Interview attire?

[tammiandtom 0]

What did you wear to the interview?

[churipu 4]

I wore a button up black shirt, jeans (you know, the kind that is not casual casual but not dressy either) and black flats.

[Waiting4GC 0]

I wore black slacks and a nice top. As long as you are not too casual you should be OK (first impressions are always very important)

[tammiandtom 0]

I guess the question is, should my husband wear a tie?

[TBoneTX 43,477]

I guess the question is, should my husband wear a tie?

Others have said that this is one of the two most important interviews of your life (the AOS interview being the other), so ABSOLUTELY.

[motu 5]

No ties, unless you like them. My job required a tie and coat but for my citizenship interview I left my coat and tie in the car - I don't like them. Do what you want to do. Relax

[churipu 4]

There is absolutely no need to dress up, it is an important thing for sure but it isn't a UN meeting if you know what I mean...the room I was waiting for was full of people, all there for scheduled interviews, I do not rememebr seing one person wearing a tie.

[ilovecookies 0]

i wore black slacks and a nice shirt, but i didn't see any men who were interviewed wearing a tie. maybe he can wear just a nice pair of pants and shirt.

[mateo 0]

Coming from the other side of the table, I conducted interviews for 12 years (investigative). I interviewed a lot of people and I made instant judgments based on many things including the clothes the person was wearing. Wear a tan or gray suit, and a non-flashy tie. Dress for success! Proper dress plays a big role in perception. This maybe drastic, but imagine listening to a classical orchestra that all the musicians are dress like Kiss, the effect is monumental. If you happen to wear something the subconsciously affects the interviewer in a negative way you wont get a chance to change it. So I say plain jane tan business suit, white shirt and a plain jane tie that matches.

m.

[NickD 202]

I am just the driver, dress in a conservative fashion but in comfortable clothes. After all, will be in the car for over eight hours. Wife on the other hand, looks like a million bucks, hair fixed up, nylons, high heeled shoes, smart office attire, but she always dresses up like that, even when we go grocery shopping. At home, she likes to wear my shirts, but if the door bell rings, runs upstairs to change.

I am please the society dress code has relaxed, always hated that noose around my neck, so does my dog, but have to tell him, it's the law. And suit is just about the most impractical piece of clothing ever invented, has all those pockets, but you are not suppose to use them. Got stranded at an airport once for three days and three nights, wearing a three piece suit, miserable.

[Waiting4GC 0]

When I went for my interview at the Cleveland location, all the men that were waiting to be interviewed (4) did not wear ties or jackets. Some of them were actually sloppy IMO. I think you want to portrait the right image: not too casual but not too dressy either. As other suggested a nice pair of pants ( no jeans) and a nice shirt should do it. Also, as an FYI, IMO some of the officers looked too casual so a suit or tie could be a tad too formal but whatever your hubby feels comfortable with.

[churipu 4]

Coming from the other side of the table, I conducted interviews for 12 years (investigative). I interviewed a lot of people and I made instant judgments based on many things including the clothes the person was wearing. Wear a tan or gray suit, and a non-flashy tie. Dress for success! Proper dress plays a big role in perception. This maybe drastic, but imagine listening to a classical orchestra that all the musicians are dress like Kiss, the effect is monumental. If you happen to wear something the subconsciously affects the interviewer in a negative way you wont get a chance to change it. So I say plain jane tan business suit, white shirt and a plain jane tie that matches.

m.

With all due respect to your experience, this is not the same context we are talking about IMO. It is not an executive position interview or anything like that where you're trying to impress someone with the way you look so a suit is a must because you have to be elegant between the lines. All you are trying to prove here is that you can master the English language, you know the basics of history and civics stuff and that you are a legit resident of the US with good moral character and all the other different requirements in order. I refuse to believe that the way you dress at a 10 minutes interview might have any influence or weight on the interviewer's decision about this particular matter. Context is everything, also there are many ways to dress for succes and IMO a tie isn't always and necessarily it.

To the OP: as I said earlier not one man there was wearing a tie/suit when I went for my interview and the room was packed. IMO I feel like a suit and a tie would be a bit too much, then again as others pointed out, whatever your husband feels comfortable with.

Edited May 23, 2008 by churipu

[TBoneTX 43,477]

I repeat: Do you really want to take a chance on NOT scoring possible points because you "hate ties" or "no one else will be wearing one" or other excuse? Go in wearing a tie, and if you feel drastically out of place, take it off and open the collar button. It's the same principle as being invited to a party when you're uncertain about the dress code -- if you dress a bit "more" than may be necessary, you can dress down readily once you arrive.

[mohamed N melinda 0]

My husband wore a suit and tie!!

[NickD 202]

From my observations, the armed guards are the best dressed, nice uniforms, neatly pressed, and polished shoes. Regarding the officers and other office personnel, the best word I can use is casual, perhaps even very casual.