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

[disney world dreamer]

i'm applying to work in a daycare and while i'm going to wear dress clothes to the interview i want to know how casual i can dress if i am offered the job.

ultimately it would be great if i could wear sweatpants since working with small children requires a lot of being on the floor and getting up and down and a lot of activity in general that jeans/dress pants may interfere with.

how would you word the question of how casual you can dress?
i don't really want to say "can i wear sweatpants?" but i also don't really want to say "what is the dress code?" because if they give me a general answer of "casual" i don't know whether that means jeans and nicer or jeans and sweatpants.

also i'm wondering how causal would you expect a daycare employee to dress? does wearing sweatpants go to far in your eyes or would it be appropriate?

 

[sonnyjane]

I would wait until I was hired, then ask what the dresscode was, and then wear whatever they told me to.

In other words I wouldn't address it in an interview if you really want the job.

To answer the other part, if you're working AT a daycare then sweatpants is definitely too casual in my opinion. I've really only seen jeans or casual khakis.

 

[Styx Fan]

If they offer you the job, they might cover this information along with salary, etc. If your interview is at the place you would be working, you could also observe carefully what others are wearing. As a new employee I would opt to "fit in". If most folks were in sweat pants, that would obviously be fine. If most were jeans and just one was in sweats, I would not wear them in the beginning. But I see new problem, once hired, in asking what the dress code is. If they just say casual, nothing at all wrong with asking them if they could be a bit more specific, as everyone has a different idea of what casual means. You could use your example of asking if that means jeans, dress pants or sweats.

As a parent, I really wouldn't mind a daycare worker wearing clean, nice fitting sweats. You want to look neat, not like you just got off the couch or track. No holes and not skin tight or hanging off and dragging all over the floor. One daycare we looked at for me son had the folks in the baby room wearing scrubs. Made a world of sense.

 

[firecracker725]

I worked daycare all through high school and college, and sweat pants are far too casual. Most of us wore scrubs. Those things were fabulous.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I agree to wait until you have the job to ask, or just look around and follow the lead of other employees.

It has been almost 20 years, but back when I worked in preschools and daycares, I don't think I ever saw anyone in sweats. Jeans make sense, as you are down with the kids so much, but sweats just seems unprofessional to me.

 

[Minnesota!]

Wait till hired. Sweats are too casual.

 

[NJlauren]

The ladies at my daycare mostly wear scrubs or leggings but some wear jeans. They all always look put together but comfortable and to be honest they take great care of my daughter so if on occasion they were to wear sweats I wouldn't even notice.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I also think it is a good idea to wait until being hired before asking that. As another poster suggested, just observe and see what the others are doing.

 

[kmb584]

As others have wait, wait until after you're hired and observe while you're there. I work in a daycare and preschool (nurse) and almost all of the daycare staff wear yoga pants with sweatshirts or sweaters. There are three employees who wear jeans daily. At the preschool next door everyone, including teacher's aides, dress business casual.

 

[sam_gordon]

I'd be surprised if a tour wasn't a part of an on site interview. If they don't offer one, ask for one. Then see how the other workers are dressed.

If they don't mention a dress code, then, if hired, I would show up wearing something a little "better" than what I think would be allowed.

When our kids were in daycare, I don't remember the workers in sweats. Jeans, yes.

 

[Tiffylv]

.

 

[mom2rtk]

No to the sweats. Parents don't expect you in dress clothes, as they want you comfortable enough to engage with the kids down on the floor if necessary. But sweats say to me that you don't take the job seriously...... whether you do or not.

 

[JanaDee]

No sweats.

 

[FINFAN]

wait until hire but when they ask if you have any questions for them, ask to see the day care facility. At that time you can see what the other employees are wearing that work in the daycare. With all the spandex mixed into clothing these days, I'm sure you will find comfy clothes. NO yoga pants either. Besides, you will may want to feel a bit professional when in the building itself, just the overall environment may find you leaning that way. Good luck getting the job!

 

[Thing 1]

If you have any desire to get the job, DO NOT ASK IF YOU CAN WEAR SWEATS! I have done preschool/day care administration for years and that would automatically be a red flag that you might not be as neat and as I would hope. Dress codes differ greatly but I have never allowed sweat clothes.One preschool I have directed did require dress casual/no jeans, but others allow nicer jeans. Many do company shirts with khaki pants and a few I know do scrubs. If you are offered the job, you should be given specific dress code rules, but if not, ask and clarify exactly what that means.

 

[luvsJack]

Honestly, no one here can answer that. It depends on the center and their philosophies. If you are offered the job and it hasn't been discussed, ask. You don't have to ask if sweats are ok but you can ask what the dress code is.

Business casual doesn't lend itself to sitting on the floor or playing with playdough and fingerpaint. But, if there isn't any guidelines, folks get way too casual. I had an employees that did wear sweats. One wore sweat pants, a neat and ironed t-shirt and tennis shoes every day. She also sat on the ground outside and played games with the toddlers, sat on the floor inside and read stories and painted with the children. One of the best caregivers ever. Another started out like her, but over time the sweats got to be full of holes and the t-shirts rattier and rattier. We had to address her dress and she eventually quit.

 

[mom2rb]

I coach gymnastics, so I am on the ground or bending over a lot. I would not wear sweat panst to work. I wear yoga pants or leggings with a shirt that is long enough to not show my stomach when reaching in different positions. They are just as functional but they look better.

 

[Lynne M]

There are very few workplaces where sweatpants would be appropriate. I definitely wouldn't ask specifically if you could wear them. You can (and probably should) ask what the dress code is. They may just say 'casual', or they may give you a written policy that lists specific items of clothing that are prohibited.

I'd assume that they'd show you around the place before you were actually hired. That's your opportunity to see how their employees dress. Go with what seems to be the norm.

I also agree with PPs that there are all kinds of pants available that are comfortable and have some give and stretch, but don't look too casual. I've got several pairs of Lands End Sport Knit Cords. They look like corduroy pants, and are perfectly appropriate for my business casual office. But they feel like sweatpants.

http://www.landsend.com/products/womens-fit-3-sport-knit-corduroy-pants/id_46374

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

I work with preschool through senior citizen. On my preschool days,I still have to dress business casual and if you are working for a school district that is probably what they will ask. They may allow jeans. I have several looser fitting khakis that I got on sale so I don't feel bad if they get dirty. I also have some skirts that I wear shorts under. I can't wear jeans there at all. Honestly, my business casual clothes have never gotten in my way, and my two kiddos are always on the floor when I work with them. As long as your pants are properly fitting and not super tight, they should not hinder you.

 

[aaarcher86]

.... Or sweats.