Attire for all-day job interview

Our shop is like that, with the lax dress code. I am in favor of the better dressed man, and try to dress well on principle. But it is nice to be able to wear jeans if you're in the mood.

And Method, the right shirt and tie can make you look far better than a great shirt alone. But as you said, if you don't have a great shirt/tie combination, wearing one for the sake of wearing one looks forced.

 

I see what you're saying with the tie, but we had a guy interview a while back wearing an actual suit, with a tie. He just looked unnatural and out of place. I wasn't part of the hiring process, but I remember thinking, "This guy is taking himself too seriously, like a business major applying for his first pencil-pushing gig." Obviously, it's extremely subjective, so that's just my feeling. Oh, and the guy didn't get hired, although I think that was mostly because he had no talent.

 

Yeah, when it comes down to it, as good as you may look, it only creates a good/great first impression. You have to actually be good/great to get the job.

 

Office dress code and interview dress code are two separate animals. You're spot on, Shifty, about the overdressing/underdressing part. Here's what I did my last all-day interview: lightweight summer suit, freshly shined shoes, shirt and tie. Follow your interviewer's lead. They took me out to lunch and took off their suit jackets or sports coats, and so did I. But we put them back on for meet and greet around the building.

If you don't have a lightweight summer suit, go with a dressy sports coat (blue blazer, dark grey slacks), shirt and tie. And make sure your suit fits you. Nothing looks worse than squeezing into a suit that is a size or two too small. FYI, blue blazer is the best clothing investment you can make. Looks good with everything, to dress up or dress down.

And good luck. Remember the old line about first impressions. It's true.

 

Ordinarily I'd say go with the suit.

I always do, even when it's hot. Sorry, it's just the professional, courteous, old-school thing to do.

But times have changed. You whippersnappers are rewriting the rulZ. Sportschick has good info. A LOT depends on where it is. West coast is a lot different than east coast. SoCal is a lot different than NoCal. Pacific Northwest is different still.

I had a guy come in in polo shirt and slacks, and I hired him. Go figure.

 

What he said.

It's like the rule with snow skiing: If you overdress, you can adjust. If you underdress, you can't.

If you get there and realize the suit is too stuffy, you can take off the jacket, take off the tie, unbutton your collar and roll up your sleeves. Plus, there are some people who will see you without a suit and immediately determine that you are not taking the interview seriously. Absolutely no reason to take that risk.

 

I'd go with the suit, you can always take the jacket off and loosen the tie at the end of the day.

At the least, nice shirt and tie.

 

And don't forget to check yourself in the mirror. I interviewed a job candidate who forgot to button down one side of his collar. I couldn't take my eyes off of it.
He didn't get hired cuz he was no good, but the collar didn't help.

 

Shirt and tie at the very least.
If it was me, I'd wear a coat and tie.

 

Damn. We just had a job candidate in Monday, and I didn't check to see if his shoes were polished.

 

My running joke about my shop is, "we expect people to wear clothes." I won't bat an eye if someone's wearing shorts or flip flops in the office. If you're going out to cover a story and/or meeting a contact, then I expect at least business casual dress.

For a job interview, I would at the very least do a dress shirt with tie, dress slacks, belt and a nice pair of polished shoes. I wore a suit jacket when I interviewed for my current job, but I was interviewing for a management position.

The way I see it, you can't go wrong at least wearing a shirt and tie. You might score more points with a jacket. If you get the job and you find out they have a casual dress code, THAT's when you break out the shorts or the polo shirt or whatever's the norm. Otherwise, dress professionally. I know I notice when a guy doesn't wear a tie.

 

I used to do this before I read in Esquire (hi Jones) never, ever do it. My wife can't figure out why I follow that directive but not others. Which is a good question.