Whether you just got your degree or you are an experienced nurse, the path to a brand new chapter in your life is a job interview.
Landing your dream job isn’t about luck but good preparation. You can prepare answers for the most important questions you might get asked, and you can get your interview outfit ready.
From well-groomed hair to a neutral outfit, you need to make sure that what you wear at the interview is suitable.
In this article, I will go through the essential things you will need for your nursing interview outfit.
Why Is Your Outfit So Important In A Nursing Interview?
Before I talk more about the interview outfit itself, let’s see why it’s so important to dress in a certain way for a nursing interview.
First impressions always matter, even if we don’t always notice it. Your appearance can say a lot about you, your personality and your values.
This means that an interviewer can see almost immediately how much you want the job and how professional you are as a nurse.
When you dress in the right way, then you can show that this new job matters to you.
And it’s important to bear in mind that it’s not about wearing expensive clothes but it is essential that you dress in a way that shows respect for your new job role.
What To Wear For Your Nursing Interview
You may have heard all the generic advice of dressing the part for your interview. However, if a nurse in her normal work wear, then this wouldn’t be suitable for an interview.
Here are my top tips on what you should wear for your nursing interview.
Nursing Interview Outfit
First up, it’s important to mention here that you shouldn’t wear your scrubs for a nursing interview (see also ‘Why Do Nurses Wear Scrubs?‘).
It may be what you will be wearing for your day job but it’s not suitable for the interview space.
Instead, wear something neutral which isn’t too baggy or too tight. For example, women can wear slacks or a mid-length skirt with a smart blazer.
Men should wear a suit and tie for their nursing interview.
Whatever outfit you choose, make sure that it is clean and pressed. It should fit you perfectly.
Hairstyle For A Nursing Interview
While your outfit shouldn’t look like your nurse uniform, your hairstyle can resemble your usual work presentation.
Make sure that you keep your hair out of your face. If you have longer hair, then it’s a good idea to tie it back into a ponytail or a sleek bun.
If you have short hair, then you are fine to give it a brush and ensure that it doesn’t cover your face.
Men should groom and trim their facial hair in a suitable way. They do not always have to be fully shaved. A neatly trimmed beard is fine.
Wearing Accessories During Your Nursing Interview
You can wear some basic accessories, such as stud earrings, a watch or a subtle necklace.
However, it is important to bear in mind that any jewelry shouldn’t be too bold or flashy. Just pick a few small items.
If you are not sure what accessories to wear, then it’s best to not wear any so your outfit stays fully neutral.
You can also wear neutral hair accessories but make sure that they go in line with your interview outfit.
A belt is also fine as long as it is neatly tied in with the rest of your interview outfit.
Neutral Makeup For Your Nursing Interview
If you feel like you need to wear makeup or other cosmetics products, then it’s best to keep them as neutral as possible.
Try to avoid any flashy colors and stick to the basic skin tone colors. You can also use a subtle shade for your lipstick.
When it comes to makeup in interviews, there are a few things to consider. An interview is always a stressful situation, and our body sweats when it is stressed.
This means that your makeup will quickly melt. In addition, lipstick often dries out when our lips are dry during an interview which means it could flake off your lips.
This doesn’t look very appealing, so make sure that you keep your makeup to the absolute minimum.
Pick The Right Shoes With Your Outfit
While you may be tempted to wear your stylish boots or stilettos but they don’t belong into an interview room.
The best choice for shoes is plain cap toe shoes, modest heels or flat shoes. It’s also a good idea to match your shoes with your outfit.
Top Tips For Your Nursing Interview Outfit
Here are some of my top tips to help you with your nursing interview outfit.
Plan Ahead
Preparation is everything, and this is also true for your outfit. Make sure that you have all your clothes together at least a few days before the interview.
If you have a business outfit from your previous interview a few years back, then check that it still fits. Trying your clothes only takes a few minutes.
Keep It Simple
Don’t overthink it. Interviewers aren’t there to judge you based on your outfit but they want to learn more about your experience, personality and skills.
Practice In Your Interview Outfit
This might sound odd but worth a try. Simply put your interview outfit on the day before and practice answering some key questions.
This will put your mind into the interview space, and you will feel a lot more prepared.
Do You Need To Cover Up Tattoos For A Nursing Interview?
Tattoo policies (see also ‘Can Nurses Have Tattoos?‘) may vary depending on the facility but it is a good idea to cover your tattoos for the interview and then check on your new work place’s policy.
Can You Wear Perfume Or Cologne To A Nursing Interview?
No, it is best to avoid wearing any type of cologne or perfume for your interview.
It might smell lovely to you and you may want to cover up any possible sweat odor, but strong-smelling perfumes or colognes can be unpleasant to the interviewers.
Final Thoughts
When you are going for a nursing interview, make sure that you are dressed in clean and well-fitted clothes that feel comfortable to you.
Your outfit should be neutral with no flashy accessories, and your hair should be styled and groomed in a neutral way.