# Glasses or no glasses for an Interview for an Engineering position? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976 "2010-12-13T13:51:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MattProle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@MattProle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattProle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/1 "2010-12-13T13:51:20Z")
I have two interviews this week for coop positions, in which I expect to do miscellaneous engineering work like crunching numbers and taking measurements. These will be my first interviews for engineering jobs so I’m open to suggestions. While it’s likely not all that important, do you guys suspect wearing my glasses during the interview will be helpful or not? I was thinking that their might be an unconscious appreciation of glasses amongst engineers; on the other hand needing glasses might be perceived as a weakness. Still, glasses might help hide my expressions a bit, making me seem calmer than I actually am. Anyway, the issue is a playful one to contemplate, but still interesting enough to discuss. What do you guys think? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/2 "2010-12-13T13:54:27Z")
IMO it won’t make a bit of difference, unless wearing them makes you visibly uncomfortable. More importantly, IMO, dress professionally and in clean clothing. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/3 "2010-12-13T14:24:42Z")
Yes, you should definitely wear glasses. The more they look like you got them free with your eye exam, in 1980, the better. Also wear a pocket protector with some mechanical pencils and a TI caculator stuck in there. Since this is a number cruncher job, if you can work the superiority of reverse Polish notation into the conversation, you will be in like Flynn. Or maybe you should listen to **Khadaji**. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/4 "2010-12-13T14:38:51Z")
It’s a job interview, not a poker game - and they don’t actually make any difference during poker games anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/5 "2010-12-13T15:08:36Z")
I just posed this same question to my friends and family. We were down to the wire. It was just me and one other guy, I was wearing the power suit, hair, nails and make up were perfect, I was polished, but not robotic. I was solid A material. Also, I went with contact lenses. I lost the job to the other guy. Wear glasses. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/6 "2010-12-13T15:17:20Z")
> [@Baracus](#): > > Yes, you should definitely wear glasses. The more they look like you got them free with your eye exam, in 1980, the better. Also wear a pocket protector with some mechanical pencils and a TI caculator stuck in there. Since this is a number cruncher job, if you can work the superiority of reverse Polish notation into the conversation, you will be in like Flynn. > > Or maybe you should listen to **Khadaji**. Do you have any tape to put on the glasses? That should help. Also, be completely lacking in personal hygiene. No one will take you seriously as an engineer if you don’t have BO. Revenge Of The Nerds was a documentary. ---
**Author:** ![MattProle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@MattProle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattProle)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/7 "2010-12-13T15:19:40Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I just posed this same question to my friends and family. We were down to the wire. It was just me and one other guy, I was wearing the power suit, hair, nails and make up were perfect, I was polished, but not robotic. I was solid A material. Also, I went with contact lenses. I lost the job to the other guy. > > Wear glasses. This confirms my suspicions. So far the four-eyes have it. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/8 "2010-12-13T15:24:18Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I just posed this same question to my friends and family. We were down to the wire. It was just me and one other guy, I was wearing the power suit, hair, nails and make up were perfect, I was polished, but not robotic. I was solid A material. Also, I went with contact lenses. I lost the job to the other guy. > > Wear glasses. Yeah, that’s why I haven’t switched to contacts or gotten LASIK. ---
**Author:** ![QuercusMax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/8baadc/32.png) [@QuercusMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuercusMax)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/9 "2010-12-13T15:32:22Z")
I conduct a fair number of interviews for programming positions, and I will confess having a prejudice against candidates who are wearing the whole suit and everything. Of course, part of it is that we tell our interviewees “don’t wear a suit”, so if they come dressed to the nines that shows a lack of the ability to follow basic directions. But glasses/no glasses? Can’t say I’ve ever given it a second thought. Most of us wear glasses, but we certainly have those who either wear contacts or don’t need glasses. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/10 "2010-12-13T16:20:38Z")
I had a pair of very weak reading glasses I used to wear when meeting new or potential clients for the first time. It is well known that glasses are a sign of intelligence and education. Even when dealing with people who are not so easily taken in by superficial qualities it has uses. In my case they made me look less like a biker and more like the academic type. First impressions are important, and people usually draw them based on minimal, and often irrelevant, evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/11 "2010-12-13T16:30:32Z")
If the engineering positions are in a plant environment, the likelihood is that _everyone_ will be wearing safety glasses, anyway. The only time I recall noticing glasses in an interview was when the interviewee apparently choose the contacts route… and kept crazy blinking like he was trying to signal someone in Morse code. Wear the glasses. And a suit. And bring something to take notes on; if you feel nervous or jittery, jot down some notes. _That_ will make you look calmer. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/12 "2010-12-13T17:12:19Z")
We engineers all have marginal Aspergers anyway, so no one is going to notice one way or another. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/13 "2010-12-13T17:17:49Z")
Does the OP’s question refer to glasses vs. uncorrected eyesight, or to glasses vs. contacts? ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/14 "2010-12-13T17:19:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Also wear a pocket protector with some mechanical pencils and a TI caculator stuck in there. Nah - a REAL engineer would have an HP, preferably HP35 or 48. TI’s are for high school students. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/15 "2010-12-13T17:47:41Z")
Get an old fashioned slide rule and wear it in a holster- that’ll knock their socks off. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/16 "2010-12-13T17:48:41Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > Nah - a REAL engineer would have an HP, preferably HP35 or 48. TI’s are for high school students. YES! TIs suck monkey balls. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/17 "2010-12-13T18:16:05Z")
> [@](#): > > **BobLibDem** You are my new hero! ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/18 "2010-12-13T18:29:34Z")
Glasses = poor vision. You don’t want to show any weakness. I can honestly say that I have interviewed candidates for multiple engineering positions and have never recommended hiring a person with glasses. Take that for what it’s worth. For the record: while my comment it true, it is pure coincidence, so don’t please don’t label me as a visionist (one whose prejudice is based on vision). ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/19 "2010-12-13T18:34:36Z")
Don’t commit your hate crimes here! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976/20 "2010-12-13T18:36:47Z")
Er, OP, what do you normally wear? I would go with what I’m used to. So if you wear glasses constantly, do so. If you don’t, don’t. If you’re a person who wears glasses in certain situations (reading, driving, etc) think about a situation akin to an interview in which you did/did not wear glasses, and go with that. However, if you do chose to wear glasses for presentation purposes, make your decision carefully… don’t interview in a pair of non-prescription sunglasses (as I’ve had a couple of people do over the years), don’t interview with a pair that are obviously out-dated, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/glasses-or-no-glasses-for-an-interview-for-an-engineering-position/563976.md?page=2)