# Temping and Dress Code **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328 "2003-02-02T18:26:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/1 "2003-02-02T18:26:42Z")
Just a very quick question: If I get a temporary post in private industry (vs a civil service or academic job) and the dress code is there is very relaxed (khakis and jumpers/sweaters), should I dress professionally or follow the lead of my coworkers? ---
**Author:** ![JavaMaven1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@JavaMaven1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JavaMaven1)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/2 "2003-02-02T18:57:57Z")
I’ve always thought to follow the lead of the _manager_ in this case. If the manager is also dressed casually, I’d be ok with that. If the manager is a little more polished and professional, then I’d do the same. Unless, of course, the manager tells me specifically that it’s fine to dress more casually. ---
**Author:** ![Washte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Washte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washte)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/3 "2003-02-02T19:51:03Z")
When I’ve temped the agency would let me know about the dress code before hand - normally smart or smart casual. After the first day I’d dress according to how the office and the boss preferred. Better safe than sorry - go for smart. ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/4 "2003-02-02T21:27:02Z")
I’d probably try for one of those outfits that can seem dressy when surrounded by dressy people, or casual surrounded by casual people. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/5 "2003-02-03T00:11:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Washte \* > \*\*When I’ve temped the agency would let me know about the dress code before hand - normally smart or smart casual. After the first day I’d dress according to how the office and the boss preferred. > > Better safe than sorry - go for smart. \*\* Ditto here. The agencies I’ve worked for would usually tell me the dress code beforehand, and I’d follow the lead of my coworkers. But definitely keep it on the dressier side whenever in doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/6 "2003-02-03T08:47:34Z")
Thanks, guys! I’m going with a professional shirt (button down) with smart black trousers and no suit jacket. At least I’ll be comfortable while I slave away for minimum wage for people who have less work experience than I have! ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/7 "2003-02-03T13:24:31Z")
That’s the spirit! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/8 "2003-02-03T13:45:37Z")
I’d go with wearing what the manage wears because you want to impress AND because temporary jobs have ways of becoming permanent. You can’t go wrong dressing too well. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/9 "2003-02-03T13:59:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anahita \* > \*\* > If I get a temporary post in private industry (vs a civil service or academic job) and the dress code is there is very relaxed (khakis and jumpers/sweaters), should I dress professionally or follow the lead of my coworkers? \*\* When it comes to dressing for temping, you can generally get away with anything in the “business casual” to “professional” range, although as others have mentioned your agency should tell you what the prefered style is at your assignment. I tend to go more for the casual end of the spectrum myself, but if you’re more comfortable with the dressy end then that’s what you should go with. Most employers don’t really care much what their temps look like (unless you’ve got a receptionist gig), so as long as you’re clean, neat, and not showing off any body piercings they’re unlikely to worry too much about it. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/10 "2003-02-03T14:16:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by plnnr \* > \*\*You can’t go wrong dressing too well. \*\* Actually this isn’t true. I know that with a lot of tech jobs (like internet companies, ISPs, etc) wearing dressy clothes (like a suit, for example) would count against you. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/11 "2003-02-03T14:19:37Z")
One agency I worked for insisted on a jacket (even on women) all the time, regardless of the schleppy outfits we were surrounded by. But generally, I wear what everyone else wears. Or a baby-step up. ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/12 "2003-02-03T18:50:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OpalCat \* > \*\*Actually this isn’t true. I know that with a lot of tech jobs (like internet companies, ISPs, etc) wearing dressy clothes (like a suit, for example) would count against you. \*\* I’ll differ with my experiences on this — of course, if you wear a three piece suit while everyone else wears jeans, it looks stuffy, but dressing in business casual and up should always be appropriate. My SO’s worked in the tech sector for 7 years, and as the economy worsens, the dress code seems to tighten up. I’ve seen that in office environments as well. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2003, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/13 "2003-02-03T23:47:18Z")
tygre, what part of “dressy clothes” and “like a suit” did you not comprehend? Neither of these is casual. And my husband has worked in the “tech sector” for longer than that and has been involved in the hiring process and has discussed this exact issue with his managers and they all agree with what I’ve said. And the dress code at his places of work–every single one of them–was t-shirts and jeans and hasn’t changed with the economy. As I said, it isn’t every place, and your SO’s experience may be different, but that doesn’t mean that I am wrong. Btw, when I say ‘tech jobs’ I’m talking about programmers, sysadmins, network engineers, etc. People who never ever have contact with customers in any way. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/14 "2003-02-04T00:07:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lamia \* > \*\*\ Most employers don’t really care much what their temps look like (unless you’ve got a receptionist gig), so as long as you’re clean, neat, and not showing off any body piercings they’re unlikely to worry too much about it. \*\* I disagree with this opinion; during my six year temping career, I found that temps were held to higher standards than the rest of the employees simply because the employer doesn’t know the temp at all. My agencies wouldn’t tell me how to dress for assignments because it was always expected that I would dress office professional for each and every assignment. Once into the assignment, I would relax my dress code to business casual if that was the climate of the office, but I always started out in fairly dressy clothes. And I never went sloppier than business casual, no matter what the office environment - it would not have reflected well on me should my agency have dropped by for a surprise visit (which they did). ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/15 "2003-02-04T01:00:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > **I disagree with this opinion; during my six year temping career, I found that temps were held to higher standards than the rest of the employees simply because the employer doesn’t know the temp at all.** That’s funny, I’ve always felt that I was held to a lower standard, as if my employers were relieved that I wasn’t some uncouth, illiterate barbarian. I guess there are some real troll-like temps out there scaring people. > [@](#): > > \*\* > My agencies wouldn’t tell me how to dress for assignments because it was always expected that I would dress office professional for each and every assignment. Once into the assignment, I would relax my dress code to business casual if that was the climate of the office, but I always started out in fairly dressy clothes. And I never went sloppier than business casual, no matter what the office environment - it would not have reflected well on me should my agency have dropped by for a surprise visit (which they did). \*\* All my assignments have been specified as business casual, with the exception of a call-center job that was just plain ol’ casual. I always wear a nice skirt and blouse the first day, but after that it’s into the slacks and button-down shirts. I’ve even pushed it to nice, well-fitting black jeans instead of slacks. It’s never been a problem for me and no one has ever complained or even hinted that I should dress up more, although I suppose things vary with the assignment and the agency. My agency certainly never checks up on us in person, although they do call. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/16 "2003-02-04T01:33:50Z")
I have to go with **featherlou**. First day I _always_ wear a suit until they tell me not to - usually on the first day. If I notice that everyone else is wearing more casual clothes, I ask my boss at the end of the day what I should wear the next day. People recognize that you are a temp and you are going to look your absolute best on your first day. If you wear a suit, you have the option of taking off your coat and tie if the atmosphere is more casual. If you don’t wear a suit, you have the option of looking like schlub the rest of the day if it’s more dressy. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/temping-and-dress-code/152328/17 "2003-02-04T12:39:07Z")
I used to consult, which is the higher version of temping. You generally get an interview when you consult - which is a good chance to wear a suit and scope out. But I am fond of slacks (even dockers - but black or navy on the first day), with a long sleeved oxford shirt (or blouse) and a jacket. With the jacket, it looks suitish. Take the jacket off and you are business casual.