Attire for Women - SSA Interview

[backtoeden]

Have any ladies worn pant suits for the SSA interview? I would rather wear a pant suit as it will be a long day - I am flying in and out in the same day. When I went for the SI all the women I met were wearing skirt suits, myself included.

I would feel better knowing if anyone has worn pant suits to the SSA interview. Thanks.

[doodlemom]

I wore a pant suit. No idea if it was frowned upon, but I had also worn a pant suit to the OPM interview and received a decent score.

[maxlaw]

Jun 10, 2010 14:51:53 GMT -5 backtoeden said:

Have any ladies worn pant suits for the SSA interview? I would rather wear a pant suit as it will be a long day - I am flying in and out in the same day. When I went for the SI all the women I met were wearing skirt suits, myself included.

I would feel better knowing if anyone has worn pant suits to the SSA interview. Thanks.

I can't imagine that, even allowing for the average age of the ALJ corps, any of the interviewers would be bothered one way or the other by such a thing. In spite of that, my suggestion to you if it concerns you enough to post here, don't wear it. No point in having any distractions in a situation when you want to be absolutely at the top of your game.

[northwest]

I wore a pants suit and got the job as an outsider.

[71stretch]

I didn't, but several did. A nice dressy pantsuit would be fine.

[imiram1372]

For what it's worth I wore a pants suit for the SI and most of the other women also wore pants suits during the time I was there. I plan to wear a nice dressy pantsuit for this interview. I have a friend who wore a pants suit who was also an outsider and got the job last year.

[issuegirl]

I was very grateful that I wore a pantsuit to the SI. There was no table separating me from the interviewers in the hotel room that doubled as the interview sight. I took both a skirt and pantsuit to the SSA interview and decided at the last minute on the pantsuit. I saw one other woman in a skirt suit. I don't mind skirts but I have gotten away with not wearing nylons for years. I know that would not be acceptable for an interview and personally, I couldn't stomach the idea of nylons in the DC humidity!

[zarco522]

I had considered a skirt, but several friends out interviewing in the professional world, (not in this process, but professional), insisted that pants actually are stronger, youthful and offer a good line. I agreed, felt great, and it worked out well. be comfortable and confident.

[privateatty]

Jun 10, 2010 21:12:23 GMT -5 zarco522 said:

I had considered a skirt, but several friends out interviewing in the professional world, (not in this process, but professional), insisted that pants actually are stronger, youthful and offer a good line. I agreed, felt great, and it worked out well. be comfortable and confident.

I'm a guy. I don't wear skirts.
But its all about who you are and what gives you the confidence and presence.
For some women its pants (just ask Hillary) and some skirts.

[Orly]

Jun 10, 2010 15:44:13 GMT -5 maxlaw said:

any of the interviewers would be bothered one way or the other by such a thing. In spite of that, my suggestion to you if it concerns you enough to post here, don't wear it. No point in having any distractions in a situation when you want to be absolutely at the top of your game.

Max is giving good advice here.

As long as you dress professionally, I doubt any of the managing ALJs and other interviewing officials care whether you're wearing skirts or pants.

I think the main things they'll be judging are:

1. Can you handle the heavy case load?
2. Can you prosper in the electronic environment?
3. Are you a team player and not a Prima Donna?

Anyway, put your best foot forward and wear what makes you feel like a million bucks. Good luck!

[bowser]

Darn it, I was supposed to wear PANTS?! I knew I forgot SOMETHING!

[lawdog98]

See, I wore my kilt to the interview. That is what did me in. Nothing says prima donna like a kilt.

[ladyatlaw]

True to DC form/fashion (where I work), I wore a power skirt-suit. While awaiting my interview, I only noticed lady ALJ "interviewees" wearing pants or pantsuits. I saw a handful of lady ALJ "interviewers" and they all had on skirts, skirt suits or dresses (no pants). However, as the gentlemen who've chimed in have indicated, the real issues are: 1) what makes you feel most comfortable, and 2) that you are able to communicate whether you can do the job.

No matter what each of us chose to wear for our respective SSA/ODAR interviews, I pray that we realize success and meet this summer at the 4-week training class back in FC! Peace. :-)

[counsel]

Interesting conversation. I would never consider wearing a pant suit to an interview. Worked for some people early on in my career for whom it mattered. I guess times are changing.

[zero]

Little black dress, bare shoulders, a string of pearls, matching clutch and shoes. You'll be in like flin.

[nonamouse]

I didn't even wear a suit. It was dark colored separates (jacket, slacks, shirt) that may have looked like a suit, but frankly I felt it was fine as a tasteful and unobtrusive combo.

Times have changed even for litigators in the past 10-15 years. In my southern city women attorneys don't typically wear pantyhose/nylons any longer unless they are of a "certain age" and even then they are just as likely to wear a pants suit. We laugh at the "Mary Kay ladies" sweltering in hose because they are required to wear it when the rest of the world has figured out it was a torture device invented by men to kill us off once temps reached the 90s. By mutual unspoken agreement professional women here go from tights in the winter to bare legs and a nice pedicure once temps head into the 80s for the season. Open toed shoes with a nice pedicure are even OK in court now so long as the rest of suit or dress is tailored. The last of our crazy male judges who would put female lawyers out for wearing slacks are thankfully gone in our area.

For those looking from the outside into ODAR, yes you want to look professional but this is not a rigid, formal law firm where you must put on your suit jacket and button up to leave your office for a coffee refill. For my ODAR interview day in Falls Church there was a cookie platter and hot drinks on offer in the waiting area, so everyone can take a nice cleansing breath and just wear something reasonably professional but comfortable. BTW, I swiped my cookie reward on the way out so as to avoid the "chocolate smile."

[iapplied]

I was forced to wear the pants suit I wore on the plane: Delta didn't put my luggage on my plane. But I looked professional nevertheless and it didn't matter one bit to my two interviewers.

And besides: not all of the interviewers are men. Not all of the men are old fuddy duddy's (but the term fuddy duddy is old :-)) So don't worry about it!

[backtoeden]

I started practicing right before the "shift" happened. For appearances in federal court even just for simple status conferences I wore skirts. But shortly thereafter I started seeing women showing up in court in pants. My opposing counsel wore pants during trial a year later and I was still thinking it was taboo.

Now there has definitely been a shift. In general, I wear what I want on any given day, and I always look professional. But I asked this question because I still come from that "era" and I remember when pants were not considered appropriate attire.

[71stretch]

Jun 12, 2010 11:56:44 GMT -5 backtoeden said:

I started practicing right before the "shift" happened. For appearances in federal court even just for simple status conferences I wore skirts. But shortly thereafter I started seeing women showing up in court in pants. My opposing counsel wore pants during trial a year later and I was still thinking it was taboo.

Now there has definitely been a shift. In general, I wear what I want on any given day, and I always look professional. But I asked this question because I still come from that "era" and I remember when pants were not considered appropriate attire.

I come from that era, too. I remember when I was sworn in to the federal bar, and one woman dared to come in pants (and not even a dressy pantsuit). There must have been no rule against it (although they kept jackets and ties in a closet for men who forgot theirs... they had to have them) but I can still see the federal judge who presided glaring at that woman.

[bowser]

Reminds me of this old one:
What is the difference between a well-dressed man and a dog?
A well-dressed man wears a 3-piece suit; the dog just pants! ;D