What Should You Wear On Shadow Days?
It's a balance of being comfortable and professional
Not that fashion is everything, but professionalism is. Shadowing in a new office is like dressing for the first day of school: you need to consult your friends to make sure you’re going to be generally the same style of clothing. Luckily for you, I’ve been there and can clue you in.
Scrubs or business casual?
This is one of the most popular questions in various dental and medical student threads on the internet. When I was shadowing, the opinions were pretty torn, so that wasn’t really helpful. Before rushing out to buy either, I would suggest calling the office and asking if the receptionist if the dentist has a preference. If he or she does, well, there’s your answer.
IF the receptionist states that the dentist is fine with either, I would suggest wearing professional attire.
Wearing professional attire when a preference is not given impresses the dentist and the staff. Plus, it makes you look more serious in the eyes of a patient.
IF the receptionist states that the dentist is fine with either, I would suggest wearing professional attire.
Wearing professional attire when a preference is not given impresses the dentist and the staff. Plus, it makes you look more serious in the eyes of a patient.
Why I recommend wearing business casual over scrubs
1. You’re there to impress the dentist. If you want to be a professional one day, you’ve got to present yourself in a professional manner. This includes dressing the part. You may find yourself asking this dentist for a letter of recommendation after a few visits, so it’s crucial to form the best first impression.
2. You’re not part of the office staff, so there is no need for you to dress like you are. You are hoping to fulfill the role of a dentist one day, so it’s okay not to look like a dental assistant or hygienist. Believe me, everyone in that office will know when the pre-dental student is scheduled to shadow, so they’re expecting you to not look like them.
3. Dressing in heels and shined shoes forces you to stand more confidently and present yourself in a more serious manner. Scrubs wear like pajamas.
2. You’re not part of the office staff, so there is no need for you to dress like you are. You are hoping to fulfill the role of a dentist one day, so it’s okay not to look like a dental assistant or hygienist. Believe me, everyone in that office will know when the pre-dental student is scheduled to shadow, so they’re expecting you to not look like them.
3. Dressing in heels and shined shoes forces you to stand more confidently and present yourself in a more serious manner. Scrubs wear like pajamas.
business casual outfits to wear when shadowing
Given that you’ve decided to wear professional attire to your shadowing experiences, here are some general guidelines for both ladies and gentlemen:
Ladies:
Button down blouse
I always wore a pink or light blue one to exude a more feminine tone, but that’s a preference call
Dress pants, preferably black
I suggest dress pants over skirts due to the PPE regulations. Even if you think the chance of something splashing on your legs is low, do you really want to take that chance? Plus, this is a time for you to dress modestly and not gain attention. Skirts tend to work themselves up when you’re walking, thus I really think pants are the way to go.
Studs earrings if you really must wear them
Nothing dangling that could fall off when you’re peering into the mouth of a patient
Conservative makeup
Does this really need to be explained? Simple and classy.
No perfume
Remember, you’re about to encounter patients who might have a whole slew of allergies
Heels or flats that you can walk in
You’re going to be doing a lot of standing and bending to see what the dentist is doing. So, if you aren’t able to walk in heels (limited to 3 inches), then go for the flats. Flats should be a neutral color as to not be distracting.
Gentlemen:
Button down shirt (tie optional)
Dress pants
Shined shoes
This is an important one as many men forget to shine them before leaving the house.
Bottom line: This is not the interview stage of your application, but it’s how you’re going to impress someone who can vouch for you. Shadowing provides you with so many wonderful opportunities (patient interaction, learning what the dentist actually does, networking) that you don’t want to blow it on the first impression. Dress nicely and you’ll be taken more seriously.
Ladies:
Button down blouse
I always wore a pink or light blue one to exude a more feminine tone, but that’s a preference call
Dress pants, preferably black
I suggest dress pants over skirts due to the PPE regulations. Even if you think the chance of something splashing on your legs is low, do you really want to take that chance? Plus, this is a time for you to dress modestly and not gain attention. Skirts tend to work themselves up when you’re walking, thus I really think pants are the way to go.
Studs earrings if you really must wear them
Nothing dangling that could fall off when you’re peering into the mouth of a patient
Conservative makeup
Does this really need to be explained? Simple and classy.
No perfume
Remember, you’re about to encounter patients who might have a whole slew of allergies
Heels or flats that you can walk in
You’re going to be doing a lot of standing and bending to see what the dentist is doing. So, if you aren’t able to walk in heels (limited to 3 inches), then go for the flats. Flats should be a neutral color as to not be distracting.
Gentlemen:
Button down shirt (tie optional)
Dress pants
Shined shoes
This is an important one as many men forget to shine them before leaving the house.
Bottom line: This is not the interview stage of your application, but it’s how you’re going to impress someone who can vouch for you. Shadowing provides you with so many wonderful opportunities (patient interaction, learning what the dentist actually does, networking) that you don’t want to blow it on the first impression. Dress nicely and you’ll be taken more seriously.
Trying to decide who to shadow? Check out my article Which Dentist Should I Shadow for my advice on the most strategic movies!
Or, check out How to Write A Thank You Note After Shadowing!
Or, check out How to Write A Thank You Note After Shadowing!