[Closed] Interview attire

No one ever got turned down for being too smart.
Suit, boot and tie!

Shirt, tie and shoes. No need for a jacket. As above, better to go too smart.

+1 for suit, boot and tie.

You can always take the jacket off when you get there. Got past the 'it doesn't matter what you're wearing it's how you interview' mindset a long time ago. You don't generally get the chance to come back from walking in looking less smart than your interviewers!

As above - in (almost) any situation, it's better to feel over-dressed, than under-...

I shall be suited and booted for mine tomorrow even though I know that most will work in shirt / polo shirt and trousers some ties and very few suits. Mind I do know that all my opponents will be suited and booted too.

So you asked, they said no suit, and almost everyone seems to be recommending a suit..??? I'd go with your original shoes/kex/shirt thought.

I long for the day when what comes out of your brain via your mouth is more important than what you're wearing. In the (admittedly maverick) office where I work, we have a theory that ability is often inversely proportional to the cost of your clobber.

You would look silly if you turned up and "they" all had suits on and you didn't.

Wear a suit, no tie.

Make sure you have a pen, very important.When they ask you to fill out a form and then you ask for a pen, DOH!!!!

I long for the day when what comes out of your brain via your mouth is more important than what you're wearing.

Have you got some sort of smart non-suit coat? Nice middle ground if you do.

suit, no tie +1.

I'd normally say suit, whatever. But if they specifically said not to, you want to show you can follow instructions.

Hang on... When you asked about the suit, was that for everyday work, or for the interview? Some folks think it was specific for the interview but that's not the impression I get?

What is the percentage split between verbal/non-verbal communication?

74/26? Rough guess with absolutely no thought whatsoever gone in to it whatsoever. Just some random numbers. What do you think?

trousers, shoes, shirt and a nice jumper.

oneoneoneone - Member

trousers, shoes, shirt and a nice jumper

Yaaay! Everyone loves a nice jumper. I'd second a nice jumper.

Suit and boot ...where is the problem if you do?

I wore a suit to my last interview, now Ive got the job i'll turn up in shorts on a nice day, spare trousers in the car in case of a meeting.

A suit lets them know you're taking it seriously.

I think thats my first ever double post, Yay!

A nice cream coloured linen suit, blue linen shirt and a navy/cream striped tie would be casual enough. Also, if you get there, and it all seems even more casual, you can whip the tie off and look quite raffish.

Don't forget to spread your legs, hands behind the head and show them who's the silverback in the room (particularly if there's a lady on the interview panel). Also, wear a heavily musky fragrance.

Suit and no tie +1.

A shirt and tie without jacket just looks IT or office junior. Suit no tie looks smarter, sharper AND more relaxed.

Personally I would go for a plain grey or blue suit and quality white shirt.

Oh, also... How good do you feel in a suit? Me, I've got one good suit, and when I put it on I feel ready to smash some interviews. In my old, crap suit, I felt like it was school photo day, and interviews were duly not smashed.

Verbal vs Non Verbal - something like 20/80 iirc 😯

Probably explains a lot of the bollox on here!

In the (admittedly maverick) office where I work, we have a theory that ability is often inversely proportional to the cost of your clobber.

STWers in inverted snobbery shocka!

Would it be too far out of line to suggest something you'll be comfortable in too?
If you're not used to wearing a suit, it could be an unnecessary distraction.

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at least you'll be remembered

Nobody I know wears a tie to work anymore, Most even only have to wear a suit for meetings these days.

I never really wear a tie, but I would for the interview. Personally I'd go in either a suit or good trousers & blazer. Tan shoes. Either of those would be fine open neck if you were overly smart and took off your tie. Hopefully you'll be judged more on competence, but you want to look smart.

Tan shoes.

Black shoes for the interview. Tan for the wedding. 🙂

Always a tie, you can take it off if you look conspicuously over dressed. Frickin' hate the non tie bollocks. If your here to impress/sell something have the decency to take it seriously. Not as though you've finished work for the day and are about to sit down for a chat and a pint.

No one ever got turned down for being too smart.

Not true, some times a suit can be the wrong choice.

Depends on the industry and company ethos.

I don't know about anyone else but I need to know more about this admittedly maverick office.

@OP, charcoal suit, white shirt, red tie, black shoes.

deadlydarcy - Member
A nice cream coloured linen suit, blue linen shirt and a navy/cream striped tie would be casual enough. Also, if you get there, and it all seems even more casual, you can whip the tie off and look quite raffish.

Don't forget to spread your legs, hands behind the head and show them who's the silverback in the room (particularly if there's a lady on the interview panel). Also, wear a heavily musky fragrance.

And then nip off for a spot of light breakfast.
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Always always always a suit for job interviews, no exceptions. That includs a tie for men. I don't think anyone ever failed a job interview for making too much effort, although I imagine Northwind has a story up his sleeve about that...

I used to interview people regularly, and being underprepared in any way was always an immediate fail, no do-overs.

The dress code for a place of employment is wholly unrelated to the dress code for an interview. If you were going for a job as a plasterer, would you attend the interview in overalls?

Wear a suit. If you're [i]really[/i] against this, ditch the jacket, but I'd advise against it. If they query your attire after you'd asked them about it then reply along the lines of "I know you said it didn't matter but I wanted to make an effort."

Wear a tie. Nothing screams "I don't give a crap about you or your poxy job" louder than an open-necked shirt in an interview. The one and only exception to wearing a tie is if you're wearing boobs instead.

There is another exception to the tie rule, if the only tie you own sports a picture of Homer Simpson, or some other cartoon character.

i always wear a suit for interviews.

how ever - id rather go to an interview in a shirt trousers and tie than an ill fitting suit jacket.

Polish your goddam shoes !

my suit needs replaced - how ever it is the season of the wedding so i replaced it with a kilt and a tweed jacket , i wouldnt recomend that for an interview

The one and only exception to wearing a tie is if you're wearing boobs instead.

Sure?

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You'd be memorable, at least.

I think it depends on the Company and the industry.
I work in the Fashion Industry and whenever someone turned up for interview in a suit they would not be offered the vacancy based on the fact that they would not fit in with company culture (unless it was for a job in finance / credit control 😀

You work for idiots.

Sure?

Wearing them, not acting like one.

Wear the attire you normally wear for interview - probably a suit and tie - and polish your black shoes.

Unfortunately people will form a first impression from when they first see you (if they haven't already googled your name and found some details about you online) and so you want to look smart but as bland/normal as possible so they don't have anything unusual to base an opinion on.

geoffj - Member

In the (admittedly maverick) office where I work, we have a theory that ability is often inversely proportional to the cost of your clobber.

STWers in inverted snobbery shocka!

It ain't snobbery, it's based on empirical observation...

Some of the smartest minds (and it also has to be said some of the wealthiest people) I've ever had the fortune to work alongside wouldn't touch a suit - or anyone in one - with a barge pole. YMMV.

onehundredthidiot - Member
Always a tie, you can take it off if you look conspicuously over dressed. Frickin' hate the non tie bollocks. If your here to impress/sell something have the decency to take it seriously. Not as though you've finished work for the day and are about to sit down for a chat and a pint.

Why do you need a piece of useless string round your neck to be "decent" and "take things seriously"? We're one of the few countries that still cling to the archaic importance of ties. But that seems to be dying out, and not a moment too soon.

The place I work isn't a suit and tie place but I know they would think it weird if someone turned up for an interview without.

In fact my manager was interviewing someone a couple of weeks ago and said to me after "he didn't even bother dressing smart". Turned out that HR had advised the candidate he didn't need to but had not told my manager this! Better safe than sorry!

Why do you need a piece of useless string round your neck to be "decent" and "take things seriously"?

Suit, tie, clean your shoes, shave (or at least trim the beard if you're a rigid SS rider). Obviously if the job is as a swimming pool attendant and they asked you to come dressed to swim, that might not get you the job but I've never known someone not get a job because they dressed smartly. Coming in dressed like a sack of shit with string around the middle has certainly lowered chances at jobs.

If you're shit hot and can demonstrate it quickly, go in speedos and flipflops. Otherwise suit.

CFH, is that you? It's how I imagine you, though you';re shorter.

No harm in being smart but the first thing I like to do in an interview after walking in, shaking hands etc. is take off the jacket and roll up my shirtsleeves.

Having established "yes, I own a suit" moving on quickly to "I also know how to cut the ****, now lets get on with it".

But then I'm an engineer...at my current job the interview was mostly conducted at the pub down the road...

it's a "demonstration" of you ability to pay attention to "detail".

Is it? I don't know what line of work you're in, but a tie wouldn't do that in my world.

Well, I think it's a question of manners as much as anything. If you don't wear one you risk being under-dressed, a much worse faux pas and potentially an insult to the interviewers than being overdressed.

Not wearing a suit shows that you are only prepared to maintain the minimum standard you can get away with.

Wearing a suit when it is maybe (but you don't know for sure) not required shows that you like to present yourself well and maintain a high standard, and that you actually own a suit.

And anyways, is there an HR bod at the interview ? You can generally rely on them to be suited up.

Why do you need a piece of useless string round your neck to be "decent" and "take things seriously"? We're one of the few countries that still cling to the archaic importance of ties. But that seems to be dying out, and not a moment too soon.

Not in the slightest, the difference in this country, as opposed to France, Italy etc is that British men more often look uncomfortable in a suit because they haven't been taught how to buy and wear one and subsequently go on to adolescently ridicule the idea.

Also, seeing someone wear a suit without a tie just screams, 'middle management relaxing down Wetherspoons on a Friday afternoon' (unless of course it's a cream linen suit, but those people are just s##t bags anyway).

elliptic - Member
take off the jacket and roll up my shirtsleeves = "I also know how to cut the ****, now lets get on with it".

Have you been on "the Apprentice?"

Please, please don't wear a shirt and tie without a jacket/suit. This is smart for people who don't own a suit. As echoed above, I would wear a full suit and tie but if anything goes it is the tie. A good suit and smart, open neck shirt is good business dress in a more casual role.

@zimbo come on I know you're dying to tell us about your [i]maverick world[/i] - spill the beans then 🙂

No harm in being smart but the first thing I like to do in an interview after walking in, shaking hands etc. is take off the jacket and [b]roll up my shirtsleeves[/b].

@zimbo come on I know you're dying to tell us about your maverick world

No I'm not.

Some of the smartest minds (and it also has to be said some of the wealthiest people) I've ever had the fortune to work alongside wouldn't touch a suit - or anyone in one - with a barge pole. YMMV.

Have you been working for Hank Scorpio?

Gunz - Member

Not in the slightest, the difference in this country, as opposed to France, Italy etc is that British men more often look uncomfortable in a suit because they haven't been taught how to buy and wear one and subsequently go on to adolescently ridicule the idea.

Aye. So last time I needed one, I took myself out of the equation and got a gay italian man to choose one for me. Highly recommended.