Hey Capt Bob,
I am currently a Lieutenant on a Paid Department. I have an oral
interview for a Chief Officer position in a neighboring Department.
Would it be appropriate to wear my current departments dress uniform to
my interview?
Never! Don't wear your current, military, or dogcatcher uniform. You
have no time with that department. How would you feel if you walked into
the holding pen and you were the only one wearing a uniform? Everyone
else looked like they were just out of GQ Magazine?
Attire: What Do I wear to my department promotional interview?
What you wear is the strongest non-verbal statement you can make and leaves a lasting impression. It’s time to step up and make the investment. You must look professional when you’re going for all the marbles. Check the job announcement for the appropriate attire. If it doesn’t cover attire, what is customary for your department? Class A uniform or a suit?
I went to an interview and all the candidates were in class A uniforms except one guy who wore an out of date brown sport coat. Replace anything that might look old, too small or worn out. Get a new white shirt and starch it no matter what the instructions say.
I’ve seen candidates show up wearing moth eaten multi-generational horse blanket uniform jackets trying to impress the panel. Please spare us this part. Leave the salt at home. Have the appropriate insignias and years of service bars in place. One candidate waited until the last minute and he stapled the service bars on. It showed. Be professional and look professional. One candidate had his silver captain’s wrist cuff emblems replaced with gold for a battalion chief’s test. Overconfident? It insulted the panel and the chief of the department.
Look in the mirror with your full battle dress in place before you leave the house. A candidate showed up for a test with his nametag hanging and wearing brown wing tip shoes. His mother would have never let him out of the house like that. Another candidate was baffled when one of the chiefs on his panel asked him how his class a jacket brass should look like until he remembered his wife had put them on. They were upside down.
I had a candidate tell me he went to an interview wearing a
tie, suspenders and no jacket. I asked him, "Who did you think you were Larry
King?" I asked him if they called him back for the Chief's interview? No. The
defense rests.
If you’re going to wear a suit:
Men: Do wear a wool suit in dark blue or gray. Pinstripes
are fine, but
avoid brown, black, or high fashion brightly colored suits. Sport coats
or blazers are out, so is polyester. Tie should be in a solid color such
as navy, red, maroon, yellow stripe, or paisley print. Wear a white, off
white, or pale blue long sleeved shirt in cotton or a cotton blend.
Starch it no matter what the instructions say. No patterned shirts!
Don't: Wear casual or novelty watches, too much jewelry, monograms,
religious, political, or fraternity affiliation accessories. Beards are
out; mustaches are a gray area. When in doubt, shave it off. Don't wear
cell phones, pagers or any other electronic leases.
"Nothing
counts 'til you have the badge . . . Nothing!"
Fire "Captain Bob"
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