Job interview -- suit or corporate casual

[Dartful Dodger]

A friend of mine told me about an opportunity at his company.  The company sell parts for small motors.  The position is for a database/website programmer.  He told me it’s a laid back office were the people wear jeans and shorts in the summer.  He told me dress pants and a button down shirt would be fine.  Another friend of mine said it doesn’t matter what the people who work there wear, that I should wear a suit.

I’m a little conflicted.  If it wear a design/artsy job I would wear corporate casual, and if it wear a programming job I would wear a suit, but this job falls somewhere in between.

I know I should be more casually dressed than the interviewers and they say you can’t go wrong in a suit, but I hate wearing suits. I always feel like a kid at a funeral/wedding, and I’m sure the interviewers will see my discomfort.

I haven't gone on a real interview in over 7 years.  A lot of you are in this field and may have just gotten a job, what were you wearing?

[shardian]

For any professional career job, you should always wear a suit. period. End of story.

[abrannan]

Suit, but with a shirt/tie you can go casual with.  If the interviewer(s) are dressed more casually then you can take off the jacket when you sit down to interview. 

[knave]

You're right you can't go wrong with a suit.  But I would leave off the jacket completely.

Just me.

[ChadTower]

For any professional career job, you should always wear a suit. period. End of story.

I disagree.  I rarely wear one - entirely depends on who is interviewing and where.  When interviewing candidates I generally find dress pants/shirt good enough, a tie is nice, a suit doesn't add a lot more with me.  The person's general grooming and ability to communicate are far more important.  I'd take a comfortable person at ease in dockers and dress shirt over someone making me uneasy in a suit every single time.

Hell, some of the best opportunities I've had were interviews where they wanted me in ASAP - "forget a suit if you don't have one clean, be here tomorrow".

Ask the person who will be interviewing you.  It is a reasonable question and will demonstrate some flexibility as well as sensitivity to their needs.

[shardian]

It doesn't matter what the interviewer is wearing. 90% of all interviewers probably wear dockers and a button down shirt w/o tie. Why? Because that is their daily attire. They might throw on a sport coat over their every day attire, but that is about it.

[ChadTower]

It doesn't matter what the interviewer is wearing. 90% of all interviewers probably wear dockers and a button down shirt w/o tie. Why? Because that is their daily attire. They might throw on a sport coat over their every day attire, but that is about it.

He said it's a more casual office than that.  If the interviewer is wearing jeans and a golf shirt it does make for a bigger contrast.  It really depends on the company's every day dress code.  If he were going for a management spot I'd say the suit and tie were more important, but for a programmer's spot, it doesn't matter nearly as much as not being an unreasonable dork during the intervew.  The first thing I evaluate a person for is whether or not I would want to work with them regardless of their skills.  If they don't pass that test odds are they're not getting hired no matter what they have on.

[saint]

A friend of mine told me about an opportunity at his company.  The company sell parts for small motors.  The position is for a database/website programmer.  He told me it’s a laid back office were the people wear jeans and shorts in the summer.  He told me dress pants and a button down shirt would be fine.  Another friend of mine said it doesn’t matter what the people who work there wear, that I should wear a suit.

I’m a little conflicted.  If it wear a design/artsy job I would wear corporate casual, and if it wear a programming job I would wear a suit, but this job falls somewhere in between.

I know I should be more casually dressed than the interviewers and they say you can’t go wrong in a suit, but I hate wearing suits. I always feel like a kid at a funeral/wedding, and I’m sure the interviewers will see my discomfort.

I haven't gone on a real interview in over 7 years.  A lot of you are in this field and may have just gotten a job, what were you wearing?

I work in this kind of environment and I'm the guy who does the interviewing. Business casual or a suit, I don't care either way. Having been told what the corporate culture is like, I'd probably opt for business casual with a tie, but no suit. If in doubt, call the person who set up your interview and ask them what manner of dress would be appropriate.

All in all though it doesn't matter a hill of beans.

--- saint

[ChadTower]

Dartful - one thing the better candidates do in this field is research the company's products.  Go to their website, learn what you can about the company, and definitely what you can about what they make.  If it is something you can get your hands on, do it, and get some experience with it.  Make that known during the interview without coming right out and saying "so I bought your product last week and played around with it".  That bit of effort does get noticed and is a major positive - especially if the comments are quality ones.  Read the interviewer, if you can, before making any critical comments, however.  Some guys don't respond well to that.  If you're unsure, stay neutral or positive to be safe.

[Dartful Dodger]

I've looked the company up and my friend has giving some good tips about what they do and what they are looking for. Which is good because what they are looking for isn't really the title of the position, so the other candidates have all fallen short.


Where I work now there is no dress code, jeans are okay, but no one wears shorts.  I've been trying to lower the bar for years, but when I wear a sweatshirt I look and feel like a slob compared to everyone else.

The guy I know that works at this other company says they wear shorts and t-shirts, in fact on Wednesdays in the summer he wears what he's going to be wearing to his basketball game.  Sweat shorts and his team’s t-shirt which is a 5 dollar fruit of the loom with a cheap iron on logo on it.  This guy isn't a slacker or a slob, he says the office is just that casual.

My gut was telling me I should wear a suit, I was just hoping something had changed in the last 7 years.


I hate wearing a suit.  The only time I wear a suit is for weddings and funerals, so I only buy dark dual purpose suits. In fact I really only have one suit. I didn't plan on looking for a job or going on interviews so I'm stuck.  there isn't enough time to buy a light suit coat and have it tailored before the interview.

[boykster]

If in doubt, put on the suit.  Another approach is a sports jacket and slacks, with a shirt you can go with tie or without tie.  Interview 1 I tend to go with a suit, but interview 2 I'll go slacks with sport coat, dress shirt but no tie.  Shows a bit of confidence IMHO.

You'll never (or very rarely) NOT get the job due to overdressing

[Jdurg]

Wearing a suit to the interview shows that you have a great deal of respect for the company interviewing you and that you're willing to dress nicely regardless of how uncomfortable it makes you feel.  First impressions can't be re-done, so it is always a better idea to wear a suit for the interview and then whatever they wear the rest of your time there than it is to not wear a suit for the interview and never work there. 

At my current job, when I was called to set up the interview it was only a few days before the actual interview.  I had not suit.  The night before the interview I raced down to the local mall, went to Men's Wearhouse and had them fit me for a suit that night.  I spent a good $500 on the suit but it was worth it.  I showed up for the interview in the suit, and even though the people interviewing me weren't wearing suits, I felt as though my good dress and good presentation showed them that I really cared for the job.  I was hired and have been working at the company ever since.  Have I worn the suit since then?  Nope.  There may be occasions where I'll probably wear it, but my day-to-day attire is business casual which is just dress pants and a button up shirt.  When I have to go to our NY Office to present or hold a meeting (Like I did today), I'll add a tie to my business casual attire, but not the suit.

Still, I think wearing the suit to the interview was a good idea and I'm glad I did it.  I would have much rather worn the suit and if I didn't get the job be able to think that it was something else, than to not wear the suit and wonder if my dress for the interview is what made them pass me by.

[ChadTower]

Maybe this will help as well... when I am interviewing someone, if I have to look at their clothes as a potential reason to hire or not hire them, they haven't done enough to make me want to hire them.  At best they get tossed in the maybe pile.

Most good candidates skip right over the maybe pile.

[shmokes]

I vote for suit for a combination of what Chad says, and what everyone else says.  A suit makes me perform better.  I make a better impression in a suit, not just cos I look great, but because I sound great.  Dunno . . . I don't feel uncomfortable in a suit, though.  I feel like a pimp.  So maybe this doesn't hold for everyone, but I suspect the majority of people put in a better performance when they're decked out.

[Singapura]

I interviewed lots of people and although ability comes first, there's only one first impression. Here in Singapore it's quite unusual to wear a tie, even in a bank, but in an interview I really expect a suit and tie from a candidate (along with polished shoes). If you feel uncomfortable in a suit just start wearing one more often until you do feel comfortable. I hated it when I started this job but now I see it as work clothes. When going on an interview you'll want to shine and a suit can give you more confidence. Always dress for the job you want, never for the job you have 

[Guaranos]

Unless the interviewer or the recruiter tells you not to wear a suit, wear a suit.  It doesn't matter if the person interviewing you is in a bathrobe, you're supposed to be putting your best foot forward.

[Dartful Dodger]

I bought a light suit coat and pants for under 500, I'll be picking it up later this afternoon and putting it on just before the interview.

I'm hoping my usual Murphy's law luck doesn't come into play, because of the bad timing so many things can go wrong.

This is my first interview in a while and like shopping for a house I'll probably go on a lot more so I’ll get my money’s worth out of this suit.

Thanks guys.

[ark_ader]

Let us not forget proper grooming.  Nails trimmed, hair within keeping.

Who cares what you look like after you land the job, but suit with wild greasy hair and dirty or chewed nails would tell me something about you.

I always like to go out in business casual, with Shirt and a little crazy tie.  That way its a great conversation opener.  " Hey I like your tie...." 

Take the time to go to a hair stylist and have a manicure.  Its not a girly thing and feels great after you had one.  If it is a woman interviewer, she will look at your hands and form an opinion.

It sounds odd, but its true. 

 

[ChadTower]

Let us not forget proper grooming.  Nails trimmed, hair within keeping.

It wasn't forgotten, I specifically mentioned it up near the top of the thread.

[shardian]

I know quite a few completely straight guys who take very good care of their nails. I don't think there is anything gay about a guy having properly trimmed nails. Me personally, I chew mine until they are stumps.

[Dartful Dodger]

Let us not forget proper grooming.  Nails trimmed, hair within keeping.

I gave myself 40 minutes to get to the interview which was 20 minutes away.

There was a long stretch of country road with 4 lanes of traffic.  I got pulled over for speeding.  I was going 50, and I pulled over by a 45mph sign.

I was told the speed limit was 35 by the hill he clocked me at.  WTF!

I got to the interview 3 minutes late.  The receptionist said he would be a few minutes and if I want to use the rest room it was down the hall.

SOMETIMES I'm think as a brick.  I was late so I just wanted to get to the interview.  After the interview I did have to go.  It was really windy and I am two weeks over due for a haircut.  I couldn't believe how crazy my hair was.  I figured the interview was like that stain super bowl commercial.  My talking being drowned out by my hair going BLAH! BLAH! BLAH!

The thing with me and my Murphy's law luck.  It's never the obvious that goes wrong. It's always something obscure and comical(at my expense).

the interview was last night and the guy I talked to already contacted me telling me he enjoyed the interview and that it was in the hands of the HR department.



I do all my web surfing at work.

If I get this job I won’t be as active here as I am.  Plus I won’t be upset with work so I won't be taking my frustrations out on the weaker minds on this board.  So if/when I do log in it will only be talking about arcade things.

I'm already getting that "happy thoughts" feeling.  If this one doesn't pan out I'll find another one.

[ChadTower]

Now send him an email thanking him for his time and offering to provide any more information that he may want to make his decision. 

[Dartful Dodger]

Now send him an email thanking him for his time and offering to provide any more information that he may want to make his decision. 

I did right after the interview.  He replied with the "I also enjoyed the interview..." 

That's why I'm getting positive vibes about this.

this job is a step up in all directions from my current job.

[ark_ader]

Since I think it's safe to derail this thread now...

Take the time to go to a hair stylist and have a manicure.  Its not a girly thing and feels great after you had one.  If it is a woman interviewer, she will look at your hands and form an opinion.

I'd check the laws in your specific state before I did that.  Last I checked, homosexuality was not a protected minority status in Texas and you could legally NOT hire anyone that was gay, solely for that expressed reason.   

I'm very happy to let some nice lady rub and give a my hands a massage for $25.00 It doesn't mean that I'm homosexual, or a fancy boy.  My problem is my hands get so cramped and dry after counting all that money I make every day, that I have to get treatment for them.   

If you take more time to look after yourself, with face scrubs, creams and lotions, you can look younger and less stressed.  Oh and quit smoking too.  You don't need it.

Over to you Chadtower for a witty comment after the break.

[ChadTower]

Over to you Chadtower for a witty comment after the break.

Thanks, ark_ader.  Word down here on the sideline is that what makes you gay is that you're paying a woman to rub your hands.  Coaches aren't sure if you'll be able to return to the game after taking a shot like that but they haven't ruled you out completely just yet.  They're sending you back to the locker room now for a testosterone injection and make a final call after seeing how you respond. 

[Jdurg]

Over to you Chadtower for a witty comment after the break.

Thanks, ark_ader.  Word down here on the sideline is that what makes you gay is that you're paying a woman to rub your hands.  Coaches aren't sure if you'll be able to return to the game after taking a shot like that but they haven't ruled you out completely just yet.  They're sending you back to the locker room now for a testosterone injection and make a final call after seeing how you respond. 

Just make sure the testosterone isn't coming from a meat needle.   

[ark_ader]

Over to you Chadtower for a witty comment after the break.

Thanks, ark_ader.  Word down here on the sideline is that what makes you gay is that you're paying a woman to rub your hands.  Coaches aren't sure if you'll be able to return to the game after taking a shot like that but they haven't ruled you out completely just yet.  They're sending you back to the locker room now for a testosterone injection and make a final call after seeing how you respond. 

Just make sure the testosterone isn't coming from a meat needle.   

No its back to the manicurist for a happy ending. 

[urbecrisch]

Wear this and go as "Blinky" from Pacman

[Havok]

I didn't want to say anything, but I got the job. Sorry man...