Inside the pants or outside the pants?

July 25, 2012 10:57 AM

I have a job interview tomorrow afternoon. I've got my suit all ready. The problem is that I had surgery recently and I'm in a full leg brace and crutches. Should I put the brace over my pants or under them? I don't know even know if the brace will actually fit under the pants, though; it's pretty bulky with a huge metal hinge and several thick velcro straps. Will wearing it on the outside of dress trousers look ridiculous?
posted by Cat Pie Hurts to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (20 answers total)

No a brace on the outside of your pants is fine. Wear it the way it makes sense and feels comfortable.

After some small talk about your boo-boo, it should soon be a non issue.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:00 AM on July 25, 2012 [5 favorites]

Wear it on the outside. Beside the fact that that is how you should wear it, a visible cast is a lot less bad-attention-grabbing as a limping dude with something odd happening under his pantleg.

You do not want to go to an interview as the guy with the mystery thing in his pants.
posted by griphus at 11:01 AM on July 25, 2012 [52 favorites]

It will look absurd on the outside, but less absurd than having a weirdly lumpy leg. It's not something you have any obligation to hide, and it lets you more quickly dispense with the inevitable "did you break it?" and move on to how awesome you are.
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:02 AM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]

I think even if it fit under the pants, it would be a bit stranger and maybe seem like something to be concealed and wondered about. If it is external, and you just say, "Sorry for the brace, I'm still healing up from surgery" or something it will be no big deal.
posted by Rock Steady at 11:03 AM on July 25, 2012

Outside. Having some visible sign of a recent injury is an instant tension-breaker in situations like this. It may actually even work in your favor. You'll look ridiculous, but in a way that absolutely no one will hold against you. (Mystery thing-hidden-in-his-pants guy, however...)
posted by phunniemee at 11:09 AM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]

Have they sent you an email to confirm? Maybe include something like "Quick note, I'm on crutches at the moment. It's no big deal, I just don't want to startle you." in the reply. Or mention it in the greeting 'n' handshakes part. I don't think they can legally ask you about anything medical, so a quick mention of recent surgery will probably be more than sufficient.

As long as you don't seem weird about it, it won't be weird.
posted by troika at 11:09 AM on July 25, 2012

Wear it outside. It's not like the interviewer has never seen somebody in a leg brace. A story about how you dived in front a speeding truck to save an infant and hurt your leg in the process won't hurt either ;)

Good luck!
posted by COD at 11:10 AM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]

Agree with all above -- put it on over the pants. However, don't say anything about why you have it if it's not germane to the job. If anyone asks, remind them that they are asking about medical issues and a possible disability, so they might want to tread lightly.

So to speak.
posted by Etrigan at 11:10 AM on July 25, 2012

Ugh. I have found that reminding interviewers that they are treading on illegal question territory (so...are you planning on getting married soon? or my favorite, how many kids do you have/plan to have>) the interview pretty much shuts down.

Be honest but vague, and be sure that you are the one to start the conversation about the surgery - "surgery last week, healing perfectly/as expected/two more follow ups with the doctor between now and December, I'm really looking forward to talking about __the job__" Do not give any more info than you feel is necessary, but do give some. Do not leave room for questions if you can help it.
posted by bilabial at 11:15 AM on July 25, 2012 [8 favorites]

Don't say anything... [and] if anyone asks, remind them that they are asking about medical issues and a possible disability, so they might want to tread lightly.

Please don't create the impression that you're an uptight prig by behaving this way. In fact, I'm joining the "Outside" chorus because you want them to have information-- to know it's a temporary condition just in case anyone is sub-consciously (or consciously) biased.
posted by carmicha at 11:15 AM on July 25, 2012 [10 favorites]

Use it - outside - to break the initial tension and demonstrate your attitude to adversity.
posted by cromagnon at 11:19 AM on July 25, 2012

Outside. If they ask about it, perhaps smile ruefully and say something non-committal and kind of jokey like "A minor setback, but I'll be back on the bunny hill before long"? That might be enough of a signal to the interviewer saying that "I acknowledge it but don't really want to talk about it", while showing that you have a good sense of humor?
posted by Elly Vortex at 11:34 AM on July 25, 2012

Brace goes on the outside, and doesn't look weird at all -- that's just how braces look when worn with pants.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:41 AM on July 25, 2012

Wear the brace outside your pants. Even discounting how odd and lumpy it would look if it even fit inside your pants leg, it might not have the extra bit of room needed whenever you bent your leg/ankle/hip, and might rip a hole in the pants --- and that sure wouldn't be very impressive to the interviewer! Also, wearing the brace inside would probably move the pants' material around enough generally that it would make them fit oddly in the crotch and everywhere else.

Another consideration is that with a more visible brace, you're likely to get more considerate behavior from other people --- things like not shoving past you in an elevator, for instance.
posted by easily confused at 11:55 AM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]

If you are wearing a suit I assume that you are not applying for a job as a bricklayer or a roofer. Recovering from broken leg, or whatever, should not be a concern for the interviewer.
posted by COD at 11:58 AM on July 25, 2012

Outside. Tells the interviewer "hey this guy had surgery". Inside tells the interviewer "this guy has a weird lumpy leg but it's probably just a brace but why try and hide it, what a weirdo".
posted by Kololo at 12:05 PM on July 25, 2012

If anyone asks, remind them that they are asking about medical issues and a possible disability, so they might want to tread lightly.

God no, don't say/do this. Nothing says "don't hire this guy" than seeming both uptight and litigous.
posted by Kololo at 12:06 PM on July 25, 2012 [10 favorites]

Think of it as an instant conversation starter, and something that will really make you stick in their minds. An offhand comment about how you happen to be hobbling right now is an easy icebreaker and gives you the chance to start things off in a casual tone.
posted by itstheclamsname at 12:21 PM on July 25, 2012

Response by poster: Thanks for the input. Outside it is!

As for discussing it with the potential employer, I have no problems with that at all, as it's a fairly minor thing. On the other hand, my long term, non-obvious health issues? Not a peep shall be spoken!

easily confused: "you're likely to get more considerate behavior from other people --- things like not shoving past you in an elevator, for instance."

Hahaha! That was funny. I'm in Boston and it feels like people have gotten even MORE rude since the surgery!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:49 PM on July 25, 2012

Nthing outside the pants, brief mention of the fact that it's temporary.

And I'm sorry Cat Pie hurts.

Yes, that really was unworthy of me.
posted by BlueHorse at 5:34 PM on July 26, 2012