Where are you at school? At my law school, we wear suits more than most.
Obviously, nearly ALL lawyers are wearing suits...at least at the firms around here...and the one's I will be working for in a year.
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Job Interview Monday... what to wear?
- Thread starter maestro55
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Obviously, nearly ALL lawyers are wearing suits...at least at the firms around here...and the one's I will be working for in a year.
Where are you at school? At my law school, we wear suits more than most.
Obviously, nearly ALL lawyers are wearing suits...at least at the firms around here...and the one's I will be working for in a year.
law firms in cali are more laxed, you can go b. casual if you don't have court or professional meeting.
This is actually been my experience as an interviewer. If someone walked in with a full on suit psychologically I'd give them points for cleaning up nicely but ding them for making me feel like I dress like crap. I try not to take this into account (unless they dressed like they didn't care) but how someone dresses does say a lot about them.
And yes, you can tell what a potential employer dress code is. Either ask (which shows foresight) or scout the location before hand if it isn't a secure facility. Even then you can watch the employees leave. Trust me, as an interviewer how you dress can make a difference. Especially when all the candidates were equally skilled and likable. Sad sometimes but hey, at the end of the day most interviewers just want to get back to getting their job done so they can get home on time.
I am going to assume you are a college student (please correct me if I am wrong)
Now I have a few question to ask about the interview.
Is this interview on campus/local or is it one where they are flying you out to their office?
Also is this you first interview?
Just kind of wondering. If it is on campus/local go all out and arrive early to see at least one if not 2 people go though and see what the ones doing the interview are wearing. Worse case you start removing items of clothing (jacket and tie are general going to be the items that will reduce you to a low enough leval to be safe no matter what they are wearing)
If they are flying out out some where I would say get over dressed if they do not tell you other wise and relax. They are paying good money to fly you for an onsite interview which means you are on the final list of candidates. Far as I can tell they are just trying to confirm if you are a good fit for the company .
Remember they are interested in you because they are taking time to interview you. Also do not forget about follow up. Get there business card. Email them a thank you and send them a thank you card. Your goal is to keep you name on there mind.
Now I have a few question to ask about the interview.
Is this interview on campus/local or is it one where they are flying you out to their office?
Also is this you first interview?
Just kind of wondering. If it is on campus/local go all out and arrive early to see at least one if not 2 people go though and see what the ones doing the interview are wearing. Worse case you start removing items of clothing (jacket and tie are general going to be the items that will reduce you to a low enough leval to be safe no matter what they are wearing)
If they are flying out out some where I would say get over dressed if they do not tell you other wise and relax. They are paying good money to fly you for an onsite interview which means you are on the final list of candidates. Far as I can tell they are just trying to confirm if you are a good fit for the company .
Remember they are interested in you because they are taking time to interview you. Also do not forget about follow up. Get there business card. Email them a thank you and send them a thank you card. Your goal is to keep you name on there mind.
I just had an interview today w/Raytheon... so I know what you are going thro. The IT dept there wears anything from a suit (for important meetings w/execs) to jeans 'n t-shirts. Personally, I dont like working in anything less than slacks and a polo (maybe jeans on a friday - but still a collared shirt).
A suit is always appropriate for an interview. And if you walk in and feel way over-dressed, simple remove your jacket. And, as far as the whole "wear a charcoal suit, white shirt, maroon tie, black belt, black socks, black shoes, etc", it just means dress professionally, but conservatively. Dont walk in with some wild pin-stripe suit (multi-color pin, and yes, Ive seen them). A modest and well-fitting suit can say a lot about you. And again... better to overdress than underdress.
Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
A suit is always appropriate for an interview. And if you walk in and feel way over-dressed, simple remove your jacket. And, as far as the whole "wear a charcoal suit, white shirt, maroon tie, black belt, black socks, black shoes, etc", it just means dress professionally, but conservatively. Dont walk in with some wild pin-stripe suit (multi-color pin, and yes, Ive seen them). A modest and well-fitting suit can say a lot about you. And again... better to overdress than underdress.
Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
For the interview for a somewhat paid internship position (which I got), I wore a jeans and a.. don't really know how you call that in English, it's like the shirt you have when you wear a suit, but black and a little more tight and stuff. I don't think it suits me but some others do.
The dress code here is casual. Wearing a suit here might have looked a bit odd. Also, pretty much everyone who works here is 20-30, so that might really affect the culture.
Oh, and I basically always wear a jeans + t-shirt.
The dress code here is casual. Wearing a suit here might have looked a bit odd. Also, pretty much everyone who works here is 20-30, so that might really affect the culture.
Oh, and I basically always wear a jeans + t-shirt.
To answer some questions and give some thoughts. I agree with the overdressing is better than underdressing but as pointed out by a couple of you a suit may be too generic and too often used. I agree on the other hand that since I am meeting with the owner of the company it might not be a bad idea. This isn't my first ever interview, but I have never worked outside of retail, in my last job interview I wore nice khakis and a button up shirt, it worked for the job I was applying for.
The job interview is at their office location, but it is local. Yes I am still a college student. I also have hung out with their IT manager at the local Linux Users Group meet-ups. I asked an instructor of mine who knows Micah (the IT manager) pretty well and he suggested that the best thing was not to wear a suit but rather slacks and a nice long-sleeve button-up shirt. I haven't made my final choice yet, seems the general idea here is to go with the suit.
edit: I am not for certain, but I honestly don't think the owner is going to be wearing a suit. I have gathered that is a very relaxed/casual person.
The job interview is at their office location, but it is local. Yes I am still a college student. I also have hung out with their IT manager at the local Linux Users Group meet-ups. I asked an instructor of mine who knows Micah (the IT manager) pretty well and he suggested that the best thing was not to wear a suit but rather slacks and a nice long-sleeve button-up shirt. I haven't made my final choice yet, seems the general idea here is to go with the suit.
edit: I am not for certain, but I honestly don't think the owner is going to be wearing a suit. I have gathered that is a very relaxed/casual person.
It sounds like your question is already answered. Ditch the suit, wear a button-up shirt and slacks.
Suit or no suit, you'll make an important first impression with your clothes. If you're wearing a suit, make sure it fits. Poor fitting or ratty suits look horrible and they say "I'm wearing a suit but I can't dress. I don't pay attention to details." Ties need to look sharp. Don't go for that funeral home director look.
Depending on what you're wearing, I'd go to the store and buy new clothes for your interview. They'll look crisp and new and it'll boost your confidence. Get a hair cut too.
Depending on what you're wearing, I'd go to the store and buy new clothes for your interview. They'll look crisp and new and it'll boost your confidence. Get a hair cut too.
When I did an on-campus job interview for an IT consulting firm (and, for that matter, just about every other interview I did) I wore my suit pants, a nice dress shirt (some shade of blue), my favourite tie, and my university leather jacket instead of the suit jacket. I felt it was effective as being one notch below the full-blown 3-piece suit, and appropriate for the type of work environment I was interviewing for (people generally dress "business casual").
by the sound of it it looks like your first "real" interview. The interviews for retail to me seem to be nothing more than making sure they are not hiring some whack job but some one who has qualifications.
Even though it was a retail position, by the very definition of an interview and the nature of the questions, while different than the kind of job I am interviewing for Monday, it still was a "real" interview.
I was basing that on my experience in god knows how many interviews I been though in college and HS. The one for retail while was an interview it not the same. It very different which is why I put it as a real interview.
I split them as profession interview (aka the one you are going on) and just pocket money interview. They may ask question that are alike but they very different beast.
You will see what I mean on Monday. Do not let me worry you. The more you go on the easier it will get. Just stay relax.
Oh good grief that reminds me I have one I am flying out for on Monday.....
Just be comfortable in whatever you plan to wear, but to my suggestion, wear gray polo shirt and black pants and of course don't forget the shiny black shoes.
Sweet, I'll have to make sure to check out a random lingerie shop in Dubai before my next interview. Thanks for the advice!