[Closed] job interview, fashion conundrum.

if its a job in IT, the fact you havent spilt your breakfast down your t-shirt should be a head start.

No not brown shoes with black trousers,and wear a tie with a proper Windsor knot !

Never ever wear brown shoes with black trousers.

Wear the brown trousers and try and find a tie.

I recently was "apparently" turned down for a position due to not wearing a suit. Find out what they where and dress the same.

It has to be said, not wearing a suit to an interview is pretty bad form.

I've got nothing to suggest other than .......... beware of the fashion faux pas.

Creating the right impression is [i]so[/i] important.

See if you can pick up any tips from this clip :

[url=

Robin Hood - Men In White Suits[/url]

If you do wear a suit and tie try not to wear it like a footballer !

Roger Moore style safari suit?

Find out what they where and dress the same.

What level IT job? There's a world of difference between a junior programmer and a senior manager...

Assuming it's the former, I'd risk a short sleeve shirt. As long as a) no logos, b) it's ironed and c) no tie. Particuarly no tie.

Black shoes, dark trousers, everything clean and ironed, no earrings, shaved and neatish hair.

I would always wear a suit to any job interview. White shirt, look sharp. Forget about what other people are wearing, they already have a job!

I interviewed someone last week for a job and they turned up in a a very smart suit and a pair of Reebok Classics.

The perils of interviewing in Liverpool.

Don't be like The Special One! Do your tie up.

I have my own business cleaning bus shelters for councils which is a dirty shitty job but on the first visit to meet a client at their office it's always collar tie and jacket.First impressions always count even if the next time they meet me I am in hi vis and filthy.

Christ don't wear a short sleeve shirt

It's IT. I wouldn't have any problem hiring someone who turned up for a junior position in a neat short sleeve shirt and dress trousers.

Assuming no tie, of course: that's for bus drivers.

Surely if it's a job in IT it is de rigeur to wear a comedy tie 😉

Juan - you have disappointed me! Every man should own at least one beautifully fitting suit - obviously shirt, tie and shoes must be tastefully co-ordinated and spotlessly clean.

Bon chance. 😀

I'm with Frank on this one. but this being the south of France, I guess the suit should really be Linen 😉

and I'm in IT by the way. No comedy ties here

Even if you never wear the suit for the actual day to job, you have it for other interviews, weddings, christenings, funerals etc. Doesn't have to be expensive either

and yeah, brown shoes should ONLY be worn with a brown suit. But whatever the colour, they should be freshly polished

Considering m and s will fit you up with a linen suit for less than 100 which would do the job i would head down that route.
Failing that, john lewis do a machine washable lightweight beige suit which would be smart for 160.
Perfectly adequate for the job.

Simple tie, and shirt sorted.

meh, I was turned down for a job as I *was* wearing a suit once. 😕

But Juan is in the South of France!

Avoid linen - too lounge-lizard like. 😯 Bryan Ferry wouldn't wear one and he's the original lounge-lizard! But he looks fab in a dark suit. 8)

Dear sweet Jesus.
Juan, you are French, yes?
Why on gods earth are you asking these knuckle dragging morons about an issue of style?
If I were Mr Sarkozy id kick you out of the country a tout vitesse...

A suit is an essential item in a man's wardrobe. I'm shocked that some of you don't possess one!

crikey - yes, I agree with your comments. Juan would look lovely in a suit, just don't go for a pink shirt. 😉

Avoid linen - too lounge-lizard like

B***s to that, I looked [b]f***g hot[/b] in my cream linen suit today!

Pics please. 😉

It was 32C here today, anyone would look hot in a suit and tie today 🙂

[i]A suit is an essential item in a man's wardrobe.[/i]

I concur. I have 3 or 4. Don't wear them very often but mrs_drummer says I scrub up ok

mogrim - fair enough!

john_drummer - listen to your good lady then. 🙂

3 or 4? They'll be the winter ones, then. How many for summer?

summer? in Yorkshire? heh heh

I don't wear a suit to interviews. TBH I hate the things, they make me feel like I've been dressed by my mum for the school photo, and that's the last thing you need in your head at an interview. You should be smart, sure, but comfortable and confident. There's also an argument that if 10 identi-candidates in identi-cheap job-interview-suits turn up for an interview, the one who turns up looking more comfortable and like he's got an independant thought in his head might stand out. Possibly in a bad way, possibly in a good.

It does depend if you're applying for a "suited" position, if you want to be a merchant banker or an undertaker or a hitman or something. But I'd say myself that if the role's never going to see you in a suit, you shouldn't feel the interview needs to either.

Of course, I have a s**t job so what do I know?

i haven't owned a suit since 1990

i only own one tie which i keep purely for sentimental reasons and own only jeans - no trousers

yet i've been a director of a plc, and done some high profile work stuff around the world

maybe looking like everyone else is useful in some settings but i can't see the point personally

[i]maybe looking like everyone else is useful in some settings but i can't see the point personally[/i]

get rid of the jeans then 😉

I have no denim in my wardrobe, haven't had since 1983.

yes, that's right - no jeans (well, not denim ones anyway) - my legs don't suit blue jeans

I agree with the above, it's a job in IT.

If you turn up roughly around the right time, and most of your hairy bits below the neck are covered up, that'll do.

As I say, it's IT, what you can do is a million times more important than what you look like. It's not like you're going for a sales or marketing job where the reverse is important.

my legs don't suit blue jeans

explain?

There's also an argument that if 10 identi-candidates in identi-cheap job-interview-suits turn up for an interview, the one who turns up looking more comfortable and like he's got an independant thought in his head might stand out.

Faded Red Dwarf T shirt

short sleeve shirt and tie - just don't please.

long sleeves with tie
short sleeve open necked.

white short sleeved shirt, blue tooth earphone, tie, oakleys, white socks and slip-ons - someone who reads this will be dressed in such a manner....

short sleeve shirt and tie - just don't please.

long sleeves with tie
short sleeve open necked.

Juan - really - you think you will get good advice from here?

Brown shoes are for the country and never to be worn with black trousers.

Short sleeved shirts with collars are never to be worn. Ever. Just wrong.

Tuck your shirt in always.

If you think clarkson might like the outfit it is wrong.

Chinos / polo shirt?

Linen suit?

Myself I would always wear a dark suit / white shirt / plain tie to an interview

cinnamon_girl - Member

Every man should own at least one beautifully fitting suit - obviously shirt, tie and shoes must be tastefully co-ordinated and spotlessly clean.

You must be sooooooooo disappointed by 95% of the male population then - and about 99% of the posters on this forum!

Well whenever I've done an interviews I've not been bothered if the wore a suit or not. If they were smart and well presented yes but not just those in a suit. A shirt and tie yes maybe a minimum.

Well suit is a definite no no. Nothing actually fits me :(. Plus I really feel ridiculous in it and I am self-concious enough.

It will be short sleeved white shirt no tie. First because I have bought one on purpose for the interview. Second because it's averaging 30 C around here.

The brown trouser is a bit more modern than the black one. But to were the black one I will have to buy shoes, and I can't really afford it at the moment.

As I said looking to the jury for dress code is a very bad idea. Academics have an horrible sense of fashion...

CG, well I am just not manly then 🙁

I inteview a heck of a lot of people and don't understand why you wouldn't wear a suit to an interview. In fact, I would rather see a suit and no tie than a tie but no suit.

And if you must wear what you've got, go for the brown trousers and shoes with a short sleeved shirt. Leave the tie at home but make sure the shoes are polished and the shirt and trousers are ironed.

To those who say a suit is essential do you apply this rule to women too?

I don't really understand the UK obsession with suits, a lot of other countries manage to go to work without them to no detrimental effect.

Short sleeved shirts should't even be made in my opinion. I work in a hospital, and there is a "bare below the elbow policy". You would think this wold encourage the wear of them, but no. They are truely shocking, long sleeve shirts all the way (rolled up in this case).

Wear a suit and tie. If you havent got one, and dont want to buy one, then trousers, shirt and tie.

I'd rather interview someone who looked acceptably smart but cool in a short sleeved shirt than someone who looked really smart in a nice suit and tie but was sweating buckets. And as Juan says, it's rather warm there.

I for one can't wear a tie for very long, I start getting hot and sticky, feels like someone is trying to strangle me, I'm quite happy that the accepted norm now for professional working men appears to be a suit with an open necked shirt, I can live with that. Short sleeves at the moment.

I've never had a job that required wearing a suit, but I always wear one for interviews. I agree with what Northwind said up to a point, but I think it's about showing you're taking it seriously and making an effort. And a suit is always worth owning.

Blimey a lot of 80's office workers post on here.

Well I was an office worker in the late 80s. Still am, I just happen to be in IT

I don't wear a suit to work these days unless meeting customers/suppliers/bigwigs from head office
But I always wear a suit to interviews - although the last one was almost 10 years ago. Must have helped, I got the job

Blue jeans don't suit me - short chunky legs - but black jeans are fine, just not at work

I don't think it is being an "80's office worker" or even being slightly stuck up, though i do accept that what people wear in the South of France may be slightly different to the UK.

It is an interview so you dress up for it, rightly or wrongly for men that means a suit. I rarely where a suit for work but I would always wear one for interview, it shows you're making an effort, it shows you care about your appearance and it shows you respect the people interviewing you. You may not agree that this should be the case but unfortunately it is in most industries in the UK.

Think of it like this, I have never known anyone not get a job by wearing a suit, but i have known people not get a job by not wearing a suit.

But again, please don't wear brown shoes and black trousers, and please don't wear a shirt with a short sleeved shirt.

Nothing wrong with short sleeves and a tie in IT.
[img] [/img]

So who got the job? Juan or Bryan Ferry?

Well you'll have to wait next week dez 😉

I don't think you can go wrong wearing a sober suit, white shirt, black shoes and a cheerful tie. If it turns out less formal, whip off the jacket and tie and roll up sleeves, the "let's get down to business" look.

Brown shoes and black suit CAN really work- depends on the fabric and style.

I have a grey suit (semi-casual) with tan brogues and a crisp white shirt for preferred formal meetings etc.

If I went to work in a bank or sales I'd wear my black suit and black shoes. It'd be the wrong job for me though.

[i]Think of it like this, I have never known anyone not get a job by wearing a suit, but i have known people not get a job by not wearing a suit.[/i]

What a hammering I'd get for that.

[b]Please State reason/s why this person should not be appointed:[/b] They weren't wearing a suit. 🙄

hora - Member

Brown shoes and black suit CAN really work- depends on the fabric and style.

Nope - never ever ever

I have a grey suit (semi-casual) with tan brogues and a crisp white shirt for preferred formal meetings etc.

Dreadful sounding outfit.

Brown shoes are for the country.

All the buttons on the suit are tan. No idea on the brand, bought it from Flannels- Italian or summit.

Tj I have seen you in the flesh and I have seen how you dress, hope you don't mind, but I won't take your advices as carved in stone 😉

Juan, you're french, and you're asking the english for fashion advice. You fail the interview on poor judgement regardless of what you wear.

va va voom. All you need.

TooTall - Member

[/i]You must be sooooooooo disappointed by 95% of the male population then - and about 99% of the posters on this forum! [i]

Nah, that 5% just know how to cut it and leave the others looking like bridesmaids. 😉

Actually I don't think I would recognise anyone from here in a suit. 😯

But, seriously, a suit says so much about a man. My son is learning but at 6'4" and slim, he would look good in a bin bag!

Juan - of course you will look good in a suit. You're slim enough but for goodness sake just don't think about a pink shirt/tie combo. Go for blue to match your eyes. 😉

Went for my first proper Planning interview yesterday, looked out my only suit (Gunmetal grey, faint grey pin stripe) white shirt, grey/black diagonal stripe tie and black shoes.
Was interviewed by 2 guys wearing open collared patterned shirts and black pants, no ties.
I felt making the effort paid off as although they were less formally dressed, one made a comment that perhaps I was dressed more suitably to lead the interview!

On the other side of the coin - I turned up for an interview for a job as a Rip Curl (surf brand) rep dressed in quite expensive smart casual (good shirt and trousers, smart brown shoes) - I got the job but got mercilessly ripped for my public school look for many months - they all wore jeans/boardshorts and T shirts!

Maybe it's just weddings and funerals that people wear a suit too but, wait, the last funeral I went to a bloke was wearing an England football shirt. That was the height of bad taste. 😯

Just feel it's rather sad when people don't make an effort.

grey suit and brown shoes works well - if you're brave you can do black suit, black shirt and brown shoes - yes it does work.

the secret is that it all has to be cut well and the shoes have to be new or as new, if they are tired or the suit is flabby looking then it won't work

Maybe its an age thing, but I wear a suit to work (might not wear a tie, depends) - and I've worked in IT for +25 years.

But at least when out with my various teams/staff at least the waiter knew who the boss was 😉

tbh - cheap badly fitted suits do look far worse than a smart shirt/trouser combo.

Ex-MIL use to say you can be underdressed, but never overdressed. She was right as while sometimes been overdressed can be 'testing', it will never be as embarrassing as been underdressed.

Will anyone on here be actually conducting/present at your interview? No.

It's your risk fella. So you are prepared to go to the south of France for an interview but not "splash" out on a long sleeve shirt and a pair of black shoes to match your black trousers. I would never wear brown trousers/shoes to an interview whether I was wearing a suit or not. I hate the whole suit paradigm but in a lot of cases you will be buggered without one at an interview. However France is a whole different world. My business experience of Europe is that they are not really fans of the British suit syndrome. Even so and knowing that I would not go to a sales meeting/interview (which is the very same thing) even in Europe in less than a suit unless I had previously met with the people and felt I knew the lay of the land.

Do you want the job or be considered as an independent individual who isn't going to get this job?

Don't forget to post when you are offered the job.

[i]Juan, you're french, and you're asking the english for fashion advice. You fail the interview on poor judgement regardless of what you wear.[/i]

But as mentioned, he works in IT. Fashion, despite him being French, is not his bag. It's probably quite natural for a Frenchman to ask English people about clothes since his countrymen will no doubt suggest a Kaftan and knee length boots or something.

and as a last thought. When has what you wear at a job interview ever had anything to do with "fashion"? Unless you are a catwalk model.

so which do you think looks better?

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

The French are hardly known for their sartorial grasp of casual wear - the evidence here suggests more formal and drop the tie.

It's in France, so a short sleeved check shirt (thin tie optional), yellow socks and boat shoes will be [i]de rigeur[/i].

To those who say a suit is essential do you apply this rule to women too?

Short skirts, stockings, high heels. End of story.

I don't really understand the UK obsession with suits, a lot of other countries manage to go to work without them to no detrimental effect.

Foreigners - what do they know?

Blimey Juan's got some competition, what with Bryan Ferry [i]and[/i] Thierry Henry going for the same job

Suit and open necked shirt >>> trousers shirt and tie imho. Although for an interview, I think a tie as well (but then i don't work in IT)

But what's the obsession with white shirts? Funerals and weddings only. Far better a pale (blue) shirt or a white shirt with a pattern of some sort.