Interview attire for academic position in a UK classics department

radicaldog · Sep 29, 2009

Hello,

I'm a junior political theorist, and I'll be interviewed for a research post in a classics department at a major British university in a couple of weeks' time. My background is in philosophy, and my current job is in a politics/social sciences outfit. So I was wondering whether there may be different/particular conventions in the field of classics. In short: is it preferable to wear a business-y suit or a tweed sportscoat (certainly not a horseblanket or harris tweed, though) and flannels? I've a got a brownish PoW suit that would be the perfect compromise, but I'd rather not wear it for superstitious reasons.

Thanks in advance for the responses.

AvariceBespoke · Sep 29, 2009

be yourself

AvariceBespoke · Sep 29, 2009

or do something like this, lapels on the waist-coat

PocketCircle · Sep 29, 2009

Anything formal or semi-formal will be OK as long as what you wear is not too distracting, too trendy or too bold. Not my field but from what I have seen, professors in classics departments are often as poorly dressed as professors in other departments.

radicaldog · Sep 29, 2009

I don't have time to get new clothes. And unfortunately some of my seasonal clothes are now at the tailor's (in Italy) for alterations and/or finishing touches. The realistic and superstition-approved options are:

- Navy 2B worsted suit, fairly slim cut, Zegna cloth.
- Camel-coloured 3B tweed coat (solid-coloured Robert Noble cloth, mid-weight) and mid-grey flannels.
- DB 4x2 cachemere blazer with black horn buttons, and the same flannels.
- Brown RTW 3B corduroy suit -- I'd actually avoid this one, come to think of it.

Gutman · Sep 29, 2009

Dress your age for a start. What you wear depends on the university, but try not to look like a comic book version of a uni professor. Keep it smart and neat, and not too expensive looking. A subdued 2-piece suit (preferred), or maybe a smart sports jacket / tie combo. The navy 2B sounds like the one to go for.

sho'nuff · Sep 29, 2009

go with a nice dark green hacking coat:

pendragon · Sep 29, 2009

For classics, I think a toga would be appropriate.

radicaldog · Sep 29, 2009

Originally Posted by Gutman

Dress your age for a start. What you wear depends on the university, but try not to look like a comic book version of a uni professor. Keep it smart and neat, and not too expensive looking. A subdued 2-piece suit (preferred), or maybe a smart sports jacket / tie combo. The navy 2B sounds like the one to go for.

This makes sense. I'm in my late twenties. I guess something at the back of my mind is suggesting that these classics people are somehow more tweedy than us philosophers/politics people, but I'm probably wrong to think that I should dress accordingly.

bowtielover · Sep 29, 2009

Something formal but simple nothing to distracting.

Doc4 · Sep 29, 2009

Originally Posted by Gutman

Dress your age for a start. What you wear depends on the university, but try not to look like a comic book version of a uni professor. Keep it smart and neat, and not too expensive looking. A subdued 2-piece suit (preferred), or maybe a smart sports jacket / tie combo. The navy 2B sounds like the one to go for.

Originally Posted by radicaldog

This makes sense. I'm in my late twenties. I guess something at the back of my mind is suggesting that these classics people are somehow more tweedy than us philosophers/politics people, but I'm probably wrong to think that I should dress accordingly.
The Classics department at that university may be as tweedy as they come, but from time to time every prof has to dress up for special occasions, which means a decent suit ... so show them that you have one. I would think that a dressy blazer outfit would also suffice ...

Originally Posted by pendragon

For classics, I think a toga would be appropriate.

You could at least have found an "Animal House" clip on Youtube ...

Oleg · Sep 29, 2009

Don't know about classics depts (I'm a political scientist) but it annoys me when people don't suit up for interviews. But smart and professional rather than flashy and save the tweed until you've got that classics chair at Balliol.

BareSolid · Sep 29, 2009

Which university will it be? I have experience of working with the Classics department at Durham and they are great.

Kei-bon · Sep 29, 2009

Originally Posted by Gutman

What you wear depends on the university .... The navy 2B sounds like the one to go for.

Having gone through a similar process recently, I agree with both these sentiments. If you're worried about looking too "corporate" in the blue suit, you can try to moderate it with the shirt, tie, and shoes.

SkinnyGoomba · Sep 29, 2009

People who participate in clothing forums are going to be the kind who will be 'annoyed' if you dont 'suit up' for an interview, but honestly I think its best to dress your profession.

In the business/political feild one is expected to be business professional for an interview.

I was a professional race-car fabricator during college and when I interviewed for a position as a fabricator....I dressed like a fabricator. New work boots, jeans and a work shirt.

Now In finance I dress in a suit for interviews.

If i were interviewing someone for a position as a professor I would prefer they show up looking like a professor so that I know what to expect on a daily basis.

Interview attire for academic position in a UK classics department

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