Author |
Message |
Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:21 am
expect and require are two different things. i have just hired a lady accountant that i have never seen in a skirt or dress. and, she was the best candidate for the job.
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:22 am
not being able to hire someone with green hair or a tattoo bothers me. but, i can't do it so i don't. my whole point has been to stress that you need to know the corporate culture where you are applying before the interview process starts. if you don't like the corporate culture then don't apply there.
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Yellek
Member
08-22-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:26 am
I do agree you need to know the culture before your interview. I just maintain that certain corporate cultures are sexist and unfair.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:30 am
I will never wear a skirt. What if a woman has a big BURN or scar on her leg?! Or had a club foot operation and one calf is WAY smaller (like my friend has). You'd judge that person as dressed "business casual" rather than humble or embarrassed of their scars?? Maybe women in pants should be given the benefit of the doubt, rather than to be judged negatively. I personally have cellulite, and wear pants to hide it, and think the pants are better to look at than my cottage cheese look. I have to agree with Yellek on this, even though some rules aren't OUR RULES, perpetuating those rules is as bad as the rules themselves. Eventually someone in the deep south will have to come into the 70s and call for change.
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Legalboxer
Member
11-17-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:32 am
there is also a difference with a suit pant and slacks.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:43 am
And what about money? What if you're a woman who has technical expertise, but your husband bailed on you and your four kids, or died without a good life insurance plan, or something to stretch your resources. You can't afford high-fashion suit-pants because you are still paying off a mortgage and feeding four kids and getting them off to school all before going in to try to work a 10 hour day.... That woman will be judged on her visual and price of pants? I'm no feminist, but I really thought we had come out of the Victorian era.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:58 am
Eeyore -- actually there are places in almost any county that will help women applying for jobs get business attire -- especially when there is financial hardship. Gotta' agree w/ above -- find out about the particular company where you will interview. If you can live w/their expectations, go for it. If not -- don't. It's their company and they can choose how to run it. We have a bank in our town where women must wear skirts AND nylons AND closed toe shoes. (financial business) If ladies don't want to dress like that, they don't apply. Also -- remember most interviewers expect you to dress ABOVE what is required. Like Marm said, it shows you take the job seriously. Every single video I've ever seen (or shown to my students) says the exact same thing. Once you're hired, then the dress may be more casual if that's what is acceptable at the company.
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 7:59 am
Cndeariso, I just wanted to say that I understand what you are saying. I don't totally agree with the skirt thing, but I understand what you're saying. I personally don't think it's sexist ... just old-fashioned. And, remember, in certain fields, men are expected to wear black or navy suits. Period. Brown or light gray would be unacceptable. Fair? No way. Expected? Yes. Do I think that's sorta silly? Yes. But I understand it's a part of that corporate culture. So I get you.
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 8:00 am
While personally I agree about the Pant's issue, Cnd did say it isn't her policy, she hired someone who wore pants so she is not perpetuating it, and even more importantly, her point was not to wear a skirt but rather to know the culture at the company at which you are interviewing. I think that is very sound advice. . So let me put on my moderator hat and say: let's get back to helping Texannie know what to wear to her interview  
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 8:13 am
Tex - I think you should wear a nipple ring, just for that added boost of confidence. 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 8:15 am
ROFL!!!!!!!!!! hey, I am from the old banking days were the women wore blue suits, them men wore blue suits and when we were going wild, we might wear gray!
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 9:03 am
I think your best conservative outfit, without too much jewelery or makeup, a big smile, a hearty handshake, and a dollop of confidence should do the trick. I have a couple of skirts, but they make me feel like a barrel. I FEEL more confident and have a better sense of wellbeing and am more true to my self in a pantsuit. But the material I almost always wear is very light, flowing, and feminine and looks really attractive. (If you've seen any pix of me, I'm usually in that material.) It's my fave, and most of my wardrobe is in either that material - (or tee shirt material which is not acceptable in an office.) There is a boutique in the hotel near the airport where they sell the slinky material, that I love. I stock up every year when I go to the Toronto Trek convention, and I'm going THIS FRIDAY! YAAAAY! I always plow through 100-200 bucks, cuz its my my new fancy duds for the year. And I bargain my butt off cuz they now I buy around 3-5 items a year. (They are good to me, cuz they know I am a regular, and I ONLY shop with them for my good clothes. It's just a pain getting out there.) I can get the same thing at the Home Shopping Network warehouse, but the service is beyond nonexistant, they are actually surly! So I'd rather spend a few pennies more and be treated like gold at this boutique. There used to be another boutique nearby at the subway station here, but they stopped selling clothes in the slinky material. So its a pain to wait a year. But worth it! I am more excited about my impending shopping spree this weekend, than the convention, but shhh. Don't tell a soul. GRIN. This year, I want to get more light coloured slacks. I have several black ones (I add a black pair every couple of years to keep 'em fresh looking cuz I wear them to death) and one pair of butterscotch brown. I want to get a white pair. Hope they have it!!! One thing about my wardrobe, its either fancy or not, no in-between.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 9:18 am
I like skirts but hate pantyhose. I much prefer long skirts or dresses with kneehighs.
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Cndeariso
Member
06-28-2004
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 9:48 am
tex, i'm still not sure i understand who you are hoping to interview with and for what position. is it with Starbucks for customer service? Starbucks has a corporate culture geared toward the young professional that generally wears business casual. So, the pants outfit you have been describing would probably be perfect. i hate pantyhose too & wear long skirts/dresses so when i am required to wear stockings (on Commission meeting days) i wear kneehighs or trouser socks. 
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 10:52 am
Cnd, I already work for Starbucks. I am contemplating going back to work full time and approached one of my customers about opportunities with his company. He was very encouraging..thus starting all the 'what do i wear if i get called for an interview?' conversation. Mame...lordy child, these two comments could have come directly from me!! have a couple of skirts, but they make me feel like a barrel. I FEEL more confident and have a better sense of wellbeing and am more true to my self in a pantsuit One thing about my wardrobe, its either fancy or not, no in-between.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 12:01 pm
Mame - -now I'm curious! What is the name of the material? I've started wearing citiknits which sounds very similar! It feels like wearing pjs, but every time I wear it, someone tells me I look dressed up! ROFLMAO about the nipple ring!! Shoot -- get TWO so you're evenly balanced! LOL And PLEASE let us know if you get the interview and how it went!! 
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 12:12 pm
I miss my previous job where I could wear jeans and a tshirt. I've gotten alot of summery dressy casual outfits from Romains(sp) and they're very affordable but for plus sizes. Annie, I think what you've already picked out will work fine. And remember sex sells. 
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 12:15 pm
Well working from home does have its perks. Today I'm wearing an Adidas tennis skirt, running shoes and a black Nike sleeveless top. ;)
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 1:47 pm
ROFL! Mocha..it did work for the butcher! Yankee, I would kill to be able to have a job from home, but it's the darn benefits thing. The guy called! Said he got my (well, Herc's) resume and cover letter. That he was going to be taking it personally to the head of HR and going to talk to all the other employees who know me to speak on my behalf too! WOW!!!!
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 1:52 pm
Obviously you have a good rep at Starbucks, Annie, and it is going to pay off now!!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 2:08 pm
Thanks Jan. I have worked hard to make connections with the customers. I truly enjoy the job.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 2:14 pm
I could NEVER work at Starbucks. I would KILL the first person who went over 3 modifiers.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 2:17 pm
LOL Venti Carmel Frappucino, decaf, fat free, double blended, extra carmel, extra whipped topping.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 2:35 pm
It's funny, you get so used to the modifiers that when someone comes in and just asks for tall coffee, your like what??? LOL by and large most people are really nice. some get kind of snotty, but the thing really boggles my mind is when someone comes in, I will say "good morning how are you?" and they say 'grande coffee'..I always find myself thinking YOU'RE A GRANDE COFFEE??? the other thing is when the change is a penny and they keep it and don't drop it in the tip jar. i realize that tips are not mandatory, but a penny??? LOL the cutest are the older people who are truly boggled by how confusing just a regular cup of coffee has become! it really is a fun job.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 2:37 pm
btw..my drink is a Venti iced tea, black tea to the first green line, green tea to the 2nd, with 2 splendas, shaken please.
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