said mine would run from about 7:30am to 1:00pm. Another issue is if there is going to be much snow. I don't know if I should wear a jacket or just leave it and risk freezing to death.

If you have a suitable jacket to wear, by all means wear it. I know for men, your standard tan London Fog overcoat is pretty much accepted as a given if made necessary by the weather.

Naturally I had no idea what you meant so I googled London Fog and I do have a women's style coat very similar to that. I'll have to try it all on together and decide. Thanks!

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
If you have a designed matching top to go with the business suit use it.
Otherwise a beige/off white blouse with charcoal suit is better than white.

I do have a suit that has a matching top that came with it. My only reservation with that particular suit is that it doesn't have a lapel/collar. I think it's supposed to be a more modern look. The suit does look very nice and professional on and is dark gray, but I just don't know if the no lapel is a deal breaker.

 

[rasczak]

wouldn't you be better off in a two piece string bikini?

on a more serious note, gl.

 

[Lola]

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

I don't think it can be any worse than one of my interviews . It is a really long day though so I would recommend not wearing anything uncomfortable. I believe I was there from 7:00AM until 4:00PM.

They said mine would run from about 7:30am to 1:00pm. Another issue is if there is going to be much snow. I don't know if I should wear a jacket or just leave it and risk freezing to death.

If you have a suitable jacket to wear, by all means wear it. I know for men, your standard tan London Fog overcoat is pretty much accepted as a given if made necessary by the weather.

Naturally I had no idea what you meant so I googled London Fog and I do have a women's style coat very similar to that. I'll have to try it all on together and decide. Thanks!

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
If you have a designed matching top to go with the business suit use it.
Otherwise a beige/off white blouse with charcoal suit is better than white.

I do have a suit that has a matching top that came with it. My only reservation with that particular suit is that it doesn't have a lapel/collar. I think it's supposed to be a more modern look. The suit does look very nice and professional on and is dark gray, but I just don't know if the no lapel is a deal breaker.

I would NOT worry about not having a lapel at all.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: Lola

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: JDMnAR1

Originally posted by: yovonbishop

Originally posted by: QurazyQuisp
Is this your first or second interview? For at least for software engineering internships (With the bigger, well known companies they tend to group the interns and the full times together, at least during the second rounds) I would wear a suit to the first internship (Dark Grey, white shirt) and to the second interview usually dark slacks (Wool) and some color shirt (Usually french blue). It has worked well so far. Granted, I have only interviewed with software companies such as MS, Intuit, and some other large software companies. (A few smaller as well)

This is for a full-time permanent position, not an internship. It's my first interview - there are going to be three interviews during my 5-6 hours there.

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: yovonbishop
Haha. I'll probably be so nervous I'll be sneaking away to vomit in the bathroom!

Nah... Just kidding. Kinda.

I don't think it can be any worse than one of my interviews . It is a really long day though so I would recommend not wearing anything uncomfortable. I believe I was there from 7:00AM until 4:00PM.

They said mine would run from about 7:30am to 1:00pm. Another issue is if there is going to be much snow. I don't know if I should wear a jacket or just leave it and risk freezing to death.

If you have a suitable jacket to wear, by all means wear it. I know for men, your standard tan London Fog overcoat is pretty much accepted as a given if made necessary by the weather.

Naturally I had no idea what you meant so I googled London Fog and I do have a women's style coat very similar to that. I'll have to try it all on together and decide. Thanks!

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
If you have a designed matching top to go with the business suit use it.
Otherwise a beige/off white blouse with charcoal suit is better than white.

I do have a suit that has a matching top that came with it. My only reservation with that particular suit is that it doesn't have a lapel/collar. I think it's supposed to be a more modern look. The suit does look very nice and professional on and is dark gray, but I just don't know if the no lapel is a deal breaker.

I would NOT worry about not having a lapel at all.

Okay I won't. I just wasn't sure how important it was or wasn't. Thanks again Lola.

 

[Aikouka]

Hmm supposed to be some light snow on Friday, but it probably won't be that big of a deal. You'll most likely have a parking spot right in front of the building that you'll be in anyway as in getting there before 7 almost guarantees a good spot.

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: Aikouka
Hmm supposed to be some light snow on Friday, but it probably won't be that big of a deal. You'll most likely have a parking spot right in front of the building that you'll be in anyway as in getting there before 7 almost guarantees a good spot.

Yeah, I'm lucky. My husband works there too so I'm getting a ride in

 

[tk149]

Ninja outfit FTW!


But seriously, holy crap! Women have a lot more to worry about dressing up for an interview than men. I had no idea.

FWIW, this is what professional women I have worked with have worn:
Dark conservative suit, skirt preferred, but if you think it'll affect your demeanor, wear what you're comfortable with.

Hair up, or shoulder-length hair at most. In my "recruiting" year at grad school, ALL the women students got the same haircut. It was kind of funny, yet sad.

Shoes - close toed, not too flashy. A little bit of heel.

NO Perfume (but I see you've already decided not to wear any).

Minimal jewelry.

I agree with Lola on the portfolio thing without purse.

Remember to bring extra resumes and recommendations with you. Good luck!

 

[imported_yovonbishop]

Originally posted by: tk149
Ninja outfit FTW!


But seriously, holy crap! Women have a lot more to worry about dressing up for an interview than men. I had no idea.

FWIW, this is what professional women I have worked with have worn:
Dark conservative suit, skirt preferred, but if you think it'll affect your demeanor, wear what you're comfortable with.

Hair up, or shoulder-length hair at most. In my "recruiting" year at grad school, ALL the women students got the same haircut. It was kind of funny, yet sad.

Shoes - close toed, not too flashy. A little bit of heel.

NO Perfume (but I see you've already decided not to wear any).

Minimal jewelry.

I agree with Lola on the portfolio thing without purse.

Remember to bring extra resumes and recommendations with you. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice! I got my hair cut for my other interview, it's about shoulder length, maybe a tad shorter. It was very long before... I think the fact that it's short gives me a couple more options rather than just putting it up. Like I said, I'll figure it out. Thanks again!