Wear the best damn clothes you own is my advice.
EJsGirl: Brown shoes with a navy suit? No way in hell.
Funny you should mention this. A college friend of mine showed up for his first day of work (at an investment bank) in a blue suit and brown shoes, and they sent him home to change. And that was after he had the job.
thanks everyone for your input!
think i will go with trying to find out what other interviewees have worn; and if not sucessful, wear the good ole charcoal gray suit.
My rule of thumb has always been dress one level up from the job you’re interviewing for.
I usually ask the agency or the receptionist about the attire. If you really aren’t sure and the location is convenient you can do a recon mission, just swing by while people are heading to lunch and make notes. Most often I get it about right. did show up way over dressed for one interview, but still got the job. I had a friend show up at an interview with a Loony-Tunes tie on, got the job because of it! Most often companies are trying to find a person who can do the job rather than one who looks the part, but sadly not always.
The guy who had my job before me was gifted, and they still talk about his interview…He interviewed in a t-shirt. And not a nice new one either, a vendor t-shirt that was obviously a few years old.
The second interview - he wore the same t-shirt.
He got the job.
This is the exception, not the rule. And this is a tech company’s manufacturing facility, jeans are everyday wear for most people.