Job Interview Advice?

BunnyMaz

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Hi guys!

So, yesterday I had a job interview for a PA position, and they want me to come for a follow-up interview tomorrow to meet some different people in the company to see if they like me.

Yesterday I had no idea what I was going in for - I'd applied for a factory manual labour job at the same company and was offered the PA interview instead based on my CV. So I went very safe - wore a plain black suit jacket and trousers, plain black smart top, hair in a neat bun and minimal make-up. However, during the interview I learned:


  • This is not a traditional PA position and they have turned away several experienced PAs for being too "stuffy and traditional".
  • The company is made up almost entirely of creative types who want a PA who can juggle varied, unpredictable work, offer creative input, take part in some of the creative work directly and also help keep the fluffy arteests organised.
  • The company is branding itself as artisan-quality, but as quirky and modern and fun, and they are trying to take on staff who can do the job while also representing the company brand.
  • I was offered the first interview because of the writing portfolio on my CV, and impressed during the interview by demonstrating out-of-the-box thinking.
So I'm trying to work out if I should present myself a little differently tomorrow. I'll obviously still be groomed and polished and smart-looking, but should I add some quirky touches to my look? My options are:



  • An elegantly-shaped, knee-length black dress with skull print, worn with my smart jacket.
  • An office-appropriate but colourful purple tunic with tiny bird print, with trousers and my smart jacket.
  • Same suit, but a colourful top.
  • Plain trousers and top, but a more fun jacket (I have a dusky pink linen jacket with buttons all over the collar, a patchwork pinstripe jacket from Joe Browns or a soft jersey cover-up top in grey)
  • Same suit, and another plain top like yesterday, but more fun makeup
  • Exactly the same look I went with yesterday (play it safe)
What do you guys think?
 
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cray

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is that you in the avatar pic?
...trim your nails a bit, adjust your left ear and you're good to go.







cray, not helpful.
 

mirandashell

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I'd go with the first option. Especially if the skull print is a small repeating pattern. That means that from a distance, you look smart and elegant but closer up, you're showing off your quirky side.

Or the patchwork pinstripe jacket. Shows you know how to play with the tropes.
 

BunnyMaz

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Thanks, guys! Gaaah I've had so much conflicting advice! So far between you guys, family and people on FB the split between go-quirky and go-safe is about 50/50!
 

JulianneQJohnson

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You don't want to show up in exactly the same outfit, but you don't want to look like a completely different person either. Quirky company or not, this is still a job interview. Think of it this way, despite the conservative outfit, they called you back for another interview. It's your attitude that will show them your ability to think outside of the box, not what you wear.
That sounds kind of funny coming from a woman who spent 25 years as a costumer. As A costumer, I'd say don't go too unprofessional with your look. I'd say no to the skull dress. I'd go with the purple tunic, or the less professional jacket. Good luck!
 
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Maryn

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I vote for exactly what Julianne said. (High five!)

Maryn, not a former costumer
 

Chase

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I had a job interview for a PA position, and they want me to come for a follow-up interview.

Go for the quirk. A physician's assistant is just someone who failed med school entrance exams and couldn't afford one of the doc degrees offered in Grenada, so they don't expect Marcus Welby.

Decorate your stethoscope with spiders and snakes. A few throat tats or fresh hickeys would make statements. Bring your biker boyfriend to glower at any male interviewers.
 

BunnyMaz

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Go for the quirk. A physician's assistant is just someone who failed med school entrance exams and couldn't afford one of the doc degrees offered in Grenada, so they don't expect Marcus Welby.

Decorate your stethoscope with spiders and snakes. A few throat tats or fresh hickeys would make statements. Bring your biker boyfriend to glower at any male interviewers.

Ahhh. not physician's assistant. PA as in Personal Assistant. It's like a secretary with more responsibilities and better money.
 

Deleted member 42

This:

An elegantly-shaped, knee-length black dress with skull print, worn with my smart jacket.

And have some questions in mind for them; think of two sorts of questions, business-like ones about the company and what they do and their customers, and a couple of non-intrusive questions about employees (like, how long most of them have been at this company).

Good luck!
 

Lavern08

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Purple tunic, black slacks - (lose the jacket) - a pair of cute flats and some funky, but not too over-the-top, jewelry. ;)
 

Liralen

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There's an expression . . .

"dance with who brought you" ;)

Not the same exact outfit, but in the same vein, adding a little more individuality. You need to find out more about who you're dealing with before you show your cards ;)
 

Caitlin Black

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My first impulse was the skull dress because, y'know, skulls! But then reading further, I thought maybe something more in line with what you've already shown them BUT maybe mention that you almost wore your skull dress.

Now I'm thinking skull dress again. So long as it doesn't look like you're trying too hard, which it wouldn't if you're used to wearing the skull dress from time to time anyway.

Skulls!
 

BunnyMaz

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Heh, thanks guys!

The lady at the first interview was wearing jeans and a jumper, and today the lady (a different one) was wearing a smart/casual outfit, and the dude was wearing his chef uniform! The sales staff in the building today were dressed to the nines, though. It's a very fancy chocolate company, and the sales staff were wearing bright, fitted formal dresses. Sooo... no idea whether the skull dress would have worked or not! In the end I went in the middle - wore suit jacket, but with a really nice, colourful tunic.

I think it went well! They kept mentioning that they knew I'd make a good partner to the person I'll (hopefully) be PA to, and how much she liked me in the first interview, and they sent me home with some samples of the products they make! Mmmm free artisan chocolates...
 

mirandashell

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Sounds good! When are they going to let you know?

I tried being a PA as a temp but hated it. Like being somebody's mother.
 

BunnyMaz

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Soon! The interview process is moving quickly, at least. Fortunately this isn't exactly a traditional PA job - the lady I'll (hopefully) work for has never had a PA before, so we'll really be building up a working relationship and deciding between us how to balance job roles and sharing responsibilities, with her being the one in charge and making the big decisions. That said, I don't mind mothering to a certain degree.
 

mirandashell

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I hated it. It's why I don't have kids.

But good luck with it! Sounds very hopeful
 

Chase

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PA as in Personal Assistant.

More sarcastic advice;): Tell 'em, perhaps with your own hand-held PA system:e2Order:, you're no one's secretary and bosses can get their own coffee.:e2coffee:

I'll save your place in the unemployed writers' line.
 

BunnyMaz

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I hated it. It's why I don't have kids.

But good luck with it! Sounds very hopeful

Ah, but mothering adults is different! You can give them a LOT more tough love :p

*Also never want kids. But I do enjoy mothering my cats. Yes, mad old cat lady in-the-making. I just want to hug all the cats and I can't.
 

Shakesbear

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I also want to hug all the cats. Hope you get the job - it sounds to very right for you.
 

Lavern08

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Sounds like a great opportunity and a good fit for you.

I was a PA for a while, and I lurved it. :)
 

WriterTrek

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  • An office-appropriate but colourful purple tunic with tiny bird print, with trousers and my smart jacket.
^ That sounds like a nice mix of professional and fun. Even if it's too late to offer advice I just wanted to say that anyway.
 

rhymegirl

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See, PA can mean so many things. When I read your post I thought it meant PublishAmerica, that company people around here hate so much.

I tend to do my own thing clothing-wise for interviews. I don't want to look like everybody else.