Some of my female students adopt the position that they wouldn't want to work for an employer who would fail
to hire them just for wearing a pantsuit. And that's a perfectly valid stance. If you’re trying to find an employer
that’s a good fit with your style, the acceptability of pantsuits can be a good litmus test. If your goal is to get a job
offer, however, you may want to take the more cautious skirtsuit route.
Women should make their own choices about interview attire, but just as with any of the "rules" for dressing
for success, they should make those choices fully informed about the risks and realities. Thus, we present
the pros and cons of wearing pantsuits to an interview:
Pros:
If the pantsuit is widely acceptable attire in the workplace, it should be acceptable for job interviews.
The idea that a pantsuit is unprofessional is outdated. It emanates from a male power structure that seeks
to keep women in their place.
Many employers (some surveys indicate the vast majority, in fact) say it doesn't matter as long as the
pantsuit looks professional.
Many recruiters themselves wear pantsuits.
If you are not comfortable or confident wearing a skirted suit, you might not interview well. You should
be true to yourself, and your clothing should reflect your self-image and help you project your most confident self.
Some women feel they look better in pantsuits than in skirted suits.
Pantsuits may be more acceptable in colder climates.
Some professionals view pantsuits as actually more professional than skirtsuits because they make women
seem powerful and more equal with men.
Cons:
It's better to be overdressed than under. Whereas you might go wrong wearing a pantsuit, it’s almost
impossible to go wrong wearing a skirted suit.
It's not the pants that determine professionalism as much as it is whether the candidate wears a jacket
(true of both men and women).
Many experts say a pantsuit is OK for a second or third interview, but the skirted suit is still the best bet
for the first interview. When Andersen Consulting recruits on college campuses, for example, the firm recommends
skirted suits for the first two rounds of interviews, with pantsuits acceptable for the third round.
Employers want to hire candidates who are a good "fit" with the organization; if you interview in a pantsuit
in a company where all the female employees are wearing skirtsuits, you won't be perceived as fitting in.
One study, albeit with a limited number of respondents, indicated that 25 percent of employers would think twice
about hiring a woman who wore a pantsuit to a first interview.
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