# Jacket to an interview?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [May 8, 2011, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198 "2011-05-08T22:29:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/21 "2011-05-09T18:12:26Z")
> [@blindboyard](#):
>
> Shoes: obviously leather and laces, but is brown okay? I have four pairs of shoes, all shiny and well polished, but the only black pair make a clip-clop noise like high-heels or horses, so would it be better going with the brown, or is that not a smart colour of shoe?
What color is your suit, or jacket? If grey or black, then wear a black belt and black shoes. If blue or brown, then go with the brown belt and shoes. Notice a pattern? Match your belt and shoes. It’s silly, but it looks good.
> [@](#):
>
> Tie: solid colour, or scene from a landscape by Lowry (seriously)?
>
> Shirt: presumably white would be best, but are pin-stripes considered unreasonably garish, or are they fine? How about blue chequed?
I would avoid the painted tie. If you’re wearing a white shirt, then you can wear a smartly patterned tie. If you go with a pin-striped shirt, wear a solid tie. I newer trend is to wear a colored shirt with a tie of the same color. This might be a good idea, if you want to shoe a splash of color, but do not want to look like yet another corporate clone.
> [@](#):
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> Headware: I had dismissed the idea of a nice smart hat, but then again I’d nearly dismissed the idea of a jacket too, so, trilby? Fedora? Flat cap?
Don’t worry about a hat.
> [@](#):
>
> Well, obviously I’d love to magic myself better social skills and to believe that I’d be honoured to be given a chance as, say, an industrial cleaner in a sugar factory, but that’s not gonna happen.
Perhaps, but the hiring manager doesn’t want to work with someone who might be a pain in the ass, so at least bring a good attitude in with you.
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### Author:  [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/22 "2011-05-09T18:46:21Z")
> [@Brynda](#):
>
> As someone who gets hot easily, I second the idea of going early and cool down. I always go hang out in the bathroom to cool down. Another idea–powder is your friend. Use it liberally, but make sure it is unscented.
You mean talcum powder? Hmm. I do get very hot very easily. I don’t even own a coat or any warm clothing, as even in winter the Midlands don’t get cold enough to need one.
> [@](#):
>
> I will pay you to wear a trilby. 😉
More of a flat cap man, really.
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### Author:  [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/23 "2011-05-09T19:27:32Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#):
>
> What color is your suit, or jacket? If grey or black, then wear a black belt and black shoes. If blue or brown, then go with the brown belt and shoes. Notice a pattern? Match your belt and shoes. It’s silly, but it looks good.
Yes, I see. But, blue and brown go together? I’m out of my depth with this stuff. Think I’ll stick to black and white all over. Will avoid problems with my colour-blindness, too.
> [@](#):
>
> Perhaps, but the hiring manager doesn’t want to work with someone who might be a pain in the ass, so at least bring a good attitude in with you.
I’m really bad with people. I can do obsequious, I’ll try that. Hopefully it’ll be with a woman, I find that much easier.
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### Author:  [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/24 "2011-05-09T19:35:53Z")
Not a jacket, an actual suit.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/25 "2011-05-09T19:38:19Z")
In general, it depends on the job. Law office, sales job, definitely. Software or computer design job, especially in Silicon Valley, no. New college grads get the benefit of the doubt, but if an experienced engineer showed up for an interview in a suit he or she would be considered either eccentric or clueless. Especially in companies where the CEO is anti-suit and tie. Remember Obama’s joke when he visited Facebook? Does anyone really think wearing a suit to an interview there would get you brownie points.
However, it would not be a deal breaker since we usually interview on smarts, not fashion sense. Unlike other places, it seems.
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### Author:  [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/26 "2011-05-09T19:46:08Z")
> [@blindboyard](#):
>
> I’m really bad with people. I can do obsequious, I’ll try that. Hopefully it’ll be with a woman, I find that much easier.
Try to fake it through the interview. It should be only about 20 minutes.
After that, try to keep it up until the cost of hiring and training a replacement outweighs the burden of putting up with you. That should be about two weeks if you’re just awkward, and not openly hostile.
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### Author:  [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jacket-to-an-interview/581198/27 "2011-05-09T20:03:11Z")
> [@blindboyard](#):
>
> …
> I’m a scruff, generally, so with collar and tie and sleeves I’m already hot and uncomfortable. I can’t even wear a nice breeze-friendly skirt because of these stupid culturally assigned gender-roles. Tell me I don’t need a jacket too!
> …
I assume you’re a guy.
I’ve never heard of anyone doing it, but if the company strikes you as the “creative” sort, you could try a Scottish kilt, worn with proper accessories, a tie, and jacket. It’s perfectly acceptable attire at an American wedding.
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