IT Guys - Dress for Interview at Business Casual Office (1 Viewer)

[Doug B]

Asking is definitely the way to go. I remember about a decade ago I had an interview during the day but was at my job that day. The interview was less than a mile away and I wore business casual to my job. I asked if that would be ok since I was coming from work and the recruiter told me if I didn’t wear a suit, don’t even bother going. It sucked because I had to drive to a park and get changed in my car. I was afraid I’d get busted for indecent exposure or something. Had to do the same thing after the interview. 

Curious: at that particular job (where you were working, not where you were interviewing) ... could you have worn slacks and dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves to the office and not looked out of place? Or if weather allowed, maybe put a sweater on over the dress shirt?

I ask because it's pretty easy to leave a suit coat & tie in the car (trunk if necessary), which would have made changing for the interview a cinch. But if a rumpled dress shirt screamed out "GOING ON AN INTERVIEW AT LUNCH!" at your old office, then maybe you had to do what you had to do.

 

[JaxBill]

Especially if it's a bow tie....

Just don't go with a clip-on

 

[Keerock]

Robe and slippers wizard hat

FYP

 

[TheIronSheik]

Curious: at that particular job (where you were working, not where you were interviewing) ... could you have worn slacks and dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves to the office and not looked out of place? Or if weather allowed, maybe put a sweater on over the dress shirt?

I ask because it's pretty easy to leave a suit coat & tie in the car (trunk if necessary), which would have made changing for the interview a cinch. But if a rumpled dress shirt screamed out "GOING ON AN INTERVIEW AT LUNCH!" at your old office, then maybe you had to do what you had to do.

No.  It was a place where everyone wore jeans and polos.  For other jobs, I've worn black pants to work and kept my shirt, tie and jacket in the car.  Still not fun, but at least I'm not taking my pants off in a park in the middle of the day.

 

[Gally]

No.  It was a place where everyone wore jeans and polos.  For other jobs, I've worn black pants to work and kept my shirt, tie and jacket in the car.  Still not fun, but at least I'm not taking my pants off in a park in the middle of the day.

Well...…...at least not for putting on slacks for an interview

 

[Sammy3469]

Tech is different than other businesses.  They don't want a stuffy "suit" .  They don't care that much how old you are as long as you dress and act like you're in your late 20s IMO.

This...I’m an old geezer working on the non-tech side of a FinTech firm.  If you haven’t take the time to research our firm and know what’s appropriate, you shouldn’t be working here.  

 

[wlwiles]

Always target one level higher than whatever is the "expected norm".  If everyone is in tshirt and jeans, wear a polo.  Polos and jeans, wear a button down.  Everyone has a jacket and slacks, wear a suit and tie. 

It's always easier to adapt and dress down, but showing up underdressed is giving a first impression that is negative, 100% of the time. 

 

[TheIronSheik]

Wearing a suit has been the norm for a century. I get if a company thinks it overdressed, but to look down on a suit and tie is messed up. You’re putting candidates in a terrible spot. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. 

Honestly, I think that’s pretty crappy of a company. 

 

[adonis]

Wearing a suit has been the norm for a century. I get if a company thinks it overdressed, but to look down on a suit and tie is messed up. You’re putting candidates in a terrible spot. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. 

Honestly, I think that’s pretty crappy of a company. 

However, interviewing is the process of seeing if you're a fit for a company.  If they value your ability to dress appropriately as a signal as to whether you'll fit in there or not, perhaps it's a reasonable prejudice.

 

[belljr]

This...I’m an old geezer working on the non-tech side of a FinTech firm.  If you haven’t take the time to research our firm and know what’s appropriate, you shouldn’t be working here.  

So if I research your firm I'll know what the day to day dress code is?  Seems odd.

Ill never get it. I wear jeans and sneakers everyday but I wore a suit to my interview...

Do people think, OMG that guy is going to wear a suit EVERYDAY!!!

 

[Sammy3469]

So if I research your firm I'll know what the day to day dress code is?  Seems odd.

Ill never get it. I wear jeans and sneakers everyday but I wore a suit to my interview...

Do people think, OMG that guy is going to wear a suit EVERYDAY!!!

There’s an expectation that when our recruiter tells you it’s casual that you look on our website and see all the day-to-day pictures of employees are of them in casual clothing.

I know it seems like a dumb signal, but I don’t think any potentially recruit that shows up dressed up beyond business casual that we’ve hired has stuck around long  

 

[shuke]

Suit.  Always. 

 

[Gally]

However, interviewing is the process of seeing if you're a fit for a company.  If they value your ability to dress appropriately as a signal as to whether you'll fit in there or not, perhaps it's a reasonable prejudice.

But of you are dressed in a suit and it is overdressed you can broach that subject in the interview and use that as a talking point.  You can show you are adaptable and have a sense of humor.  It doesn't really work going the other way.

 

[TheIronSheik]

But of you are dressed in a suit and it is overdressed you can broach that subject in the interview and use that as a talking point.  You can show you are adaptable and have a sense of humor.  It doesn't really work going the other way.

Plus, I would think there's more of a risk of not getting a job for not wearing a suit.  You might look at a company like the ones I've worked for that were super casual, show up in jeans, and they not hire you because you didn't dress up.  Just because you wear a suit to the interview doesn't mean you'll show up the first day like that.  

So as you point out, you show up in a suit and tie and everyone is dressed casually, they should understand that you should never be penalized for doing something that has been done for a century.  It would be like an interviewer not hiring you because you brought a black pen to the interview, but their company has been using green pens for the past year and think you're out of touch.  

I mean, they have their right to do that.  But if I went to an interview and they told me I probably wouldn't be considered for the job because I wore a suit and tie to it, I'd probably be happy I didn't get that job.  I already have to read my wife's mind when I'm not at work.  I don't think I'd enjoy having to go to work and read minds there, too.

 

[cheese]

They’re not going to automatically disqualify you and tell you no because of a suit. 
 

However, I worked a lot of years in IT groups where if someone showed up in a suit for an interview to talk to me (wearing jeans), it would be at least a subconscious consideration of whether this person will fit in.  
I think if you’re flying blind, guessing dressy is fine. If you know for a fact you’re interviewing a place where every person you will encounter is wearing jeans, I think there is some risk of standing out. 
 

If you have IT people in the interview (rather than only HR) they tend to assume everyone interviewing from the outside knows nothing and just trying to figure out who they want to work with. 

 

[NewlyRetired]

Tech is different than other businesses.  They don't want a stuffy "suit" .  They don't care that much how old you are as long as you dress and act like you're in your late 20s IMO.

I have not been in tech since I retired almost ten years ago and it sounds like things have changed from your post

The work environment dress code was always super casual but I honestly don't remember any man I interviewed (and I interviewed a ton of people) not at the very least wearing a sports coat and the vast majority wore a suit to the interview no matter how young they were.

Hell, even at my ridiculously casual part time job at my library now, I wore a suit to the interview.

 

[AAABatteries]

Suit.  Always. 

I love you but this is just wrong.  I can 100% guarantee it’s not the right move always.  This is just old school thinking.  Rightly or wrongly it can hurt you at certain interviews.  

 

[ditka...mike ditka]

What about wearing a suit, with a nice shirt under it that would look good if you took the jacket off.  Throw a tie in your suit pocket and have that ready just in case.  Make a joke about not knowing how to dress, but being smart enough to dress in something that is adaptable for any situation.  Pop the tie on if needed to be more formal, lose the jacket if less.  

 

[huthut]

Always wear one level above dress code (unless it is already suits). Everywhere I work is casual, so I tend to go with a nice button up shirt, slacks, and a blazer. I don't have many nice clothes, I have a single interview uniform, so it is always a scramble to find something to wear if they want a second interview.

Edit - I am not in IT

 

[kutta]

There’s an expectation that when our recruiter tells you it’s casual that you look on our website and see all the day-to-day pictures of employees are of them in casual clothing.

I know it seems like a dumb signal, but I don’t think any potentially recruit that shows up dressed up beyond business casual that we’ve hired has stuck around long  

I own the company and wear jeans every day. Most of our employees wear jeans. In the summer, some even wear t-shirts and shorts. We have a couple people who wear slacks and a button down, but not many.

It doesn’t matter what I wear. When someone comes in to interview, they better show me that to them, it’s a big opportunity and they are taking it seriously. That means suit and tie, or at least slacks and button down.

I wear jeans every day, but if I EVER meet a customer, it’s a suit and tie for me, and the occasional slacks and sport coat. I always make sure I am better dressed than my customer. Just as an interviewee better be better dressed than me.

 

[kutta]

Always wear one level above dress code (unless it is already suits). Everywhere I work is casual, so I tend to go with a nice button up shirt, slacks, and a blazer. I don't have many nice clothes, I have a single interview uniform, so it is always a scramble to find something to wear if they want a second interview.

Edit - I am not in IT

The problem is that most of the time you don’t really know what the dress code is. If you wear a suit and tie you are guaranteed to not be below their dress code.

 

[huthut]

The problem is that most of the time you don’t really know what the dress code is. If you wear a suit and tie you are guaranteed to not be below their dress code.

Says IT guys in the title, so I assume bathing is a step above average. 

 

[Otis]

Make a joke about not knowing how to dress, 

 

[ditka...mike ditka]

Careful bud, with paws as large as yours you may knock yourself out with that move 

 

[Spike]

I have hired over 100 people in the last 10 years. I wear jeans and polo shirts to work. But, I expect someone coming in for an interview to AT LEAST be in a button down and slacks. A suit and tie is better.

I just would not hire someone who came in wearing jeans. It shows a lack of respect for the interview, IMO.

I’m 54...

Best answer I have seen in this thread. 

BTW, I am 58. 

 

[Spike]

I love you but this is just wrong.  I can 100% guarantee it’s not the right move always.  This is just old school thinking.  Rightly or wrongly it can hurt you at certain interviews.  

I guess I am old school-wrong also because I don’t see how coming in and showing respect for whomever you are to meet with is something that can hurt you. 

 

[JaxBill]

The problem is that most of the time you don’t really know what the dress code is. If you wear a suit and tie you are guaranteed to not be below their dress code.

In this case, I know their dress code is VERY relaxed.  Earlier i made mention that i had a previous on site interview for a different job title and i felt overdressed since manager was wearing polo/jeans and only one out of three developers wasn't wearing tshirt and jeans.

i went to a store yesterday and bought a dress shirt with a subtle checked pattern to go with suit jacket and dress pants. in lieu of a tie, i got a pocket square.

Given that my interview is at 2 pm on the opposite side of town from my current job, i went with taking half a day to go home and properly change. (My home is kind of on the way.) Sorry/not sorry but no stripping in a park.

 

[TheIronSheik]

In this case, I know their dress code is VERY relaxed.  Earlier i made mention that i had a previous on site interview for a different job title and i felt overdressed since manager was wearing polo/jeans and only one out of three developers wasn't wearing tshirt and jeans.

i went to a store yesterday and bought a dress shirt with a subtle checked pattern to go with suit jacket and dress pants. in lieu of a tie, i got a pocket square.

Given that my interview is at 2 pm on the opposite side of town from my current job, i went with taking half a day to go home and properly change. (My home is kind of on the way.) Sorry/not sorry but no stripping in a park.

I’ve done enough I’m a pro.