Clothes for a Job Interview?

[icedoverfire]

Hi gents,

So here's the story: I had a job interview a few days back for a Research Technician position at a local university (I am a soon-to-be college grad). I was notified of the interview 48hrs before and consequently didn't have the time to get fitted for a proper black suit - so I ended up buying some nice khaki pants with a brown sports coat and I had a white shirt to wear with it and some nice brown shoes. I should say that I have a nice pair of black shoes, so I'm all set there.

To be honest, I'd sent out about 50 job apps in the last week and after getting a string of rejections this interview request came up out of the blue - so I really didn't have a chance to "prep" for it clothing-wise.

Questions:
For the next interview should I get a black suit? I'm a wee-bit cash strapped so the pants/sportcoat was the best I could get at the time.
Should I wear a tie or not? Most of my friends who have gotten these kinds of positions (which are very entry level) say a tie is overkill (especially if the person who's doing the interviewing isn't wearing a tie - the person I was interviewing with WAS NOT wearing a tie)...

I guess I'm getting nervous because I haven't heard back yet and I've been reading a few stories of people NOT wearing a tie costing them the job...

Thoughts?

-ice

 

[djh]

I believe that one is rarely in trouble for being overdressed....... having said that, you know the situation better than I with your potential employer. As far as a tie is concerned- put one on. If you get cold feet at the last second and everyone around you is wearing a polo shirt, you can easily leave it in the waiting room.
Good luck!

 

[TheShaun]

For most any interview you should wear a suit and tie. Once offered the job, inquire about the dress code. I wouldn't wear a black suit to an interview though. Think dark blue or or charcoal.

 

[buyandhold2018]

I think you have to dress for the environment. Management usually wants to see that you will 'fit in' with the rest of the team. You may want to scout out the environment beforehand, or ask around. If you can't get a good feel for how others in the workplace dress, it never hurts to over-dress a tad.

 

[Cuttingboard]

For most any interview you should wear a suit and tie. Once offered the job, inquire about the dress code. I wouldn't wear a black suit to an interview though. Think dark blue or or charcoal.

This is correct...black is too drastic for a job interview. Navy or charcoal is the best with white shirt and conservative tie. Worry about dressing down to the environment once you have the job. Look for sales at Macy's and other department stores.

 

[Obsessed]

for most any interview you should wear a suit and tie. Once offered the job, inquire about the dress code. I wouldn't wear a black suit to an interview though. Think dark blue or or charcoal.

+1

 

[michael.scheller]

I asked a similar question a year ago.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=78201

For most any interview you should wear a suit and tie. Once offered the job, inquire about the dress code. I wouldn't wear a black suit to an interview though. Think dark blue or or charcoal.

Every article I read said the same thing; save black for some other time.

I will tell you that, for the very large part, there is no such thing as overdressed. You can cross the line into being a dandy, but if you're asking, you'll likely not cross that line.

 

[Doc4]

I'll toss my hat in the ring with the other "dont' wear a black suit" voices ... mid-to-dark grey is best, or navy. Dress conservatively, not flashy ... white shirt, dark-ish tie (nothing loud or 'out there' as my dad would say.)

Treat this as your "interview uniform". Don't dress like the interviewer, dress like an interviewee ... think of Haloween: when the kids ring my doorbell I want to see kids dressed in kooky costumes, not dressed in the "guy sitting at home handing out candy" costume. Ditto for interviews, only suits instead of goblins.

If you are interviewing for some job where the dress 'code' is much more casual than suits, you can toss in some comment about looking forward to not having to wear a suit everyday and so forth.

 

[betat]

I will throw my two cents in even though it sounds like everyone else. I will also say that over time I have conducted well over 100 interviews for both sales and management positions. Even when I did not wear a tie and dressed business casual, I expected the interviewee to be in a suit and tie.
Navy blue and or dark grey are a must have, one of each if possible. White shirt with the collar of your choice. I prefer button-down even though they can be called "casual" dressy. With either of these suits you can go with dark red power ties or yellow which is my preference. Keep patterns simple not bold. Finish off the look with a tie chain and a nice pen in your shirt pocket and you are good to go! Good luck.

 

[stobes21]

Opinions on black suits vary by profession, and perhaps by geography. As a lawyer I, and most of my colleagues, interview in black suits, solid white or blue shirts, and conservative ties. Navy and gray or charcoal suits are perfectly acceptable as well, but black is the most common. Black suits are also standard for jury trials.

 

[Sal]

Looks like I'm going against almost everyone else here, but you can wear a black suit. In the real world (ie. not the web), no one would think anything odd about it. Much nonsense has been written by fashion writers, but black is common in the work place. Remember that you are being interviewed not the suit. You'll be fine. Just be confident and don't worry about your clothes during an interview.

 

[VampyreWolf]

I usually went for interviews in black slacks with a nice dress shirt, and black boots (I don't like dress shoes ).

The interview I'm working on will be black slacks, white shirt, black tie w/ silver tie clip, and my good jacket (dress leather). It's better to be overdressed than to show up in jeans. Even though the last 3 interviews I've had, the folks interviewing me were in jeans.

 

[TheShaun]

Just to clarify my original post. Nothing wrong with a black suit, just not for the interview. I wear a black suit to the office on occasion.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I am also an attorney, but disagree with black suits. They're OK, but professionally, I take the advice of a former state supreme court justice I know, "navy or charcoal wool suits."

If you cannot afford a good new one, go used. Measure yourself and poke around eBay. Two brands I love are Brooks Bros. and Hickey Freeman. Both make quality suits andI've gotten them for 10% of retail or less at eBay. You'll also find suits at estate sales and some thrift shops.

Once you find a suit, take it to a tailor and have it fitted. You'll be surprised at how reasonable it can be. Also spring for a full cleaning and pressing. You'll look great.

Add a nice, crisp white shirt, conservative tie with a small print or stripes, black belt and black oxfords or wingtips. Don't wear any jewelry aside from a pen and a watch. Be well shaved smile and trimmed up.

Then relax - you'll do fine. Good luck on your future job!

 

[Ansuz]

I think you have to dress for the environment. Management usually wants to see that you will 'fit in' with the rest of the team. You may want to scout out the environment beforehand, or ask around. If you can't get a good feel for how others in the workplace dress, it never hurts to over-dress a tad.

+1

My advice is to scout it out a little bit. See what everyone is wearing and dress a bit better than that.

Also, having hired hundreds of people in the past, I can tell you that you never lose points by wearing a good suit.

 

[Doc4]

... I will also say that over time I have conducted well over 100 interviews for both sales and management positions. Even when I did not wear a tie and dressed business casual, I expected the interviewee to be in a suit and tie.

Nothink like hearing it from the horse's mouth ... the guy asking for the job needs to be in a suit, regrdless.

 

[Ansuz]

... the guy asking for the job needs to be in a suit, regrdless.

Its funny you say that. I turned someone away once for an interview who was dressed in a t-shirt/jeans and told him that was the reason. He asked me what was wrong with the way he was dressed and I told him, "The day I come and ask you for a job, you can dress however you want. When you ask me for a job, you dress the way I want."

 

[Austin]

I'll toss my hat in the ring with the other "dont' wear a black suit" voices ... mid-to-dark grey is best, or navy. Dress conservatively, not flashy ... white shirt, dark-ish tie (nothing loud or 'out there' as my dad would say.)

Treat this as your "interview uniform". Don't dress like the interviewer, dress like an interviewee ... think of Haloween: when the kids ring my doorbell I want to see kids dressed in kooky costumes, not dressed in the "guy sitting at home handing out candy" costume. Ditto for interviews, only suits instead of goblins.

If you are interviewing for some job where the dress 'code' is much more casual than suits, you can toss in some comment about looking forward to not having to wear a suit everyday and so forth.

Agreed. I interview medical professionals regularly and I take note of how they look.

 

[Verderer]

Yes, by all means wear clothes for a job interview... I'll get my coat.

 

[SiBurning]

Its funny you say that. I turned someone away once for an interview who was dressed in a t-shirt/jeans and told him that was the reason. He asked me what was wrong with the way he was dressed and I told him, "The day I come and ask you for a job, you can dress however you want. When you ask me for a job, you dress the way I want."

Back in the dot com days, I'd show up in t-shirt and jeans and impress folks in a positive way. A suit is a negative in some environments.

Dress appropriately is more important than dress one particular way.

As another example, a stage or symphonic musician should probably favor the black suit over any other color because that's what they usually wear to work.