Sure, we all know what work wardrobe essentials professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you're buying one for the first time or replacing one you've worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have. Today: we're hunting for budget-friendly interview suits for women!

Obviously, we cover a Suit of the Week every week, and we have our regularly updated Guide to Interview Suits as well as our recent overview of brands of suits for women for every budget— but we haven't specifically looked for a budget-friendly interview suit for women in a few years, so let's round them up!

Readers, which are your favorite budget-friendly interview suits?

If you’re on the hunt for basic suiting for women, in addition to our major roundup of the best suits for women in every budget, we've also done roundups for suits if you're petite, tall, plus-sized, or pregnant — as well as how to wear a suit in general.

Some of our main fashion articles that might be of interest include our Ultimate Guide to Business Casual, Wardrobe Essentials for Work, and The Corporette Guide to Comfortable Heels — all constantly updated! If you're just starting out or on a budget, check out our Affordable Office Clothes roundup — and if you're plus-sized, check out our Plus-Size Picks for Work.

Here's our latest discussion on the top brands for affordable women's suits, as well as our previous discussion on cheap interview suits, as well as our discussion of whether you can mix black separates to make a suit (noooooooo!).

What to Look For In an Interview Suit for Women

In general, if you're hunting for an interview suit, keep an eye out for options with a) suiting separates b) available in a solid, dark, neutral color, c) that fit your budget.

By buying suiting separates you can get a better fit off the rack (such as by buying a size 10 pant and a size 12 blazer, and maybe even a petite skirt even if everything else is a regular size) — and you can make several outfits, particularly if there are two blazers, such as one that's collarless and one that's the traditional lapel+button.

Our Guide to Basic Suiting has a lot more details on basic features to look for.

Remember to dry clean all suit separates together! We've also done a guide to the best suiting alterations for women.

The Best Budget-Friendly Interview Suits for Women

Some of our favorite budget-friendly interview suits for women include stores like Banana Republic Factory*†, J.Crew Factory*†, Mango*, and Express†, as well as widely available brands like Anne Klein Executive, Vince Camuto*, Calvin Klein*†, and Tahari ASL. For a vintage vibe, check Amazon seller Marycrafts*. (* = some plus sizes also, † = petites)

The Best Brands for Affordable Women's Business Suits

Some of our favorite brands for affordable women's suits include stores like Banana Republic Factory*, J.Crew Factory*, Mango*, and Express, as well as widely available brands like Anne Klein Executive, Vince Camuto*, Calvin Klein*, and Tahari ASL.

In the past, readers have also mentioned Dress Barn, Kohls, and Target as good “first suit” stores.

Marycrafts

I would not recommend a Marycrafts suit for a BigLaw interview or the like — but if you're seriously in need of a dirt cheap interview suit for women, you should check out Amazon seller Marycrafts.

The clothes tend to have a bit of a vintage vibe, but you can usually get either a skirt suit or pant suit (both pieces!) for under $75.

Express

I hesitate to recommend Express suiting, even for budget-friendly interview suits, because I tend to associate it with looks that are often too tight and too curve-hugging — but if you know that going in you can be wary when picking out a suit.

A major con to budget-friendly suit separates is that the pants can often feel frumpy (one of the reasons skirt suits can be easier!) so it's a major pro that Express blazers pair with their Editor and Columnist pants, loved by readers and on our list of great washable pants for work.

If you’re a fan of their Editor/Columnist pants, do check out their matching blazers and other suiting options.

Sale to watch for: 50% off — you can probably expect to pay less than $165 for both pieces. They also offer short and long lengths, which is great if you're shorter or taller!

Banana Republic Factory

BR’s outlet section has a lot of good finds for work, particularly on the more affordable, classic side of things (including a TON of washable suits!). Note that because these pieces may be produced just for the Factory Store it may mean that there are differences in fit and quality — so keep that in mind when ordering.

We frequently feature them in our Suit of the Week posts because they often branch into fun colors and prints. Selections include regular, petite, and tall sizes up to 20, as well as (occasionally) “curvy” fit pants. Their Sculpted suiting line is their most basic sort of interview suits.

Sale to watch for: 30% off. 

Vince Camuto

Vince Camuto, sold at Nordstrom, Macy's, and other department stores, often makes really affordable, basic women's suiting (sometimes in plus sizes, as well, although at the moment pickings look pretty scarce there).

The notched blazer we've pictured here has been around for many years, in a lot of different fabrics and colors — it's about as classic as you can get.

Expect to pay around $200, unless you can find the brand on sale — that does happen but it seems to be at a time when they're restocking so the sales are often down to lucky sizes.

(Note that Nordstrom has an excellent return policy, though!)

Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein is another great option sold at department stores like Macy's, and they come in petites. Because the brand is sold as separates, you can get the size you need.

The exact blazer we've pictured comes in black and charcoal (as well as an odd denim-like navy).

Macy's has a ton of similar options from similar brands that offer separates like Kasper, T Tahari, and Calvin Klein.

J.Crew Factory

J.Crew’s factory outlet is a great source for workwear, particularly affordable wool suiting separates — inventory comes and goes, but when it’s in stock it’s pretty great.

They almost always have basic cotton suiting — this isn't ideal for interviews because it can get wrinkly, but they can be great basics for other suit days (particularly in the heat of summer).

Level Up: The Best Suits to Get For Slightly More Money

Mid-Range Suits for Women

Of course, we'd be remiss in this article without noting that Ann Taylor, J.Crew, and Banana Republic are options to consider if you're on the hunt for budget-friendly interview suits for women — they can feel a bit pricier, but are great first suits if you like the fit.

For Ann Taylor, look for the tropical wool suiting or the all-season stretch — both will be great basics to take you from interviews to the first days on the job. Prices range from $98-$140 at Ann Taylor (with lots of different options for the fit of pants, as well as petite and tall sizes up to size 18).

Meanwhile, over at J.Crew, note that they have phased out their longstanding suiting collection of Super 120s wool in favor of “Italian stretch wool” and “bi-stretch cotton” — the wool will be better for interviews than cotton, which will wrinkle easier (but be better for hot summer workdays).

Some of our favorite mid-range suits for women (which sometimes have such frequent sales that they come down to the same range as our “budget” suits) include Ann Taylor, J.Crew, Talbots, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, and Antonio Melani. (Talbots and J.Crew usually have plus sizes, and the others offer petites.)

Investment Women's Suits for Interviews

Some of our favorite “investment” suits for women include brands like Theory, Reiss, Hugo Boss, M.M.LaFleur, and Brooks Brothers — expect to pay north of $500 for both pieces.

Readers, what are your favorite styles and brands for the affordable interview suit for women? What stores am I missing — have you found great budget-friendly interview suits at ASOS, Zara, Amazon, or any other stores? What do you look for in a suit for interviews? 

Stock photo via Deposit Photos / IgorVetushko.

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Have you ever wondered how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question? Readers had a great threadjack a while ago, so we thought we'd round up their advice and add some of our own.

As part of our general interview advice, we've rounded up 5 things to always bring to interviews and how to deal with post-interview anxiety. Depending on where you are in your career, you may want to check out our best general interview tips, best on-campus interview tips, best job application tips for mid-levels, or readers' tips for women interviewing at high-level jobs.

How to Answer the “Tell Me About Yourself” Interview Question

If the “tell me about yourself” question is asked at the beginning of the interview, most readers agreed that this is the time to

• talk about professional accomplishments in broad strokes
• help explain anything unusual on the resume

{related: do you still apply even when you don't meet the job requirements?}

Tell Them How Your Career History Means You're a Great Fit for This Job

One commenter used Ask a Manager's common “teapot analogy” to write a suggested script:

Over the past decade I’ve been gradually advancing in teapot manufacturing, and currently supervising a team of 20. However, as part of that role, I’ve started to become familiar with the tea flavor development field and want to move into that part of the industry. I know I’ll have some “learning the ropes” to do and so that’s why I’m interested in this individual contributor position now.

Another reader agreed, chiming in with her own script:

I’m a seasoned widget executive with 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles. I’ve successfully built new widget making strategic plans and scaled widget startups at X, Y, and Z companies, growing revenue to $X (or whatever metrics you can easily summarize), which is why I’m excited about this role to launch your new widget factory. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that I really excel when building and mentoring a team, a skill that translates to this role. I was happy to hear from you and look forward to further exploring how my skills and experience could be beneficial in this role, so thank you for reaching out.(assuming they reached out via LinkedIn) I was particularly impressed with your company’s focus/value/success on X (insert something interesting from their website) and would like to hear more!

{related: here's how long your resume should be}

But: Keep Your Answer Focused On The Most Important Things!

For example, some readers noted that starting chronologically in your resume isn't a good use of time because it isn't memorable or even that informative.

Use the “WAT Method” to Answer the Question

One reader mentioned Instagrammer apowermood, who has some great advice involving what she calls the “WAT method”: W = what you do, A = accomplishments, T = tie-in to the interview. You can see her full suggested answer to the question here!

Use the Past/Present/Future Method

Another reader suggested giving one sentence about the past, one about the present, and one about the future.

Use the Question to Explain a Labyrinthine Career Path

I actually have a whole theory about how many, many great women have a kind of twisted career path with lots of different starts… and that's OK! But if you're feeling self-conscious about it on your resume, one reader had great tips about how to use the “Tell me about yourself” question to explain that career path and the emotional/intellectual reasons behind the career changes and moves.

Here's what she said:

I basically go through each step, starting from college, and mention a quick thing that I did in each place plus the reason why I made a change, and customize it to the person.

I was working at a consulting firm but wanted to do something more quantitative / work in a Specific Field so I went to grad school. If I know the interviewer or company has some connection to my college or grad school touch on that.

Mention almost emotional reasons – I wanted to do a different type of work, I wanted a less intense environment in the same field (everyone understands, this is fine and relatable to say), I wanted to finish out a project that I started. I try and tie things to the current job, or just what interests me in the job. I like problem solving, I like working on a big team and NewCompany also has these teams like JobILoved had, I like working in the field and the differences that brings.

Great advice!

Heavily Customize Your Answer to Your Interviewer, the Job Opening, or the Company!

As the scripts above shows, there are a TON of ways to customize this answer for each and every job interview. This does involve a lot of research and preparation, but you should be doing this much preparation for every job interview anyway.

{related: 6 new rules for resumes you may not know}

What to Say If The Interviewer Wants to “Know Something That Isn't On the Resume” at the End of the Interview

This is a related question, in some ways — the question may not be “tell me about yourself,” but it may be “Is there anything about you that I should know that isn't on your resume?” or something like that. In that case, you can hopefully do a bit of prep work before the interview to decide which personality traits you want to highlight — and then, come up with stories (personal or professional!) that illustrate those traits.

As I've noted in previous posts with interview advice (aww, back in the first few months of the blog!),

Think about which of your personality traits to highlight. Try to recognize what it is about you that makes you a great catch for an employer. Are you creative, an outside-the-box thinker? A great manager? Someone who pulls teams together? These are the sorts of things that won't appear on your resume and might not even come up through your references.

Once you've identified those traits, sift through your experiences to find examples of those traits in action, because showing is always better than telling when it comes to these things. Armed with two or three stories, you'll be all set to casually drop them in when you interview. It's a great way to prepare for those questions you can't prepare for — “What does your resume not tell me?” — and it's a great way to sound intelligent and charming but not rehearsed.

Readers, what's your best advice on how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question? Do you have any thoughts we haven't covered?

Stock photo via Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio.

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See all of the best women's suits in 2024, right here!

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What should you look for in interview flats? When, if ever, must you wear heels to an interview? Which are the most stylish kinds of flats for interviews? Reader L wonders:

I'm starting law school in August, and I've heard that heels (3-4″) are a MUST for interviewing and working at a law firm. However, I am a 6′ tall female. I never wear heels, since when I do, I tend to tower over everyone. Would it be appropriate to wear a nice pair of flats in my case?

Great question! We've talked about how to look professional in flats all the time, how to wear heels (if you're used to flats), and whether flats are professional enough for court.

As far as shoe questions go, this is important, so even though we've talked about it a lot, I want to stress it again: you don't need to wear heels to look professional. 

{related: check out our entire Guide to Women's Interview Attire!}

There are a number of reasons why you wouldn't want to wear heels — from feeling too tall (although hey, I say rock it out if you have the height!), to having foot injuries or issues, to just I-don't-wanna-itis.

What to Look For in Interview Flats

A few things that I would note about wearing flats for big events like interviews:

{related: the rules for interview shoes}

a) There are many, many, MANY professional options for flats — and there are many that look like bedroom slippers, sneakers, or other casual shoes. Unless you have ethical objections, look for leather and suede options over faux leather or fabric (and keep your shoes well maintained!), and if you want a sleeker look, consider a slightly pointed toe.

b) Be confident when you wear them. Don't feel like you have to apologize for your flats or explain them away on an interview. Any time any of your clothes or accessories distract you (or an interviewer), you lose.

{related: how to look professional in flats—all the time}

{related: cute flats for the office}

Readers, which are your favorite professional flats? Do you think any styles of flats look more professional than others?  Do you agree with my advice that you CAN interview in flats, even if you're 6′ tall?

The Best Kinds of Interview Flats

Reader-Favorite Polished but Comfortable Flats

We often include good looking, professional flats in our “Coffee Break” posts — but these are some of the reader's favorite flats that have stood the test of time. These would be my first purchases if I were looking…

Some of our favorite comfortable flats for work as of 2024 include M.M.LaFleur, AGL, and French Sole. On the more affordable side, check out Rothy's, Sam Edelman, and Rockport. We've also rounded up the best loafers for work, and our favorite sneakers for work outfits!

Investment Ballet Flats

If you want to make an investment in flats, these are some of the most classic options. AGL and Ferragamo are reader favorites for comfort, while Chloé, Chanel and Valentino are all recognizable status symbols.

Comfortable Low Heels for Work

If you're willing to consider a heel but feel like it must be low, or a “comfort shoe,” we've got you covered…

These are some of our favorite comfortable low heels for work as of 2024… also check out CK Calvin Klein, Trotters, Sam Edelman, and Sarah Flint!

Picture below via Stencil.

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Sales of note for 7.19.24

• Nordstrom – The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to everybody! Here are all of our picks, and here are reader favorites.
• Ann Taylor – Semi-annual sale, extra 50% off markdowns + 20% off everything!
• Banana Republic Factory – 40-60% off everything, take an extra 20% off your purchase
• Eloquii – 50% off select styles
• Everlane – Up to 70% off
• J.Crew – End of Season Sale, extra 50% off sale styles
• J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything
• Lo & Sons – Summer sale, up to 50% off
• Madewell – End of season sale, up to 70% off with code.
• M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide. (Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the biggest sitewide discount I've ever seen…)
• Rothy's – Lots of great finds in the “final few” section
• Talbots – Semi-annual red door sale, extra 40% off markdowns

Some of our latest posts here at Corporette…

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

• Is there a mantra or slogan that will help me combat imposter syndrome?
• AITA for not moving to the middle seat to be closer to my husband on a recent flight?
• What are your latest favorite nonfiction books for fans of Mary Beard?
• I'm so annoyed by people who look at their smart watches instead of paying attention to our conversation…
• Let's have a secrets thread…
• I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
• I'm thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?

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Any company can claim to have a healthy work culture, but knowing how to ask your job interviewer about work-life balance can help you cut through any platitudes the employer has on their website or shares during the recruitment process.

Until the U.S. follows the lead of countries like France, which requires employees to eat lunch away from their desks, or Portugal, where bosses aren't permitted to contact employees outside working hours (hey, let's be optimistic for a moment), finding out what you can about work-life balance is essential.

Readers, what's your advice for how to ask your job interviewer about work-life balance?

{related: check out our entire Guide to Women's Interview Attire!}

How to Ask Your Job Interviewer About Work-Life Balance

Here are some ways to use your job interview to get important insight an employer's work-life balance, including reader advice from this great comment thread from earlier this year.

Ask employees at the company (other than your interviewer): One reader recommended talking about work-life balance with the people who would be your peers if you took the job.

{related: work-life boundaries: rituals and other ways to separate your work and personal life}

For example, ask about a typical daily schedule (for regular and busy weeks alike), flexibility for doctor's appointments, any tasks that would require night or weekend work, and so on. If it applies to you, ask about things like maternity leave (for example, how reachable and responsive are new parents expected to be?) and taking unexpected time off to care for sick kids or stay home for school snow days.

You can also reach out to former employees. Look for second-degree connections on LinkedIn and ask your first-degree connections to make introductions. Because people might be wary of putting not-entirely-positive comments in writing, you could ask if it's possible to talk confidentially on the phone. Inquire about the importance of face time to management, the flexibility for remote or hybrid work, accommodations for parents, and so on.

{related: what are family-friendly jobs? (CorporetteMoms)}

Ditch subtlety and ask your interviewer (or future boss, if that's a different person) directly: One reader with kids shared that she asks questions to find out whether she'll be able to see her kids regularly on workdays, be home for family dinners, pick up her kids from school if they get sick in the middle of the day, etc. She said, “It’s too important to me to not have the direct conversation.”

Another reader who recently interviewed multiple candidates for a job opening commented that every candidate asked her to describe the company culture and/or the company's work-life balance, while a third reader said that rather than beating around the bush, candidates have specifically asked about being contacted by email during vacations or leaving work for kid-related events.

{related: how to work after your kids go to bed}

Don't just take their word for it: One reader shared that she has driven by potential firms after 6:00 p.m. to see if the lights were on, i.e., if people were still working. (She recognized that the proportion of people working from home in 2022 complicates this a bit, but pointed out that having a ton of employees working past 6:00 in an age of remote and hybrid work could be an even stronger indicator of poor work-life balance.)

Here's a similar tactic: If you have an early-morning or late-evening interview, take a look at how many employees are at work.

{related: how to find balance as a working mom (CorporetteMoms)}

Another reader who said she doesn't expect employers to be very honest when asked about work-life balance wrote that, instead of asking questions like those above, she relies more on specific inquiries about project timelines and her observations on how would-be peers interact with one another.

Readers, do tell: How do you ask job interviewers (and other people at a potential employer) about work-life balance and company culture? Have you felt that you've received honest answers in the past? Were you told certain positive things about an employer that you later found out (after accepting an offer) weren't true? What are your best tips for how to ask your job interviewer about work-life balance?

Stock photo via Pexels / Karolina Grabowska.

{related: advice on work-life balance from working moms to their pre-mom selves (CorporetteMoms)}

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