Interview - Gold Button Blue Blazer or Formal Suit?

[Matt_Bloodletter]

I'd like your advice. I have a friend who is going to an interview in Cali (80+ degrees) for a director level position at a company. Their normal attire is business casual (but dress to impress). The choices are either a charcoal suit or a blazer combo. Is the blazer ever an appropriate choice at an interview? It will be hot and charcoal isn't exactly a summer color choice.

There's always a 3rd option - to get another suit but this friend would prefer to avoid that if possible unless you all think that is the obvious choice.

I appreciate your suggestions.

 

[John Von Wuggz]

Wear the suit. Toss on some talc and carry a small handkerchief to blot with if necessary.

 

[temjeito]

Definitely the suit.

 

[eliev]

Definitely the suit and definitely charcoal. Charcoal may not be a summer choice, but anything other than gray or blue is not an interview choice.

 

[Larry C in Texas]

+1 to what others have said. Wear the suit, unless you are interviewing at a sailboat company or yacht club. If that is the case, the blue blazer with white pants and topsiders would be the best choice.

 

[Haggises]

Suit all the way.
Charcoal is fine, unless it's too heavy and would cause excessive sweating.

 

[Havok305]

Wear the suit. Keep the jacket off until you leave your car.

 

[jpakstis]

Is your friend interviewing outside? It might be hot outside but I would assume not inside. Always wear the suit. Your friend won't look out of place doing that. However, if they wear the blazer, they may look like a summer intern (in a bad way).

Pro sweating/interviewing tip - when I graduated from college, I interviewed for jobs in D.C. It was about 100 degrees and humid all week long. I was sweating just looking outside. So I would get to the office building really early (in some cases almost an hour beforehand), and just find a quiet place to hang out. I met a lot of sympathetic receptionists.

 

[whavens]

Suit all the way, especially for a Director level position. I always hang my suit coat in the back of my car, on the driver's side, to minimize the obstruction and put it on as I walk into my destination.

 

[buyandhold2018]

Tan slacks, navy blue (gold button blazer), white shirt. charcoal suit in the summer in Cali tells them you have no sense of style.

 

[professorchaos]

Director position? Suit.

 

[soccerguy83]

I can't offer an opinion, I was going to point out though that this is Cali we are talking about, and they take dressing at the job very differently than the rest of the country. From what I hear most places frown upon suits. OP, none of your advice came from someone located in Cali. I would seek out advice from your state on this one. For me here in VA suit all the way, but that's here.

Good luck to your friend!

 

[Obiwan]

Suit.

 

[Atalk]

Suit w/o question. Also ensure that the suit is ironed and altered correctly...it is a small but very meaningful sign to the potential employer that the candidate pays attention to details

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

Excellent - thank you all!

 

[BubblesTGB]

As usual, I'm late to the party, but I agree with suit all the way. When I interview people, I appreciate when they take the time to dress appropriately for the job for which they are applying.

 

[rearviewmirror]

Director position? Suit.

This!

 

[Doc4]

Suit.

I can't offer an opinion, I was going to point out though that this is Cali we are talking about, and they take dressing at the job very differently than the rest of the country. From what I hear most places frown upon suits. OP, none of your advice came from someone located in Cali. I would seek out advice from your state on this one. For me here in VA suit all the way, but that's here.

Good luck to your friend!

True.

And it's probably going to depend on the particular industry too ... from this distance, some of those flaky artsy-&-computer-techy are pretty "out there". But then again, that's how we 'outsiders' view California.



... but, I think that anyone interviewing for a Director position will be savy enough to the ways of the broader world to recognise a charcoal suit as "standard interview attire".

 

[soccerguy83]

Suit.

... but, I think that anyone interviewing for a Director position will be savy enough to the ways of the broader world to recognise a charcoal suit as "standard interview attire".

+1

I completely agree!

 

[Prince]

80's are considered a cool day here and yes, I wear a suit year around.

I think your friend can manage for an interview. Go with the suit and a nice tie.