Buying a suit for interviews: OK to buy from banana republic?

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Never EVER wear a black suit for a job interview. I don't care what job it is.

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com

Read up. You have much to learn.

Please. Talk to a recruiter, they don't give a shit WHAT you wear as long as it's presentable and in-line with company expectations.

Grey/Black/Blue. You think wearing a black suit instead of charcoal grey is going to stop you from getting a job if you're adequately qualified?

Have you ever talked to one? I have been placed at 2 Fortune 20 companies and a large international i-bank (one of the top 10 banks in the world), by high-end recruiters. While all knew that I knew what I was doing, all reiterated that I shouldn't wear anything but a dark grey suit.

It shows a lot that you can dress correctly in the appropriate environments. Making good decisions about how to present yourself conveys correct impressions. You get one time only do make a first impression and adhering to the common acceptable practices of the situation.

Yeah I have. So you're telling me if you could (theoretically) bring another company 5m in revenues a year, they would NOT hire you because you wore a black suit instead of dark gray? Please. Stop now.

I would dare say that the following would more likely preclude you from employment

- poor social skills
- poor critical thinking skills
- saying something completely retarded
- being underqualified
- being an asshole
- not shaving
- being late
- eating like a pig
- nervous habits
- poor self confidence
- being overqualified

It depends, what's the competitive environment? How do I distinguish myself? Do I want to look out of place? Am I otherwise just as skilled as everybody else, but I walk in as the only person with a black suit?

There's a lot of questions there, one thing can differentiate you from the rest of that pack. If that one thing is a black suit and everybody *KNOWS* you aren't supposed to wear one, you end up looking like a dipshit.

Funny, how are you supposed to *know* you aren't supposed to wear one when everybody is wearing a black suit to work?

Anyway, I see your point, however I will contend that your interview skills and qualifications far out weigh the color of your suit, provided of course that the person still dressed appropriately.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
Funny, how are you supposed to *know* you aren't supposed to wear one when everybody is wearing a black suit to work?

Anyway, I see your point, however I will contend that your interview skills and qualifications far out weigh the color of your suit, provided of course that the person still dressed appropriately.

Wearing one at work, after you get the job, is completely different. I wear my black suit often at work, but would I ever wear one to an interview? Hell no. I wear my black suit to dinners, conventions, client meetings, due diligence events. But would I wear it to an interview? Hell no.

As 3cho said, even when you go to an interview and everybody is wearing regular button-down shirts, does that mean you should wear button down shirts only to an interview? During my first professional job interview my future boss was wearing a golf shirt and tennis shoes because he was going golfing later. He was a capital markets/securitization guy and an awesome boss, but was a bit unconventional (didn't even own a suit). But that doesn't mean I was just like him. He had his licks in the game, he earned his ability to be odd. However, that doesn't mean I did.

If you're odd, you're out. Nobody wants to see your foibles on the first impression. It sets you out from the pack and make it's all that much harder to get the job.

Yes, I would say that your skills do outweigh your suit choice. However, it's one more hurdle you have to get over if you want the job. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
Funny, how are you supposed to *know* you aren't supposed to wear one when everybody is wearing a black suit to work?

Anyway, I see your point, however I will contend that your interview skills and qualifications far out weigh the color of your suit, provided of course that the person still dressed appropriately.

Wearing one at work, after you get the job, is completely different. I wear my black suit often at work, but would I ever wear one to an interview? Hell no. I wear my black suit to dinners, conventions, client meetings, due diligence events. But would I wear it to an interview? Hell no.

As 3cho said, even when you go to an interview and everybody is wearing regular button-down shirts, does that mean you should wear button down shirts only to an interview? During my first professional job interview my future boss was wearing a golf shirt and tennis shoes because he was going golfing later. He was a capital markets/securitization guy and an awesome boss, but was a bit unconventional (didn't even own a suit). But that doesn't mean I was just like him. He had his licks in the game, he earned his ability to be odd. However, that doesn't mean I did.

If you're odd, you're out. Nobody wants to see your foibles on the first impression. It sets you out from the pack and make it's all that much harder to get the job.

Yes, I would say that your skills do outweigh your suit choice. However, it's one more hurdle you have to get over if you want the job. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

Sorry, gotta throw one last jab out there

. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

All else will never be equal.

 

[Casawi]

I just bought mine from JC Penny, I didn't worry so much about anything. I just went in bought a suit that fits me, end of story. I wore it once for the job fair, I'll see it to you if you want.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
Funny, how are you supposed to *know* you aren't supposed to wear one when everybody is wearing a black suit to work?

Anyway, I see your point, however I will contend that your interview skills and qualifications far out weigh the color of your suit, provided of course that the person still dressed appropriately.

Wearing one at work, after you get the job, is completely different. I wear my black suit often at work, but would I ever wear one to an interview? Hell no. I wear my black suit to dinners, conventions, client meetings, due diligence events. But would I wear it to an interview? Hell no.

As 3cho said, even when you go to an interview and everybody is wearing regular button-down shirts, does that mean you should wear button down shirts only to an interview? During my first professional job interview my future boss was wearing a golf shirt and tennis shoes because he was going golfing later. He was a capital markets/securitization guy and an awesome boss, but was a bit unconventional (didn't even own a suit). But that doesn't mean I was just like him. He had his licks in the game, he earned his ability to be odd. However, that doesn't mean I did.

If you're odd, you're out. Nobody wants to see your foibles on the first impression. It sets you out from the pack and make it's all that much harder to get the job.

Yes, I would say that your skills do outweigh your suit choice. However, it's one more hurdle you have to get over if you want the job. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

Sorry, gotta throw one last jab out there

. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

All else will never be equal.

In your mind perhaps and maybe in your job field. In mine, my company interviewed 42 people for my one spot. Sure, I had something that set me apart from the pack, probably wasn't my suit, but all-in, my package was more appealing. If I had come in with the wrong suit, it would have not put me at the front of the pack, but somewhere behind.

It only takes one thing to set you back. Wearing a black suit could be that one thing. Why take the chance?

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Never EVER wear a black suit for a job interview. I don't care what job it is.

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com

Read up. You have much to learn.

Please. Talk to a recruiter, they don't give a shit WHAT you wear as long as it's presentable and in-line with company expectations.

Grey/Black/Blue. You think wearing a black suit instead of charcoal grey is going to stop you from getting a job if you're adequately qualified?

+5 billion.

maybe in la la land, recruiters will pay attention to the brand of polish you put on your shoe, whether your shirt fabric is 80-count or 120-count, whether the cuffs are barreled or mitered.

if i were to interview, i know exactly, down to the detail, what i would wear. thats because i personally am cognizant of and anal-retentive about these details.

however, any employer that actually bases employment based on these things, you probably dont want to work for.

and no, 99% of firms out there dont care about it, especially for new grads

 

[Nerva]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis
Funny, how are you supposed to *know* you aren't supposed to wear one when everybody is wearing a black suit to work?

Anyway, I see your point, however I will contend that your interview skills and qualifications far out weigh the color of your suit, provided of course that the person still dressed appropriately.

Wearing one at work, after you get the job, is completely different. I wear my black suit often at work, but would I ever wear one to an interview? Hell no. I wear my black suit to dinners, conventions, client meetings, due diligence events. But would I wear it to an interview? Hell no.

As 3cho said, even when you go to an interview and everybody is wearing regular button-down shirts, does that mean you should wear button down shirts only to an interview? During my first professional job interview my future boss was wearing a golf shirt and tennis shoes because he was going golfing later. He was a capital markets/securitization guy and an awesome boss, but was a bit unconventional (didn't even own a suit). But that doesn't mean I was just like him. He had his licks in the game, he earned his ability to be odd. However, that doesn't mean I did.

If you're odd, you're out. Nobody wants to see your foibles on the first impression. It sets you out from the pack and make it's all that much harder to get the job.

Yes, I would say that your skills do outweigh your suit choice. However, it's one more hurdle you have to get over if you want the job. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

Sorry, gotta throw one last jab out there

. All else being equal, the suit choice alone can sink your possibilities when competing with other candidates.

All else will never be equal.

In your mind perhaps and maybe in your job field. In mine, my company interviewed 42 people for my one spot. Sure, I had something that set me apart from the pack, probably wasn't my suit, but all-in, my package was more appealing. If I had come in with the wrong suit, it would have not put me at the front of the pack, but somewhere behind.

It only takes one thing to set you back. Wearing a black suit could be that one thing. Why take the chance?

eh, it's useless to argue with him. he simply doesnt have the banker style.

what people need to understand it, even if you are not a big swinging dick on the street, you should at least act like one. and if dressing well brings you confidence, why not?

an oh, jos a banks sucks.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Never EVER wear a black suit for a job interview. I don't care what job it is.

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com

Read up. You have much to learn.

LOL

After viewing that site I had the intense urge to pry out my eyeballs...

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Never EVER wear a black suit for a job interview. I don't care what job it is.

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com

Read up. You have much to learn.

Please. Talk to a recruiter, they don't give a shit WHAT you wear as long as it's presentable and in-line with company expectations.

Grey/Black/Blue. You think wearing a black suit instead of charcoal grey is going to stop you from getting a job if you're adequately qualified?

No, it won't stop you from getting most jobs. But, anyone that knows about men's attire knows better than to wear a black suit. Luckily, relatively few people today know how to dress properly, so you're in the clear.

 

[TwiceOver]

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Never EVER wear a black suit for a job interview. I don't care what job it is.

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com

Read up. You have much to learn.

LOL

After viewing that site I had the intense urge to pry out my eyeballs...

Agreed

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: jman19

Originally posted by: daniel1113
Never EVER wear a black suit for a job interview. I don't care what job it is.

http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com

Read up. You have much to learn.

LOL

After viewing that site I had the intense urge to pry out my eyeballs...

It's an ugly site alright... but the information is highly relevant. While I'm not into many of the finer details like some of the Ask Andy members, the general rules for men's attire are worthwhile for anyone looking to build up a professional wardrobe.

 

[Finalnight]

Got my suit for $50 from a hong kong night market. Lol. Had it tailored back in the states.