Oral board! What to wear

[Scorch21]

I have an up coming oral board and need some suggestions! I am in the military and I want to wear my dress uniform. I have heard mixed ideas about this at my firehouse. The department I am testing for says to wear business wear. I want to wear my Service dress uniform because I do not have a suit and I feel comfortable in my Service uniform. Any help will be great. Thanks.

[CaptBob]

Never! Don't wear your current, military, or any other 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?

Those that wear their military uniform think it will impress the panel. It will, but not always the way you think. Often raters feel like you are asking for extra points.

The strongest non-verbal statement you can make in the oral board is what you wear. It is time to step up and make the investment.

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 a Chief’s interview? No. The defense rests.

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.
Reply: Candidates will tell me that I don't have a suit or the money to by a nice suit for my oral board. My advice. Rent one and look and feel like the professional you want to be.

During a coaching session one day a guy told me whenever he begins the testing process with a city he (yes, this was a guy) goes to Victoria Secrets and buys special underwear. He wears this special underwear for each step of the testing process from written through the oral for that particular department. I didn’t need to know that.

Captain Bob

www.eatstress.com

[Scorch21]

Thanks Capt Bob and College Buff. Looks like I will be getting a suit soon. Thanks agian.