Does your boss discourage dressing formally at the office?

[JaggerDragger]

Whenever I wear a tie or sportcoat to work the chief always asks whats up, for example "got a special occasion today" kinda questioning. It doesn't bother me too much but it happens every time, and I have been wearing a tie maybe once a month or so. Anybody experience this? I have to wonder if the dude is self conscious of me being dressed better than him or if he is wondering all the time if I have an interview for another job or something...

It is funny the response that can come from looking your best for work... Most of the guys are wondering why, and the ladies always compliment...

Anyway I just gotta vent.

 

[jkingrph]

I have never had that problem. Maybe your looking nicer makes him feel insecure!

 

[Eeyore]

I think blending in while keeping your own style is best. Not too overdressed or underdressed, but still standing out a bit.

 

[svcaramia]

Whenever I wear a tie or sportcoat to work the chief always asks whats up, for example "got a special occasion today" kinda questioning. It doesn't bother me too much but it happens every time, and I have been wearing a tie maybe once a month or so. Anybody experience this? I have to wonder if the dude is self conscious of me being dressed better than him or if he is wondering all the time if I have an interview for another job or something...

It is funny the response that can come from looking your best for work... Most of the guys are wondering why, and the ladies always compliment...

Anyway I just gotta vent.

I'm a boss. Have 12 employees. When someone dresses up I think "interview". Maybe we are just wired that way.

 

[mrb7]

I'm a boss. Have 12 employees. When someone dresses up I think "interview". Maybe we are just wired that way.

I've been a boss with 16 employees. I am not a boss today, but I wear a tie and sports coat every day. It makes my boss nervous. I don't care. If he fires me I'll have another job in an hour. He's not so well suited in the industry.

Professional appearance portrays professional results. It might be wrong, but it's true. Same goes for sloppy.

And I shave every morning. But here that's not weird.

 

[Doc4]

... and the ladies always compliment...

I'd just tell him you like all the compliments you get from the ladies.

(If you have a mischievous streak, every day go out for lunch ... walk around or whatever, eat your lunch on the park bench. When you come back to the office, stick your head inside his office door and say "flunked my interview again today ... guess I wear the suit again tomorrow." Hope he has a sense of humour.)

 

[pras]

Instead of casual Friday, I am going the other way. Formal Friday. Going to wear my tuxedo to work.

 

[grantmm]

Professional appearance portrays professional results. It might be wrong, but it's true. Same goes for sloppy.

This is funny to me just because of my line of work. I've yet to meet a software engineer that wears a suit to work if they don't have anything formal to do after work. I wear lame tee-shirts (Snap-On Tools shirts, car race event shirts, concert shirts), jeans and flip flops to work every day.

The same goes for interviews in the software industry. Often times people interviewing already have jobs in the industry, so every company I have interviewed with has encouraged not dressing up due to respecting the company they are currently employed with. No one wants to be the one who is standing out and putting their current job at risk because they had to dress up far above the usual to interview somewhere else on their break.

 

[econjoe]

One of my old bosses came from a world where promotions came about because of how you dressed, not how you performed. Whenever I came to work dressed up she would remind me that in her organization she didn't care how someone looked as long as they got the job done.

 

[BubblesTGB]

I suppose it depends on what business you are in. I do some consulting work for a line of retail stores. They always wore khakis and polo shirts. I suggested shirt and tie and it has worked out well so far - though many of the employees are less than pleased with my suggestion. But I always think its a good idea to look as professional as possible for the given job.

 

[conroygc]

When I worked in an office I got this all the time. I wore a tie whenever I felt like it. No one else in the whole company ever wore a tie, even the CEO. Dress code was business casual, which basically meant "wear anything you want except jeans".

After a few months my automatic response was "I don't have a job interview, court, or a wedding today, if that's what you mean."

 

[seattleshaver]

I don't get the point of wearing a suit and tie in an office/industry where that's not the custom. It just looks stupid for the most part. It's like the burger server at McDonald's wearing a suit. What's the point?

I used to have to wear suits. The best feeling was finally having a job where suits weren't necessary unless it was some special occasion.

 

[StillShaving]

If you are dressing outside the office norms, one should expect some quips and office banter from fellow co-workers. Obviously I don't know you or your boss, but it could just be a light-hearted prod to get your reaction. Unless he was oppressive and persistent about it I would not think too much about it. If you wanted you could turn it around and use it as a way to kid your boss about why does he not dress as well as his underlings?!?

 

[Eeyore]

When I worked in an office I got this all the time. I wore a tie whenever I felt like it. No one else in the whole company ever wore a tie, even the CEO. Dress code was business casual, which basically meant "wear anything you want except jeans".

After a few months my automatic response was "I don't have a job interview, court, or a wedding today, if that's what you mean."

Standing out so much can be an advantage, or a disadvantage. A lot depends on where you work (industry, country, age group).

In the Netherlands, I usually would not want to stand out too much; it will not be appreciated.

 

[seanmccormick]

IMHO, poor form and leadership for making remarks. If a team member wants to "over-dress " whether for an interview or just to separate themselves from colleagues, what is the harm? That they are going to leave?

Some if the best advice I received from a previous manager, "Build a team that can take you to the "Bowl." Then be proud when a team member leaves to build a team that ends up taking the Bowl from you. If that's not happening, you aren't doing your job."

So if I don't have a team member on my team that wants to take my job, I don't want them on my team.

 

[Eeyore]

So if I don't have a team member on my team that wants to take my job, I don't want them on my team.

I have no intention whatsoever to take the job of my boss; I am a technical specialist, not a department manager.

I don't have the ambition to become a manager either.

 

[seanmccormick]

I have no intention whatsoever to take the job of my boss; I am a technical specialist, not a department manager.

I don't have the ambition to become a manager either.

Just my opinion my friend.

 

[Eeyore]

Just my opinion my friend.

I think the reason I was triggered by your comments was, that I've been on a team where the leader tried to push me in a management position, despite my remarks that I thought my qualities are in another field than management.

 

[Face Bannon]

Sounds to me like it's more because you only do it occasionally. Maybe you ought to strive for a consistent look. People will mentally adjust and think of you as wearing a tie.

 

[Niles]

Professional appearance portrays professional results. It might be wrong, but it's true. Same goes for sloppy.

+1