What to wear to a job interview

@patgalca (18366)
Orangeville, Ontario
January 18, 2010 1:01pm CST
We have been struggling for years because I have been home since developing fibromyalgia 13 years ago. My husband thinks I am up to working, even just a little bit. He came home from the gym the other day and said the manager was looking for someone to take over the receptionist desk at the gym for a few hours a week, where needed. I let him take my resume in to her and she called me today. I have an interview tomorrow afternoon. Now, in my past life (LOL!) I was a secretary in business and I knew how to dress for interviews and for the job, but this interview is at a fitness gym. What the heck do I wear for that? I'm certainly not going to go in there in exercise gear. But I don't want to dress up as if I was working in an office. I will not wear a dress (I rarely wear dresses anymore - don't have very many). So what do you think I should wear for a job interview at a fitness gym?
2 people like this
12 responses
@sunnflr (2767)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I would say some nice slacks and a pretty top. Nothing too fancy, but enough to show them you are serious about the position. I wish you all the best. I have fibromyalgia also, and some days I could work a regular job, but some I couldn't. That's what's so frustrating about this condition. You never know what each day will hold.
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
That's what makes this job appealing, only a few hours a week, when the manager wants to be away from the gym. Maybe 4 hours one day, 2 another. Maximum 10 hours a week. I really don't care about the pay because any money is good money. I just hope she doesn't want me in at 6am.
2 people like this
@sunnflr (2767)
• United States
18 Jan 10
10 hours a week doesn't sound too bad. I agree about the 6am though, I do worse in the mornings. Maybe it will work out well for you. Good luck with the interview!
2 people like this
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
The gym opens at 6am so I hardly think she would hire me to open up. I'm hoping it will be midday to late afternoon.
1 person likes this
• Canada
18 Jan 10
I once had an employment councellor tell me that the rule for job interviews is to wear an outfit that is one step nicer than the clothing required for the job. So if the job is casual attire, wear something semi-casual. If the attire is semi-casual, wear a business suit or something, and so on and so forth.
2 people like this
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
I emaild a fellow soccer mom who works in HR and she said better overdressed than underdressed. She suggested a business suit, except I don't have one.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I would wear at LEAST business casual and if you get the job, ask what they prefer their receptionist to wear - some places - the Y for example, seems to like their folks in very casual clothes - I've even seen them in exercise garb - tho it looked like they might exercise afterward rather than before...
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
I'm hoping they'll let me on a treadmill after my shift. LOL!
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Jan 10
Maybe. He has a membership; I use the treadmill at home when I feel like it. He works out in the early morning but he thinks the hours will be more like 4pm to 8pm. Not sure though.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
18 Jan 10
can't hurt to ask... maybe if you are staying there because your husband is working out you could do it...
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jan 10
Dress slacks, a sweater and low-heeled dress boots.
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
Thanks, Barb. That's exactly how I plan to dress.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
18 Jan 10
Oops! Forgot to wish you good luck.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Hey pat! I think that all you need to wear would be some nice pants and a nice blouse and maybe a jacket or blazer and a nice pair of shoes or boots! You don't have to be too dressed up since it is a Fitness Center! Whatever you wear will be just fine, I'm sure! I don't think that this job is so much about the clothes as it is about your personality and I think you will do just fine with that!lol I want to wish you the best of luck, but don't think you will need much of that! I think you will ace it!
1 person likes this
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Jan 10
Thanks, Opal. It will be dress pants and a sweater, I think. I don't really have any blouses, or a blazer. I will dress like I do when I have to read at church.
@AmandaMBF (284)
• Brazil
18 Jan 10
To any job interview you should wear serious clothes and don't use makeup, cleavage, dresses, and don't overboard on accessories. So use small earrings, don't use necklaces, take care of rings and bracelets. If you'll use rings or bracelets use few and small of this. Use discret lipstick. Brown, beige, and clear rose is good colours to lipstick. About the clothes: for an interview on a gym you should use social sport clothes. Use pants and a discret blouse. Take care of your shoes. Use tennis. Don't use social shoes or any tipe of sandals. You need to pass a impression of what tipe of clothes you'll use on your job. So wear sportive blouse and jeans. Or other tipe of pants. You'll be receptionist so you need to look very well but on the place parameters. Use simple clothes but that looks well in your body. And use clothes that made your body beautiful because people who usually go to a gym are trying to modelate their bodies.
@tuyakiki (3016)
• India
18 Jan 10
The best clothes that you may wear while attending a job interview are formal trousers,preferably black and a shirt,preferably on light shades.As it is a fitness gym so you may also wear leggings or slacks and a matched top..Don't carry too many accessories and try to be comfortable with whatever your are wearing.Be confident.And don't wear too much makeup.
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Jan 10
I don't ever wear too much make-up. A little mascara to darken my lashes, a little blush and some lip gloss.
1 person likes this
• India
12 Feb 10
If you are going for an interview of job of receiptionist in a fitness gym, wearing a skirt and formal shirt would be nice for you. Even wearing a cotton jeans full pant with formal shirt is very well dressed for an interview!!
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
You must wear for the job interview because it is formal then the interview is about your self so must be formal then when it came to interview you must sure of what you said and feel for the interviewer that your capable of that job.
• China
19 Jan 10
you should dress casual but not sloppy. a pair of khakis with a nice sweater or light colored button down shirt tucked in and appropriate shoes would be best.
@patgalca (18366)
• Orangeville, Ontario
19 Jan 10
I'll wear a pair of dress pants, if I can find a pair that's not too tight. Tummy is bothering me today.
• Philippines
19 Jan 10
Semi formal. Blouse, slacks and close shoes
• United States
19 Jan 10
Slacks, blouse and flats. Comfortable, but dressy enough to say that you want that job. Your personality and resume will do the rest. Good luck!!