at a job interview how should i ask about proper attire in a daycare setting?

[kirstenb1]

OP, I saw the the link you posted. I think the pants would be fine in black, but def not the gray. Also, rather than a sweatpant, they could be construed as a knit pant. If you say sweatpant, I definitely think gray heather color, cinched at the ankle.

 

[disney world dreamer]

And asking "What is the dress code" is not the same as asking "Can I wear sweat pants?"

which is why i specifically asked in my original post how to word this particular question yet most people just want to focus on the fact that i said ultimately sweatpants would be great.

my thought behind sweatpants is not to be sloppy and lazy but to be able to more easily interact with the children.
i worked at a preschool and was told to wear business casual.
it was difficult to get on the floor with the kids because my clothing was restrictive.
sometimes i had to be worried that my underwear were showing cuz some of my pants sat low on the waist.
in everyday life that was not an issue but crawling around on the floor it was.
also my clothes were always getting dirty or stained with kids putting their feet on my lap during circle or paint on me during a craft. not to mention play dough stains.
i started avoiding the situations to save my clothing and i could see that i was interacting less with the children because of it.
the same would be true for jeans cuz i buy expensive jeans since they are the only ones i can find that don't have bling all over them, don't have wholes intentionally put in them, and aren't skin tight.

if i could wear sweatpants like the ones in the link i showed you and then buy a bunch of patterned t-shirts i could easily get on the floor and interact with the children and not worry about whether my clothes get dirty or not cuz they're not too expensive.

 

[LiveYourLife]

@disney world dreamer I'm sorry but there is no way I would use my own personal money to buy clothes that get that dirty every day, and potentially ruined and become unwearable.

 

[disney world dreamer]

@disney world dreamer I'm sorry but there is no way I would use my own personal money to buy clothes that get that dirty every day, and potentially ruined and become unwearable.

well then what would you do about it?
the place i worked did not provide a uniform.
idk about the place i just applied but i doubt they do either.

 

[Happy Snowman]

What if the first interview is the only interview? Not every place conducts multiple interviews for every job opening.

Then you ask when the offer is extended or if they bring it up in the first interview, them, not you. No, not every place conducts multiple interviews but if you are offered the position, then you ask.

 

[nkereina]

my thought behind sweatpants is not to be sloppy and lazy

This I know, and it's evidenced by the link you provided. Those pants I wouldn't actually call sweatpants. When you say sweatpants, what comes to mind are the OTHER kind which has the bad connotation, and might leave a bad taste in the interviewer's mouth. I think asking generally about the dress code is the best way to go about it.

 

[mjkacmom]

Why ask the question? If you get offered the job, that is when you should ask the question. Are you going to turn down the job offer if you can't wear comfy pants? That's fine, turn down the offer. I used to be in charge of hiring, and during the interview process, some questions would raise some flags (what happens if I'm late? How long is lunch?...). Asking about the dress code is certainly appropriate after you have been offered the job, but if you ask during the interview, it might be viewed negatively.

 

[Laura66]

@disney world dreamer I'm sorry but there is no way I would use my own personal money to buy clothes that get that dirty every day, and potentially ruined and become unwearable.

Sooooo- if you applied to work at a law firm or any other job that required you to dress up in suits or dresses you wouldn't go out and buy the required clothing?
Of course you use your own personal money to buy clothing appropriate for your job!
In your case of course you would or should buy appropriate clothing - for work - that can be washed easily and take the wear and tear of the job you're doing!

 

[luvsJack]

@disney world dreamer I'm sorry but there is no way I would use my own personal money to buy clothes that get that dirty every day, and potentially ruined and become unwearable.

Do you have children in child care? Do you have any idea what goes on in a child care center all day? Yes, they get dirty. If they are any good at their job they will get paint and play dough and science project "stuff" all over them. They will get outside dirt and inside dirt and whatever the kids drag in all over their clothes. Its part of the job. Most know that going in though.

 

[mjkacmom]

I used to waitress summers in college. Black pants, white shirt, and yes, some certainly got ruined.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Sooooo- if you applied to work at a law firm or any other job that required you to dress up in suits or dresses you wouldn't go out and buy the required clothing?
Of course you use your own personal money to buy clothing appropriate for your job!
In your case of course you would or should buy appropriate clothing - for work - that can be washed easily and take the wear and tear of the job you're doing!

Soooooooo, in your example of a Law Firm, or any other job that required professional attire, of course I would expect to use my own money, to think otherwise is just preposterous. However, in a job that requires my clothing to be subjected to paint, play-doh, snot, vomit, urine, and feces - I would expect a uniform to be provided or a clothing allowance. Especially, since some of those things do not come out easily in the wash.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Do you have children in child care? Do you have any idea what goes on in a child care center all day? Yes, they get dirty. If they are any good at their job they will get paint and play dough and science project "stuff" all over them. They will get outside dirt and inside dirt and whatever the kids drag in all over their clothes. Its part of the job. Most know that going in though.

I think you missed my point. I know that care givers get dirty, as do their clothing. For an employer to expect an employee to fund their own wardrobe, just to get stained, ripped, etc.... is ridiculous in my opinion. Either a uniform needs to be provided, or a clothing allowance.

If you took a job as a refuse collector, would you fund your own wardrobe?

 

[Laura66]

Not preposterous at all! How filthy are you really getting?

What if you had a job at a farm, stables, an art teacher, a landscaper. . .

Sure it's nice if a uniform is provided - I'm just shaking my head that this would be a deal breaker for a job!

 

[JanaDee]

Soooooooo, in your example of a Law Firm, or any other job that required professional attire, of course I would expect to use my own money, to think otherwise is just preposterous. However, in a job that requires my clothing to be subjected to paint, play-doh, snot, vomit, urine, and feces - I would expect a uniform to be provided or a clothing allowance. Especially, since some of those things do not come out easily in the wash.

I'm sure school teachers have all that and more on their clothes at some point in their day. They pay for their own clothes.

 

[luvsJack]

I think you missed my point. I know that care givers get dirty, as do their clothing. For an employer to expect an employee to fund their own wardrobe, just to get stained, ripped, etc.... is ridiculous in my opinion. Either a uniform needs to be provided, or a clothing allowance.

If you took a job as a refuse collector, would you fund your own wardrobe?

Most refuse collectors work for a bigger company than a child care center and they have uniforms. Of course they may pay for the cleaning of those uniforms, I don't know.

Some centers do provide shirts. But most will buy x number a year and any after that the employee pays for. Most employees will go through more than x number of shirts. Most centers cannot afford to provide uniforms.

 

[LiveYourLife]

Not preposterous at all! How filthy are you really getting?

What if you had a job at a farm, stables, an art teacher, a landscaper. . .

Sure it's nice if a uniform is provided - I'm just shaking my head that this would be a deal breaker for a job!

Yes, it would be a deal breaker for me. It's not a deal breaker for you, and that's okay too.

Edited to fix the double quoting

 

[ReneeA]

I think you missed my point. I know that care givers get dirty, as do their clothing. For an employer to expect an employee to fund their own wardrobe, just to get stained, ripped, etc.... is ridiculous in my opinion. Either a uniform needs to be provided, or a clothing allowance.

If you took a job as a refuse collector, would you fund your own wardrobe?

Both my DH and I work in careers where our clothing get dirty - He works in tile, and I'm a RN. Neither of us get a clothing allowance or clothing provided for us. I'm great at stain removal!

Certainly you wouldn't turn down a job because you were worried about the clothes? Especially if it's in the field you wish to work...

 

[Iowajes]

For an employer to expect an employee to fund their own wardrobe, just to get stained, ripped, etc.... is ridiculous in my opinion. Either a uniform needs to be provided, or a clothing allowance.

Although it is nice that some daycares provide a shirt for their workers, it is rare. Part of the job is supplying your own clothing, that you must then also wash. Clothes get dirty in a lot of jobs. When I worked as a teacher at an elementary school, my clothes got dirty from kids and they didn't provide me clothes (though I got spit up on less often than with infants, I still got thrown up on, had sticky paint hands touch me, and just general grossness of messy kids), when I worked at a summer camp as a counselor and I worked with horses and children- both extremely messy and had no uniform allowance. Restaurant workers clothes are often filled with grease, or spills. They provide their own clothes in almost all cases, and generally have to conform to a specific standard. When I got my professional job, my clothes don't get dirty but I was expected to start wearing a suit and blazer, none of which I had in my wardrobe and had to buy all new for. There was no clothing allowance. You have to buy the clothes that are suitable for your job.

Heck- my husband was in the military and officer's only get a 1 time, very small clothing allowance. It didn't even come close to paying for the initial uniforms, much less the replacements after years of wear and tear! If the military isn't buying uniforms, I don't expect a daycare to! (Enlisted do get a more significant uniform allowance.)

As for your trash collector example- ours seem to be wearing something different every time they come by, so I expect it is their clothes and not a city uniform.

 

[Divah]

As an owner of a center we do provide 3 tops but anything over that is on the worker.

Yes you get messed but to expect the employer to fund your wardrobe is ,imho, is a bit to much. I had a very small clothing allowance in the Army and was responsible for most my dress blues and scrubs...so no I am not finding a clothing allowance for a center trying to keep costs down for parents.

if I was to allow clothing allowances to all my employees, I would need to Jack up my prices higher to cover that cost. I like to think giving them 3 tops is more than most in our area do.

We do have a center in a neighboring county that provides uniforms but you pay a deposit and the cleaning costs.If you do not return it when your employment is over or damaged it costs you....so working in a center you can bet they will get stained or worse. Be prepared to pay.

Honestly if I was interviewing and the topic of uniform or appropriate attire came up ( and I have had this conversation)
I explain our policies and if they are hired there is a whole section in our employment handbook on dress attire for our center.

If someone was asking for a clothing allowances or expected more. I would gladly point them to another center and wish them luck we were not what they were looking for. I love my employees they are very close knit group and not once has anyone complained with the free shirts and anything over that they are responsible.


One thing my girls did get together and made a large order for more tops..buy in bulk and better discounts. I had them shipped ,for them, to the business and saved the shipping costs....

 

[disney world dreamer]

since its my post i figure i'll chime in with my opinion about a clothing allowance.

i would never expect one. i expect to pay for clothes i wear to work.

what would be nice though is if they had specific uniforms.
i would purchase several uniforms and that would be my work clothes.
instead with the last job i had at a preschool in which they wanted me to wear business casual that meant i was wearing EXPENSIVE clothes that i then also wanted to wear when i went out places and i found that i couldn't because they were becoming stained.

so if the place has a "uniform" of khaki pants and yellow t-shirt i could just buy several of each and then i'd be done until they got too stained that i needed more and i wouldn't have to worry about getting the clothes that i want to wear on a daily basis stained.