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Summer Interview Dress

Posted by BD on 6/24/2025, 12:39 am

Interviewing in June.

Will a shirt and jacket suffice? Is the necktie still required?

It's been 5 years since my last interview.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Bandgreek on 7/10/2025, 10:38 pm, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

I saw a guy come out of an interview in overalls, a t shirt and flip flops. I think he forgot his deoderant too because the principal was spraying Lysol when I walked in the door. He looked up at me "and said , "someone knows to bathe and dress for an interview.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by my take on 7/7/2025, 11:20 am, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

I'm amazed at the comments like, "times have changed. Stuffy suits are outdated," etc. Whereas, no one will likely expect you to wear a suit and tie on a daily basis AFTER you get the job, how you dress in an interview is not only a first impression, but how important you feel the interview is and how serious you are about getting the position. It's like a first date. Make a bad first impression and you likely won't get a second date.

I still remember conducting interviews for assistant band director candidates about 30 years ago. One candidate showed up dressed in a plain shirt and slacks and said, "Knock, knock" when he entered the band hall and was heading to my office. He was also chewing gum. I decided before we even shook hands that he was NOT getting the job.

If anyone wants to comeback at me about, "writing off a potentially good candidate" or "I wouldn't want to work for you" or some other nonsense, that's fine. I was the one who held the cards, I was the one who had to make the recommendation to the administration for a candidate who would be the best fit, and I was not the one who needed a job. You don't have to be perfectly comfortable every second of your life. Be professional. Dress for success.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by YES!!! on 7/7/2025, 10:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

+1 this!

Things my supervising teacher told me while student teaching:

1. Your resume gets you the interview...how you present *yourself* and your expertise in the interview gets you the job. Remember, you are the one begging for a job.

2. Administrators don't expect coaches and band directors to wear a shirt & tie while in practice/rehearsing...however at that point, you already have the job.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Well... on 7/2/2025, 7:24 pm, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

I went to my last interview in slacks and a nice polo. The days of the stuffy suit and tie are gone. Teaching is physical now. We are expected to be up and moving around. I got the job and no one said anything. I have done hiring and I have never commented on someones attire unless they were haggard and I have never seen that.

Maybe in some places with Pseudo-professional driven image you may be judged. However, teaching has changed.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by MS on 7/7/2025, 4:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

Houston area is very uptight. I showed up for inservice in a Houston area district, in dark jeans and a sports coat and was told I needed to wear professional attire.

Mind you, I came from Austin, where shorts and flip flops would have been fine.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Not necessarily on 7/18/2025, 10:11 am, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

I don't know what district you worked in, but in the Houston area district I worked at for over 15 years, we wore school polos and jeans for district inservice, and "spirit" t-shirts and shorts for inservice days at our specific schools.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by MS on 7/2/2025, 3:43 pm, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

I did an interview over 20 years ago at the beginning of June. Wore a suit and tie. The guy had me conduct the middle school band without any warning. It was an all day event. And then had me stay for marching fundamentals afterschool outside in June. I was young and stupid and kept the coat on.

Didn't get the job. Thank goodness!

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Mr. Ed on 7/1/2025, 4:37 am, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

Suit and tie unless they tell you specifically not to. Even the one time I was told that, I wore a sport coat and tie, and took them off before the interview started (I may have left the tie on). Let them tell you in the interview that it is okay to take it off.

You'll never be criticized for being over dressed. Regardless of what they may say, some may take a negative first impression of more casual dress.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Just saying on 6/28/2025, 1:44 pm, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

No band director ever comes out on Friday in a suit anymore.

No one goes to marching contest in a suit.

In many programs the director doesn’t even wear a suit to C&SR.

Why are we still requiring 1800s London clothing in 2020s Texas?

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Warhawk on 7/15/2025, 10:08 am, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

Dr. Bennett at Olney does.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Judge on 6/30/2025, 2:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

I've been to many UIL contests where the band director dresses casually.
Please forgive the old way of thinking, but first impressions are important.
(And yes...I required my staff to dress up for UIL region marching contest.)

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Hmmmm..... on 6/30/2025, 9:12 am, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

It's called professionalism; taking care of how you look reflects on how you will take care of the program. Full Stop.

No band director ever comes out on Friday in a suit anymore.

No one goes to marching contest in a suit.

Speaking in absolutes is not wise...especially when it can easily be proven wrong.

Just Saying...

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by BDSO on 6/30/2025, 8:29 am, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

The football stadium (whether on a Friday night or marching contest) isn't the principal or superintendent's office. Dress for the situation or expect to not be taken seriously. I wouldn't leave anything to chance.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Just saying on 6/30/2025, 10:01 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

I’m saying the expectation needs to change. No one expects the head football coach or math teacher to interview in a suit. Why should a middle school band director?

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Except... on 7/1/2025, 10:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

They do indeed expect the coach or a math teacher to interview in a suit. I know this because I've sat on interview panels for coaches several times...including this year; suits worn by every candidate without fail.

The expectation doesn't need to change. It sounds like you just want justification for not wearing a suit. You can choose to not wear a suit if you like, but just like BDSO said above, don't expect to be taken seriously.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by BDSO on 7/1/2025, 5:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Summer Interview Dress"

Yes, they do. I've been on more interview committees than I can count in my 27 years. I've interviewed candidates for every campus position (including principals, coaches, and math teachers). All dresses professional. Many of these were in the summer when it is 100 degrees before the heat index. I've even interviewed candidates for "safety monitors" where we know they will be wearing jeans and sneakers all year long and even they dressed professionally. They way you dress is a form of respect.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by V.C. on 6/25/2025, 6:02 am, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

Always dress up. Buildings have A/C - you will survive.

Re: Summer Interview Dress

Posted by Okay... on 6/24/2025, 11:30 am, in reply to "Summer Interview Dress"

I had an interview one June when it was over 100. I went in wearing a suit and tie, and then discovered that the AC in the building had gone on the fritz. The principal shook my hand and said, "Okay, you've impressed me. Take off your tie and jacket...and here's a bottle of water."

If I had it to do over again, I probably would still go suit & tie. With that said, depending on what you're wearing, there are times that going tieless looks just as good.

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