My employer and I reached a “agreement” in January; I no longer work there after 14 years; I worked in a manufacturing plant.
Now I am sending out resumes; fielding calls from headhunters, etc . . . for likely positions in the same sort of environment (production, planning, quality, etc).
Is there still the “wear your interview suit” rule in effect . . or will I look like a geek? Or is it corp casual?
Thanks
This is more a matter of opinion than fact, so I’ll move this thread to IMHO.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
My father told me once that for a job interview, you should dress as if you’ve got the job. If it’s a suit-type business, wear a suit. If it’s a construction site, jeans are OK. And so on.
I disagree with this. You should dress a step better than if you’ve got the job.
For example, the dress code in my office is officially business casual. When I interviewed for the job, though, I wore a suit.
Now that I’m on the job, I wear a suit about once every two months. (We wear formal business attire when meeting with clients or potential clients.)
Men should wear suits. Even if the office is casual, the fact that you came with a jacket and tiedressed is a point in your favor.
You should wear a blue jacket with a pair of grey slacks. Works in every possible situation. Trust me.
Wear a suit. With a nice tie. And get your shoes shined.
I was in our attorney’s lobby one day when the firm was interviewing. There was a kid waiting who was wearing an OK suit, a nice tie, and the world’s worst cheap dress shoes. Scuffed, run down at the heels. He might as well have been barefoot. Looked like crap, and I’m sure someone noticed.
Have at least one great set of interview clothes, from head to toe. If you only have one set, wear it to every interview!
I’m with Rick Jay. A navy sportcoat with grey (or khaki) slacks. If you are overdressed and uncomfortable, ridding yourself of the jacket will make you fit right in.
But its regional, too. More formal if you are East, less if you are West.
I work for a manufacturing company. People interview in sportcoats and slacks - ties optional.
Suit. Better to be overdressed than underdressed. At worst, being overdressed indicates overenthusiasm, whereas being underdressed might be read as laziness or a lack of genuine interest in the job.
I just lost on an interview yesterday because I was overdressed.
The agency said “business attire”. So I had navy dockers and a regular plain short-sleeved shirt (it was hot). No tie. Shoes you might wear to church.
But the company (which was supposed to be a sales office) was in a warehouse, and everyone had tees and jeans. The first comment was something about my clothes and then that was followed by a few more where they seemed to think I wouldn’t be comfortable there. Yet they had my resume, and I hadn’t said boo yet, so it must have been the clothes.
I’d dress a step up from what you will wear to work. Boss-types really appreciate the effort. Nothing more obnoxious than an interviewer who comes in rumpled and worn. It’s like they don’t really care.
investigate beforehand if you can. You can be over dressed or under dressed. Although, I would always rather be over dressed in a suit with shined shoes than underdressed.
Yes, someone somewhere in the distant past said all I need to know about a potential hire is by his shoes. There are a lot of interviewers that follow that rule of thumb. Make sure you shine your shoes.
I agree 100% with robby. I’m actually conducting some interviews today, and no suit, no recommendation from me. My firm is also business casual, but suits when meeting clients (I have to wear them more frequently than once every two months - that’s a good thing)
These days I find it pays to ask about the dress code ahead of time. When you set up the time for the interview, just ask whoever is setting it up how employees dress. If you ask this question in a straightforward, businesslike way, it should not raise any eyebrows:
You [to HR director]: “Jane thanks for coordinating this interview for me. I had a quick question about your company’s dress code: do the male employees generally [wear suits/wear business casual] in your office?”
HR director: “Well usually we are business casual,” or “well, your interview is on a Friday, and we are business casual on Friday.”
If you’re not comfortable asking the HR director or whoever set up the interview, you can also call the receptionist and just ask him or her what people generally wear on interviews.
Obviously if they are wearing suits, you should wear a suit. Note that a blazer and slacks is NOT a suit. A blazer and slacks is on the upper end of business casual, not the lower end of suits and ties.
If they are wearing business casual, but they sometimes wear suits (when they are meeting clients etc.) then you should definitely wear a suit, because for them a suit says “I’m taking this seriously.”
If they never wear suits, e.g. they are a tech company or something, then you should wear at the upper end of business casual. If you a wear a suit you are going to freak them out, so don’t do it.
Your goal is to be just a little more dressed up than they are. The obvious exception to this rule is if they wear suits: you don’t want to be more dressed up than that. Don’t for example, wear a tuxedo (for an evening interview) or a morning coat (for a daytime interview). (Ha Ha).
But like I said, the main rule is, if you’re not sure, ask someone there. First choice, friend on the inside. Second choice, HR person who is coordinating the interview. Third choice, receptionist or secretary who can tell you what people generally wear (and, if you’re nice about it, the receptionist will maybe even tell you what NOT to wear: “a guy came in here last week wearing a tie, and that was a BAD IDEA, because we are a very casual office.”)
And yes, get your shoes shined.
Constantine
A gentlemen, in my not-so-humble opinion, should wear a grey, navy or black suit to an interview. His dress shirt should be white and his tie, well, it shouldn’t be a novelty tie.
As already mentioned, your (dress) shoes should be shined and in, at least, good condition.
Oh, and your belt should match your shoes.
Since we’re getting specific, can I had something? Black shoes do NOT go with a navy suit! Wear brown or cordovan.
This may sound stupid, but believe me, in plenty of companies the secretary’s opinion counts, sometimes for a lot, and we women notice these things. This can go for clothes as well as attitude. If she says “wow, he was a jerk when he came in” you will not get the job.
I disagree. I think this is a matter of taste, not a rule that’s necessary for an interviewee to follow.
bda, I’ll add to the people who say to wear a suit. Even if they don’t expect everybody to wear a suit, suits have been interview outfits for long enough that they will not give a negative impression. At worst you’ll be seen as traditional or a conservative dresser.
I’ve always heard to dress a step up from everyone else. If you were applying for a job as a fry cook, slacks and a polo shirt or button down shirt are fine. Nice shirt and well-kept jeans are usually fine, too.
A tech office where the code is business casual, a suit or slacks, white shirt and tie are a good rule.
I have to agree with constantine: find out what interviewees generally wear and what the company dress code is. Again, I agree that if interviewees wear business casual, go with the upper end of business casual (nice slacks, a navy jacket, and shined shoes).
Our office attire is business casual. However, interviewees almost always wear suits and I expect them to.
The only exception I can think of is that I’ve heard some tech, creative, and manufacturing places consider suits to be a sign of a stuffy or uncreative person. However, I think they’re the exception rather than the rule. And you’ll find that out if you do some research in to what other inteviewees wear.
The bottom line: look like someone you’d want to hire.