I can't do it!

[MaxDepth]

I work at a large software/hardware computer company in North Carolina. I am a developer/writer in their software group and the atmosphere there is pretty relaxed and casual. Maybe too casual.

I see guys wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals to work. There is one creepy guy that wear bicycle shorts all the time, doesn't wear any shoes, and seems to have all his food he owns hogging the communal refrigerator. I think he lives here.

Well every company has at least one creepy guy, so he's basically ignored. But I started working during college, and after, in a true white collar world. "Dressed for Success" was my bible when I began working. And now I can't dress-down. It just feels weird going to work wearing shorts. And as for t-shirts, I got myself to feel comfortable enough to wear knit shirts, like my collection of Warner Bros. cartoon character shirts, but only on Fridays.

The funny thing is that when I meet someone new here they look at me in my suit and ask me when my job interview is that day. I dunno, I just think there should be a return to a higher standard of dress code in a business setting. Maybe its just me understanding the definition of the word, professionalism.

 

[Murphyrulez]

There's just some places you don't need to get dressed up for. I would try to fit in, if I were you.


Or just be yourself, and screw what everyone else thinks.

 

[Jzero]

I feel weird being THAT casual (shorts and t-shirt), in fact I feel shady walking into my office after hours or on a weekend wearing shorts and sandals.
Nonetheless, you wear SUITS? You're way overdressed, it sounds like. Why not just wear some slacks and a polo or buttondown shirt? No need for a jacket and tie.

 

[TallBill]

Yeah, casual friday at my old work still meant nice pants and a polo.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Maybe its just me

yeah, it is just you

they moved us from one building to another last year and now i can wear athletic shoes and jeans whenever i want (and T-shirts) , it is better

 

[Geekbabe]

oversized comfy shirt,cool,over sized beige pants with lots of pockets,birekinstalk sandals and a ponytail is my stunning outfit today

 

[anno]

my husband is like that.. he can dress down a bit if he's got to go tromping around a muddy job site (architect), and he can lose the tie on fridays, finally.. he can wear khaki pants.. but aside from those exclusions he's got to have that tie, and he's got to have a jacket with. shorts wouldn't do, that'd be tooo casual.. but everyone else is in polo shirts. it amuses me.. ponytail, full beard, coat and tie.

anno

 

[Viper GTS]

Dress code here is great (about the only thing that's great). I wear jeans & a t-shirt every day, I could wear shorts, dye my hair green with purple spots & pierce my face in a dozen places & nobody would think twice.

Viper GTS

 

[bigben]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
I work at a large software/hardware computer company in North Carolina. I am a developer/writer in their software group and the atmosphere there is pretty relaxed and casual. Maybe too casual.

I see guys wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals to work. There is one creepy guy that wear bicycle shorts all the time, doesn't wear any shoes, and seems to have all his food he owns hogging the communal refrigerator. I think he lives here.

Well every company has at least one creepy guy, so he's basically ignored. But I started working during college, and after, in a true white collar world. "Dressed for Success" was my bible when I began working. And now I can't dress-down. It just feels weird going to work wearing shorts. And as for t-shirts, I got myself to feel comfortable enough to wear knit shirts, like my collection of Warner Bros. cartoon character shirts, but only on Fridays.

The funny thing is that when I meet someone new here they look at me in my suit and ask me when my job interview is that day. I dunno, I just think there should be a return to a higher standard of dress code in a business setting. Maybe its just me understanding the definition of the word, professionalism.

You work for SAS?

 

[clamum]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Dress code here is great (about the only thing that's great). I wear jeans & a t-shirt every day, I could wear shorts, dye my hair green with purple spots & pierce my face in a dozen places & nobody would think twice.

Viper GTS

Sounds like the dress code here, if there is one. I've gotten the typical "your pants are falling down" comments but I fail to reply with a "your pants are up your ass crack" comment. Hehe.

 

[sohcrates]

there's a lot to be said for dressing up, but wearing a suit when others are wearing bike shorts is a little extreme

trust me though, if you continue to dress somewhat nice, it will pay off because it gives you a more professional look

i know what you're saying about weird dudes though. we have a LOT of them where i work

there's this guy we call "flip flop"

he's this older, really thin dude. he wears these really scary short shorts EVERY day and wears flip flops and ratty t-shirts. every day at lunch he goes and runs outside with no shirt on.

it just amazes me

 

[GaryShandling]

Go in wearing the top half of your suit, and for the bottom exhange the suit pants with some neon pink speedos.

Pure Ownage.

 

[arcas]

I fully agree with Murphyrulez. Unless you deal with customers or the media, there is little, if any, reason to adopt a formal dress code in a software development shop. Your contribution is measured by the quality of your code, not by whether you look dapper sitting at your desk.

I'm a software developer for a big three-letter IT company. I realized long ago that this company is paying me a ridiculous amount of money for my programming skills and not for my good looks. My work attire normally consists of jeans and a t-shirt and I've been known to walk around my office in socks. I even keep a pair of shorts in a drawer here for times when the building's A/C goes out.

"Professionalism" entails far more than dress code.

 

[MaxDepth]

Naw, I work for that I've Been Moved company. When I first started working with them, I worked in Marcom (Marketing & Communications) where power suits ruled (still do). But when I am working at my desk, I take off my suit coat. Some days I even roll up my sleeves when I'm in the hardware test lab.

It's just that I grew up with that. But I also learned to be a skilled craftsman from my granddad and I wear appropriate clothes when I am woodworking or welding. So to me there is a difference of what is appropriate to wear in what work you are doing.

[TMI]Plus sitting in chair or being a conference for 8-10 hours a day while wearing tailored suit pants instead of wearing tight (close fitting) jeans makes my boys very happy. [/TMI]

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
oversized comfy shirt,cool,over sized beige pants with lots of pockets,birekinstalk sandals and a ponytail is my stunning outfit today

Sexy

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
I work at a large software/hardware computer company in North Carolina. I am a developer/writer in their software group and the atmosphere there is pretty relaxed and casual. Maybe too casual.

I see guys wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals to work. There is one creepy guy that wear bicycle shorts all the time, doesn't wear any shoes, and seems to have all his food he owns hogging the communal refrigerator. I think he lives here.

Well every company has at least one creepy guy, so he's basically ignored. But I started working during college, and after, in a true white collar world. "Dressed for Success" was my bible when I began working. And now I can't dress-down. It just feels weird going to work wearing shorts. And as for t-shirts, I got myself to feel comfortable enough to wear knit shirts, like my collection of Warner Bros. cartoon character shirts, but only on Fridays.

The funny thing is that when I meet someone new here they look at me in my suit and ask me when my job interview is that day. I dunno, I just think there should be a return to a higher standard of dress code in a business setting. Maybe its just me understanding the definition of the word, professionalism.

I hear you brother. I get tired of seeing the T-shirts, open toed sandel on guys, and worn jean with holes or shredded cuffs. And my company is supposed to have a dress policy, problem is noone enforces it.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
Some days I even roll up my sleeves when I'm in the hardware test lab.

:Q
Rebel!


Dressing up is fine, but suit and tie everyday is just to much, for me anyway. Nothing wrong with looking proffesional.
I wear shorts + sandals + a nice casual shirt (linnen or cotton). Btw, that's basically what I wear all year anyway. AZ rocks.

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Yeah, casual friday at my old work still meant nice pants and a polo.

Me too.

It's probably a West Coast thing?


~~edit

Oops, he's in NC... I don't know then...

Freaking hippies

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: bigben

Originally posted by: MaxDepth
I work at a large software/hardware computer company in North Carolina. I am a developer/writer in their software group and the atmosphere there is pretty relaxed and casual. Maybe too casual.

I see guys wearing t-shirts, shorts and sandals to work. There is one creepy guy that wear bicycle shorts all the time, doesn't wear any shoes, and seems to have all his food he owns hogging the communal refrigerator. I think he lives here.

Well every company has at least one creepy guy, so he's basically ignored. But I started working during college, and after, in a true white collar world. "Dressed for Success" was my bible when I began working. And now I can't dress-down. It just feels weird going to work wearing shorts. And as for t-shirts, I got myself to feel comfortable enough to wear knit shirts, like my collection of Warner Bros. cartoon character shirts, but only on Fridays.

The funny thing is that when I meet someone new here they look at me in my suit and ask me when my job interview is that day. I dunno, I just think there should be a return to a higher standard of dress code in a business setting. Maybe its just me understanding the definition of the word, professionalism.

You work for SAS?

or Tivoli (worked there for a couple of months...free drinks, could wear anything, flexible hours, and they would take you out for beers afterwork occasionally)

I wear jeans or shorts, polo shirt and sneaks to work every day...Gotta love IT companies

 

[FrustratedUser]

People wear polo shirts?!
:Q

So 80's

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Murphyrulez
There's just some places you don't need to get dressed up for. I would try to fit in, if I were you.


Or just be yourself, and screw what everyone else thinks.

Or just be yourself, the weird guy everyone ignores.

 

[FrustratedUser]

LOL

 

[conjur]

I miss the dress code at a small consulting firm I used to work at. T-shirt/shorts in the summer if we wanted to. The only time we had to wear a tie was if a client was coming in that day or we had to go out to a client site.

I interviewed for UPS and they dress in suits all of the time...way opposite end of the spectrum but I was open to it.

I like where I'm at now...can wear jeans but I usually wear khakis or something similar.

 

[xirtam]

The only major comments I've had regarding my dress code have been directed at my uber velcro shoes of doom.

 

[chin311]

im jealous, i wish i could wear shorts , im not bad off tho, jus khaki's and a decent shirt, least i dont hafta wear a suit