For this year's ASA employment fair interview (not Saturday, but in-depth interview on Sunday or Monday), what is the dress code? Any advice? Thanks.
ASA Employment Fair Interview Dress Code
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Dress with self-respect, not desperation.
+1 if that mean "don't don a suit if you can't pull if off". On the other hand, conservative attire (suit + tie) is safer.
An ill-fitting suit with a s**tty tie and cheap oxfords looks bad.
A weirdly-patterned sport coat + an ugly khaki and ridiculous loafers looks worse. -
Guy here. I wore a navy suit and tie back in 2013. It's the suit I got married in, so it was pretty damn nice and fit really well. I don't think it's essential to wear a suit though. Instead, go with something that makes you feel confident while still falling in line with typical business attire norms. As a grad student back then I was surprised how poorly most faculty and students dressed, but not everyone has money or even cares (and I'm not going to hold it against anyone). Now I guess I'm just used to it but I still make an effort to look put together, especially at professional events and when I teach. I'm going to the fair this year and probably will just wear some nice slacks, dress shirt, and a blazer.
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I'm not intimate with these situations, but I would err on a suit for a junior (man or woman), and only tread into more casual styles if you're confident you can do it well (eg you're able to solicit complements in a professional environment for your stylishness in the face of professional conformity). Navy blue is a fine standard. Black and charcoal are even more traditional and can look somewhat clueless if the suit doesn't fit properly.
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Did you come from a high status department? You might get a pass there. Or alternatively, informal dress can convey status in the inverse hierarchy of sociology, both for "academic noncformity" reasons and for the politics of the discipline.I never wore a suit and got several job offers. Nice clean pants and shirt would do. Focus on the content, not on how you look.
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Sweat pants with freshly pressed alma mater tank top (showing *strong* shoulder says, "I'm man enough for the job" - do not be that beta-male interviewee). Make sure they match (formal color, e.g., light gray) so you don't look like a slob. Pro tip: Pack a portable fan in your light gray fanny pack so you can dry any urine stains while in the waiting area.
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a lot of this info sounds like its coming from men. If you are a woman, I hate to break it to you, but it does matter more (sadly). You don't need to wear a full suit but a jacket definitely helps. I usually wear dresses with half sleeves to the conference and I wore them to the job fair last year and got an offer from one of the meetings. If the dress doesn't have sleeves, I always wear a jacket. Wear nice comfortable shoes that aren't too flashy.
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Man here. I went in 2014 and wore a sport coat and tie. Everyone was wearing a suit, so I definitely felt underdressed. That said, both my interviews went well and one school gave me a phone interview in the Fall.
I'd say go with a suit. All things equal, not wearing a suit may hurt you to some extent... especially if everyone else is wearing one.