# interview dress code - ask the interviewer?? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 7, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720 "2011-01-07T06:10:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/41 "2011-01-07T23:01:23Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Strong dissent here. > > You are expected, as a functioning adult, to already know what to wear to an interview and to own a business suit. Ask ahead of time, or show up inappropriately dressed, and it’s two strikes against you at most firms. I don’t know your age (I’m guessing low-mid 20s), your gender (If you’re female, the rest of this post will not help you) or your family/financial situation, but most parents are happy to kick in for a job interview suit, as it will likely save them a lot of money in the long run. Type “dress for job interview” in the Yahoo or Google search line and you’ll get many, many hits for pages with specific results. Look at the fashion spreads in **Esquire** and **GQ** for an idea of what to shop for. Don’t look at the fashion spreads in **Maxim** or **FHM**. > > You need a dark grey suit, white Oxford shirt, conservative silk necktie (NOT a clip-on!) and a pair of black lace-up leather shoes with black socks and black belt. Don’t get these at Target. If Brooks Brothers or a custom tailor are out of your budget, try Men’s Wearhouse or Joseph A. Bank. > > You’re looking at a $500 investment, minimum (and it IS an investment). Does that sound steep? You buy a new computer every other year; this will cost less. Not buying a suit will cost you and cost you. I agree with all of the above except for the outlay - I just bought an excellent Ralph Lauren suit at Burlington Coat Factory for just $150. Rounding out this suit for an interview won’t run anywhere near half a grand. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/42 "2011-01-07T23:04:51Z")
> [@ultraman100](#): > > That link in the last post of mine didnt show shoes, here is a new link with diff. shoes: [http://www.skechers.com/style/61643/compelling-dexterity/blk](http://www.skechers.com/style/61643/compelling-dexterity/blk) These are okay work shoes, but not good interview shoes. Earlier I said you’ll drop at least $500 for an outfit; that included $300 for the suit and $150 for shoes. You want to get a pair of Oxford shoes. These come in three basic styles: Wingtip (a layer of leather over the toe and vamp with fancy holes punched in it over another layer of leather with no holes), cap toe (the toe is reinforced with a plain leather cap) and moccasin ( softer leather; a riveted fold lines the edge of the vamp and toe). Tassel loafers are also acceptable, but you should own a pair of lace-ups. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/43 "2011-01-07T23:08:57Z")
> [@aesop](#): > > These threads seem to come up a lot and I am always amazed at the answers. I guess a lot depends on which side of the interview table you’ve spent more time on. I think it depends more on what industry you’re in. There is a world outside of IT where people are expected not only to wear a suit to an interview, but to own more than one, and wear them regularly. I’m neither decrying nor endorsing either world, just noting that they both exist. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/44 "2011-01-07T23:09:41Z")
One more thing: This huge cash outlay I recommend for a job interview suit? You will go on _many_ job interviews over the next few years, and a good number of weddings and funerals as well. Probably a court date as well; several trips to traffic court have convinced me that judges decide cases based on how well the defendant dresses for court, not on the evidence. This suit will cover all of these occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/45 "2011-01-08T00:22:21Z")
Right - but again, you don’t need to spend nearly the sum you advocate. I used to sell good quality menswear - I know the difference between a good dress shirt and a cheap one. I know about twenty ways to tie a tie, including how to tie a bowtie for your tux and not just clip it on. It is not necessary to spend five hundred dollars to look good for a job interview. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/46 "2011-01-08T01:54:55Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I’ve always thought of a men’s blazer as being navy blue and having metal buttons, but that may be an idiosyncratic definition. I’ve always felt the same way, but I know others disagree. Actually, I had the brass buttons on my blazer replaced with leather ones and I consider it a non-traditional blazer, not something else entirely. I’ve always been really proud of how I turned something so gaudy into something understated and handsome and in all these years nobody has ever complimented it. ☹ On the other hand, I’ve heard people insist that a sports coat must always be cut very sportily. So if it doesn’t have a sort of outdoorsy heritage, it’s a blazer. Then we have **Krokodil** saying blazers need to be summer weight wool, which I’ve never heard of. So definitely there’s a bit of disagreement. > [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > As I noted above, sport jacket or not, he should not show up with no pants. 😉 Well we’re just going to have to agree to disagree. But if anybody wants to work for me they better either wear a nice suit or show up without any pants at all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/47 "2011-01-08T02:12:48Z")
> [@Mr.Excellent](#): > > I’ve interviewed an applicant for a professional position (student attorney in a legal clinic) who showed up without a suit. That wasn’t the only reason we rejected her, but it was a very serious blow to her credibility. I (and the other interviewers on the panel) were very concerned that if she couldn’t or wouldn’t take care to dress properly for a meeting that most people consider a Big Deal, she might not take proper care in other aspects of her work. Interestingly enough, showing up IN a suit for an interview in my industry would have a similar effect. It’s the sort of faux pas you might overlook with a kid straight out of college, but if someone claiming to have any experience did it, it would definitely be a mark against them. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/48 "2011-01-08T02:25:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Interestingly enough, showing up IN a suit for an interview in my industry would have a similar effect. It’s the sort of faux pas you might overlook with a kid straight out of college, but if someone claiming to have any experience did it, it would definitely be a mark against them. I’d have to ask what industry this is, and if it’s something that people widely know. 'cos I tend to dislike attitudes like that. Like it or not, for any job in a professional capacity (and plenty that aren’t) business attire is the default expectation for an interview. Expecting someone who is looking for work to “take a chance” at underdressing for an interview just because you/your company doesn’t like it is, well, dickish at best. ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/49 "2011-01-08T02:34:13Z")
I’m a department manager. I’ve interviewed people for jobs hundreds of times. Two pieces of advice for you. One - don’t call asking about appropriate attire. If I hire you, you will eventually be assigned tasks and you will need to figure things out on your own. Don’t start out by asking for advice on how to dress yourself. It would not bode well for you if I was your prospective employer. Don’t call the receptionist to ask either. It has a good chance of making its way back to the interviewer. Two - dress as well as you can. A pair of nicely pressed slacks and shirt with a tie will not reflect poorly on you under any circumstances. You’re selling yourself in the interview. If you were selling a used car, you’d take it through the car wash and vacuum it before a buyer shows up right? Same principle applies. When you’re offered the job, that’s when you ask about what appropriate work attire is. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Hazel\_Ice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Ms.Hazel\_Ice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Hazel_Ice)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/50 "2011-01-08T04:10:13Z")
As someone who has served on a hiring committee, make sure that you make a good impression (don’t look sloppy), but don’t dress in a way that distracts the interviewers. Last year, I spent 40 minutes in an interview with a guy who obviously did not own his suit. The sleeves were about three inches too short, and he reeked of mothballs. The IT guys I know in my school district vary widely in their attire. The head of their group always wears a shirt and tie (no jacket) since he deals with the administrators and works directly with the superintendent. The guys in my building wear polo shirts and khakis, sometimes argyle vests (!), etc. Does the company website have photos of their workers? Maybe you could use that as a barometer of the expected level of formality. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/51 "2011-01-08T12:03:37Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > One more thing: This huge cash outlay I recommend for a job interview suit? You will go on _many_ job interviews over the next few years, and a good number of weddings and funerals as well. Probably a court date as well; several trips to traffic court have convinced me that judges decide cases based on how well the defendant dresses for court, not on the evidence. This suit will cover all of these occasions. I’m glad I read the entire thread before I chimed in with an identical answer. Every male above the age of about six should have a minimum of one all-purpose business suit. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/52 "2011-01-08T13:24:17Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m glad I read the entire thread before I chimed in with an identical answer. > > Every male above the age of about six should have a minimum of one all-purpose business suit. Sure, but is that “should” strong enough that he should buy one at a 20% interest rate, which it sounds like he would have to do? It seems to be that it’s a very good thing to have one nice suit, but I don’t think it’s a deal breaker for this sort of interview, and once he has regular income he can buy one. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/53 "2011-01-08T14:33:11Z")
I’ve always made a point of dressing for my interview the way I would expect, and be comfortable, dressing for this particular job on a daily basis. If I’m not comfortable with the idea of wearing a suit every day on the job, I’m not wearing one to the interview - because I’d rather get turned down for a job I’m going to dislike. Then again, I’ve had the luxury of never being in a position where finding a job was difficult - in fact, I’ve spent most of my adult life in an employee’s job market, rather than the current state of things. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/54 "2011-01-08T15:01:21Z")
I wear shitty pants and torn T-shirts to work, and I work in IT. I have a $600 business suit I bought for my divorce that I wore to the interview. Go with a suit. Pants are optional. \*\*fubbleskag \*\*is the anomaly, it is very much an employers market out there. For every job out there there’s hundreds of interviewees and the interviewers will look for any reason to cut you out of the pool, and dressing like shit can knock you out of the running. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/55 "2011-01-10T21:52:59Z")
This is too late for the OP, but it strikes me as odd that no one gave the most obvious advice: Call HR anonymously and ask what most people wear to job interviews. \*\*EvilTOJ \*\*is dead on IMHO, but hey. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/56 "2011-01-11T06:13:57Z")
I’d just wear a business suit, and, then, if it appears to be a jeans and tshirt style organization, just take off the coat and tie. That’s what I do in every other situation where I’m worried about being overdressed. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/57 "2011-01-11T16:08:56Z")
> [@geneb](#): > > [How to Wear a Sports Jacket | The Art of Manliness](http://artofmanliness.com/2009/12/29/man-sports-jacket/) > > A good place to learn about most things man, including clothes. Thanks for that link. I, a young man, was never taught any of this. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/58 "2011-01-11T16:24:38Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > Thanks for that link. I, a young man, was never taught any of this. Because it’s not nearly so important these days as people are suggesting. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/59 "2011-01-11T20:48:38Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I’d have to ask what industry this is, and if it’s something that people widely know. Videogame development. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2011, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720/60 "2011-01-11T23:47:17Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Videogame development. Then likely everyone’s wearing jeans and there’s a breakroom with a fridge full of Red Bull somewhere. My guy works as a programmer, office is casual dress, pants and shirt required but that is about it. Most people do t-shirts and jeans. Random people wear slacks. One guy apparently always wears ties, just because. Some wear sweatpants. My bf and his coworkers make fun of “noobs” who come in for interviews in $600 suits. Not in a mean way, just in the “noobs” kind of way…because they stick out like a sore thumb to an extreme when they are in the building. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/interview-dress-code-ask-the-interviewer/566720.md?page=4)