interview dress code for engineers 9

[westheimer1234]

which is a better semi formal for an interview
1. long sleeves with tie no coat
2. long sleeves with coat no tie

or should i go completely formal coat and tie

 

[SteveMartin]

I've worn a suit for all of my interviews so far (except the telephone interview). It's vastly overdressed compared to anything I'd actually wear to work, and also compared to what all of my interviewers have worn - but I'll continue to do it again the next time I interview. I believe it can't hurt to look your best, and for me it helps keep me in a more professional demeanor.

I wouldn't want to work for a company that made its hiring decisions with any signifcant weighting on what was worn to the interview, in either direction.

 

[IRstuff]

There is also a vast cultural gap between the coasts in the US. While the West Coast tends to be quite tolerant and business casual implies polo shirts and the like, the East Coast tends to think of business casual as where we get to unbutton our suits.

TTFN

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[TheTick]

Just read Calguy's post.

Not only should you wear coat a tie, but you should appear comfortable and natural doing so. Practice if you must; tailor as required.

 

[IRstuff]

re: powdered wigs. IFAIK, the courts in GB still use them when in session.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[KENAT]

As to age/generation gaps. I'm in my early 30's. When I interview I prefer to wear a suit but will sometimes go shirt & tie no jacket for climate reasons (or if my suit doesn't fit). When I'm the interviewer (which occasionally happens) I expect the interviewee to be wearing a suit, or at least shirt & tie. To not do so shows me, my company and the potential job a lack of respect. This even though my actual office is very business casual. A younger applicant not wearing a suite might also suggest immaturity and give the impression they don't really care.

IRstuff - I think they recently started to relax those rules and the wigs may be on their way out.

monkeydog - I'll try to remember it;-).

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[FeX32]

I add to Kenat's opinion, and I can say that I significantly reduce the mean age for this pro-suit crowd .


Fe

 

[TheTick]

At my last interview (for my current job), my future boss commented on my dress, and that they were much more casual in their workplace. I responded that I figured as much, but I thought it would be disrespectful to them and the firm that sent me to show up for an interview in anything less. That opened up a whole avenue of interesting conversation.

 

[Ron]

Good comments, Tick.

IRStuff...a little ZZ Top to get one's perspective right!! Does that include being as clean shaven as they are?

 

[KENAT]

Tick actually makes a point, if you do end up feeling over dressed, or it you think maybe the interviewer has issue with it you can always say something like Tick did. I'm not sure how easy it would be to turn up in Beachwear and try to explain the opposite direction.

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[vc66]

KENAT-

Sure, you can just say the opposite.

"I noticed you're all wearing polos and slacks... I'm wearing a tee shirt and jeans, but only because I was to goddamn lazy to buy a suit, and I figured you wouldn't care. Hope you don't mind."

V

 

[mauricestoker]

Being older generation, I believe that if you want to be impotent you should look impotent.

 

[dgillette]

On my last two job interviews, I wore a charcoal gray pinstripe wool suit with shiny shoes. Both were in very casual offices (FL and CO), where ties are generally greeted by "Going to a funeral today, or to court?" The first one involved a visit to one of their local construction projects, and I don't know whether it helped me or hurt me to have gotten out of the truck to examine the soil in the aforementioned shiny shoes. Got both jobs however, and I can still fit into that suit 27 years later, though the pants are a bit tighter. I don't wear suits out very fast.

 

[IRstuff]

I think ZZ Top's beards are our peculiar evolution of the powdered wig ;-)

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[casseopeia]

There can never be too many threads discussing fashionable attire in an engineering forum. It balances out the geeky, boring stuff.

"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

 

[MechEng2005]

I'm also pro-suit, and in my upper-20's. I put "suit" on my gift list for holidays shortly after starting college. In my opinion, a traditional (i.e. timeless) suit should be made a standard graduation present for high school.

Also, I have revised my "sharp dressed man" look from the strictly ZZ Top version to include a stick (as in, "The ladies were come from all over, I had to beat 'em off with a stick!").

-- MechEng2005

 

[Ron]

Hey Cass...but if we dressed like you, would we get the job? It's easy for you to look good...we need all the help we can get!

 

[Japher]

Suit and tie, for sure. You can't wear the uniform until you make the team.

 

[casseopeia]

Thanks Ron....but these days I think I look HORRIBLE thanks to the extra poundage. I'm making a bit of progress, however.

I'd like to add a general rule of thumb. If an engineer notices what you wore to your interview, then it's safe to say you have made a huge blunder. The only way an engineer is going to notice is if you come dressed in anything that is unexpected. They are going to expect a conservative suit, not too fashionable, in a dark color, with a long-sleeved shirt and a conservative tie.
As an added bonus, I would include,

1. try on your suit and make sure it is properly fitted
2. don't forget to polish your shoes
3. if you have any doubt about your social graces, for God's sake, study up a bit and practice.



"If you are going to walk on thin ice, you might as well dance!"

 

[Ron]

Good advice, Cass. As socially inept as we are, polishing makes a whole lot of sense.

 

[mauricestoker]

MechEng,

It should be a cane, not a stick. You'll never become a PMP without your cane.