wearing a kilt to a fire Dept. interview

[Pour1Malt]

the kilt may bae the yin special thing thot maks ya stand oot as a confident, bold mon...

an get ya the job....

[Kiltedfirepiper]

ok let me just say this......when I went to the testing ....I was one of about 12 guys that wore ( in my thoughts as a prospecitve candidate) acceptable clothes
I wore kahkis and a checked button shirt and the rest( of the 11 wore business slacks and button up ( white w/ a tie ) shirts or something to that effect) the rest of 66 candidates wore blue jeans and t-shirts. so I think im already ahead of the curve as far as first impressions..... I dont think the homophobia even comes into play here...... most of the firefighters I know around here ( which is alot since I started my career here) look fondly to the fact I play the pipes and am not afraid to wear the kilt ....hell one of the captains I work under for the reserve depts. his last name is O'Connor and he wears a kilt too......I wore my kilt to pick up my paycheck and he gave me a compliment about my "kit" as he called it........but thats THIS dept. ...... not the one I was testing for ......maybe I should have worn my kilt to the written test so they could see me and tell the oral board folks what to expect( again IF I make it that far)

Of course I would wear it properly ......white button up shirt and a tie( bow or windsor would be the question here ) black belt ,black rabbit fur sporran, gillies and off white hose..... no cover since its indoors....

I understand the conformity aspect...they want you to "mesh " with the rest of the crew
But .....I know that the "area" ( read NOT Tucson Fire) fire Depts. dont have an honor guard and might look favorably upon someone who ....plays the pipes ...wears a kilt ..... and does both with dignity and authority ....... so I am at a cross roads so to speak........ if i make it to the oral boards then I am in the top 16 (since they are only taking 8 ) ....do I take the chance and wear my kilts or do I ( in my mind ) look like the rest of the nozzle heads and wear a suit? it could help keep my responses to the questions ( hopefully right ) fresh in their minds and me in the fore front...... or sour them to some one that would be an outsider......... not that I would be ....but the whole conformity thing ......


I have some time to "mull it over" so .........
thanks for the responses so far .. it has given me things to concider.....



Scott........ I yam who I yam , but should I show who I yam

[way2fractious]

... if i make it to the oral boards then I am in the top 16 (since they are only taking 8 ) ....

Does your turn in front of the oral boards have time for questions and answers on matters not covered elsewhere in the application and interview process. If invited to the oral boards, respond by seeking an invitation to bring your pipes and play them a tune, a simple audition. In addition to all the other tests you would have passed by this point, it seems that your piping expertise should certainly be brought up by you, if not by them.

[Frank McGrath]

My 2 cents:

To thine own self be true. Do what is in your heart.

If your credentials say that you can do the job, then it will be. Best Of Luck.

Frank

[kilted in kleaveland]

I have no idea about how long this whole process is but, have you decided / how did it go? If you went kilted to the interview, do you feel this helped or hindered you? I hope this works out for you. Kurious in Kleaveland.