What are your thoughts on interview attire?

[Ns1]

I feel as though it should be the best candidate for the position not necessarily the best dressed.

I get that, which is why I presented you the following scenario: who do you pick when you have 2 equal candidates?

And to that question, I quote torpid:

...people who present themselves well always would be chosen first if all other factors are equal or unknown. Wearing a suit is one aspect, but having a well-designed resume, bringing printed copies, making eye contact etc. are all little things you can do to have a slight edge that require almost no skill to accomplish. That said, the attire has not ever actually been the deciding factor because the other factors always made the choice clear. Nonetheless it is clear that it COULD BE if there are two otherwise equally qualified candidates.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Because you don't want to spend a lot of money on a nice suit when you are a poor student?

You don't need to spend hundreds of $ on a suit. $150 can get you a suit that fits and looks good (good enough for general interviews).

Because you don't feel comfortable in a suit, which will lead to you not feeling comfortable at the interview, which could negatively affect your performance?

Lame excuse. Like I said before, suck it up and be uncomfortable for a couple hours. If a suit makes you uncomfortable and screws up your interviewing ability, you've got much bigger problems than whether or not to wear a suit.

Because, in some environments, a suit seems stuffy?

Unless you're talking about an interview to flip burgers at McD's, there is almost never a time where wearing a suit will hurt your chances.

See bolded.

 

[Schfifty Five]

There is a little part of me that I guess when I see people in a suit I instantly think "this person must be lacking some of the skills/requirements of the job" because they feel they need to "dress to the nines" in order to impress someone to get the job...

In my mind, either you are capable of the job or you're not, and if you're not you should not of applied for it - the same goes for stupid follow-up questions where someone calls you to screen applicants prior to scheduling interviews.. and they ask you about all the required aspects of the job such as education/certifications yet its clearly defined on your resume you meet these requirements... why do they bother to call you and confirm when its clearly written on the resume?

Well what do you think when you see someone where dress pants, shirt, tie...basically a suit without the jacket. Do you think the same thing?

At what point do you not think they are lacking some skill/requirements of the job? When they walk in with shorts/t-shirt?

Dressing appropriately can give some credibility that you aren't a slob who just woke up and came to the interview in their PJs. It gives credibility to the fact that you are prepared and even to an extent that you can take care of yourself.

I get that not wearing a suit doesn't mean you are automatically rejected from any job, but my opinion is that most people who are against wearing suits/dressing up only say so b/c they think it's uncomfortable or a hassle.

 

[Dumac]

You don't need to spend hundreds of $ on a suit. $150 can get you a suit that fits and looks good (good enough for general interviews).

$150 was a lot of money at the time. Not anymore, though.

Lame excuse. Like I said before, suck it up and be uncomfortable for a couple hours. If a suit makes you uncomfortable and screws up your interviewing ability, you've got much bigger problems than whether or not to wear a suit.

Lame to you, but not to me. I wouldn't be comfortable in a suit. I would be hot, sweaty, self conscious, and not at my best. Wouldn't have been worth it for me.

Unless you're talking about an interview to flip burgers at McD's, there is almost never a time where wearing a suit will hurt your chances.

I think in a lot of situations, at least for me, a suit would look stuffy. Dress shirt with tie + slacks, sure. A suit can look over the top. (Again, all depending on industry).

If you are interviewing for jobs as a soon-to-be-graduate then surely you MUST have nice clothes. You are competing with a million other applicants and they probably will forget your name the instant you step out of the room.

I didn't have nice clothes. For most majors you should, but the industry I was looking to get into doesn't really require it. Some specifically emailed me and told me NOT to dress up, as it would make the interviewer (who isn't dressing up) feel uncomfortable.

 

[Meractik]

Well what do you think when you see someone where dress pants, shirt, tie...basically a suit without the jacket. Do you think the same thing?

At what point do you not think they are lacking some skill/requirements of the job? When they walk in with shorts/t-shirt?

Dressing appropriately can give some credibility that you aren't a slob who just woke up and came to the interview in their PJs. It gives credibility to the fact that you are prepared and even to an extent that you can take care of yourself.

I get that not wearing a suit doesn't mean you are automatically rejected from any job, but my opinion is that most people who are against wearing suits/dressing up only say so b/c they think it's uncomfortable or a hassle.

I think they're lacking the skills and requirements of the job when they fumble over themselves during an interview or cannot answer simple questions in relation to the position at hand. It has nothing to do with what they wear, don't get me wrong I do believe that certain attire is required if you're interviewing for a VP or executive position you'd better wear a full suit and tie with jacket. Otherwise.... i feel as though its a real waste and simply is just someone trying to play a part of 'look at me, im dressed nice, hire me...' because they might be lacking the real skills or experience the job requires.

To further evaluate your statement, lets say someone showed up in a t-shirt/shorts and flip flops for an interview that I was giving, I would comment on their attire and say that they selected a rather unique choice of clothing given the circumstances... but I wouldn't discount their experience or knowledge pertaining to the position, I would assume that they've applied therefore they must meet the criteria for the job and I would give them to shot to prove themselves, If they achieved the goal of making me feel as though they would make a good candidate I would then question their attire and ask if they would be willing to show up wearing office casual or whatever the job required, if they stated no then I wouldn't give them the job.

 

[Meractik]

$150 was a lot of money at the time. Not anymore, though.



Lame to you, but not to me. I wouldn't be comfortable in a suit. I would be hot, sweaty, self conscious, and not at my best. Wouldn't have been worth it for me.



I think in a lot of situations, at least for me, a suit would look stuffy. Dress shirt with tie + slacks, sure. A suit can look over the top. (Again, all depending on industry).



I didn't have nice clothes. For most majors you should, but the industry I was looking to get into doesn't really require it. Some specifically emailed me and told me NOT to dress up, as it would make the interviewer (who isn't dressing up) feel uncomfortable.

Kind of refreshing to hear that considering you live in San Diego. I live here as well and my experience in going into job fairs is EVERYONE is wearing a suit and tie, there are no on-site interviews its simply informational... yet they dress up so much to me it makes them look super desperate. I am unemployed as well but I go to gain the information and seek out opportunities, I do not expect to be hired on the spot without an evaluation.

 

[Jeeebus]

Am I the only one that actually likes a nice 3-piece suit? Not that I've worn one in years (given the muggy weather down here), but a nice 3-piece (not the one in the above picture) makes for a great business suit.

Hell, if it's endorsed by Harvey Specter, it's good enough for me.

 

[Meractik]

I get that, which is why I presented you the following scenario: who do you pick when you have 2 equal candidates?

And to that question, I quote torpid:

I would never consider two candidates to be equal, there is something that one of them could do better then the other, I would not base the decision off what they wore.

 

[Ns1]

I would never consider two candidates to be equal, there is something that one of them could do better then the other, I would not base the decision off what they wore.

k, go with khakis and polo or jeans and a turtleneck. It doesn't matter anyway amirite?

 

[acheron]

For what it's worth, my standard interview clothes are dress shirt and blazer but no tie. I wouldn't wear a full suit to an interview for the type of positions I go for (Software engineer, but generally with big DC area contractors, not Silicon Valley stuff). And I rather like wearing a suit, too; just doesn't work for me for interviews.

 

[Meractik]

k, go with khakis and polo or jeans and a turtleneck. It doesn't matter anyway amirite?

Yes you're correct, if going to interview to work at a McDonalds

 

[Ns1]

I find it interesting that you have these views:

lets say someone showed up in a t-shirt/shorts and flip flops for an interview that I was giving, I would comment on their attire and say that they selected a rather unique choice of clothing given the circumstances... but I wouldn't discount their experience or knowledge pertaining to the position, I would assume that they've applied therefore they must meet the criteria for the job and I would give them to shot to prove themselves

when I see people in a suit I instantly think "this person must be lacking some of the skills/requirements of the job" because they feel they need to "dress to the nines" in order to impress someone to get the job...

t shirt + flip flops = you are obviously qualified, since you applied for the job
suit = lacking skills/requirements of the job, because they feel the need to "dress to the nines"

WHY DO YOU HATE SUITS SO MUCH. Suitist!

 

[Meractik]

I find it interesting that you have these views:





t shirt + flip flops = you are obviously qualified, since you applied for the job
suit = lacking skills/requirements of the job, because they feel the need to "dress to the nines"

WHY DO YOU HATE SUITS SO MUCH. Suitist!

I don't hate them.... I just don't see how they should be a determining factor, I wouldn't base my decision to hire someone off of who had a better suit if two candidates where close in competition - I would continue questioning until some other factor presented itself as to why one candidate is the better choice. Most people do not work this way, hence my requirement for the thread because I own no suits but should consider buying one for interviewing purposes.

just because someone wears a suit does not mean they lack the skills or requirements for the job but to me it sends a signal that they just might, id still give that person a chance but they're not going to 'wow' me just because they dressed up (which I believe a lot of people tend to think that they will)...

whether someone decides to dress up or wear flip flops either way they shouldn't apply for a job unless they meet the requirements and can do the job, but in my experience do people really just apply for whatever is interesting to them?

 

[alkemyst]

Am I the only one that actually likes a nice 3-piece suit? Not that I've worn one in years (given the muggy weather down here), but a nice 3-piece (not the one in the above picture) makes for a great business suit.

Hell, if it's endorsed by Harvey Specter, it's good enough for me.

Put one on and take your pic bro. If it looks good, I'd say roll in it. I don't wear things that always conform to norms.

 

[Jeeebus]

Put one on and take your pic bro. If it looks good, I'd say roll in it. I don't wear things that always conform to norms.

Haven't owned one in years. If I had one in the closet, I'd probably wear it next week to NY. Heck, if I was in court down here on one of these 57 degree mornings, I'd be tempted to wear one.

In our usual 85 degrees +, not gonna happen.

 

[alkemyst]

lol at 85...I am in S. Florida. They make light weight suits

 

[Jeeebus]

lol at 85...I am in S. Florida. They make light weight suits

I live about an hour south of you. If it weren't for lightweight suits, the sweat on my balls would be dripping sweat on most court days.

 

[alkemyst]

Oh shit, I never realized you were in FTL. I work there on Commerical.

 

[poopaskoopa]

lol@ wearing a shirt and tie but drawing the line at wearing a suit. I see this all the time on TLC's What Not To Wear(I watch it when I WFH during lunch. Here's my man card). The people who get on the show supposedly don't care about what they wear but they so strongly hold onto their look it's obvious there's some underlying hang-up about their look(or, you know, that's how it's edited and Stacy and Clinton make it all better).