internal job, to wear a suit to interview or not

fret_wimp

Ok, let me give you a bit of background. I work for an outsourcing company. I am placed on the client site at present. A position has opened up with the client, and I am applying for that position. Here in my workplace there is no real dresscode. we are all it guys and just wear tshirt and jeans. I dont want to wear a suit to my interview for the internal job as my outsourcing boss sits a few desks away from me and i dont want him to see me in a suit as he will know im looking for another job then. I know the managers who will be interviewing me as I work with them on a daily basis. should i ask them to allow me to wear semi casual attire to the interview, or to change the venue of the interview? if my current boss sees me in a suit he will instantly know im looking at another position and then they will lose interest in me as an employee, and i dont want that to happen,. as the saying goes " dont throw out the dirty water until you have recieved the fresh water". advice would be greatly appriciated.

Ibjiba

I think you answered your own question in the post. Talking to interviewers if they recommend you to wear a suit is probably the best answer, especially if you give them your situation.

If this is not suitable for you just say you are going to a funeral straight after work :-)

hermit

fret_wimp wrote:

Ok, let me give you a bit of background. I work for an outsourcing company. I am placed on the client site at present. A position has opened up with the client, and I am applying for that position. Here in my workplace there is no real dresscode. we are all it guys and just wear tshirt and jeans. I dont want to wear a suit to my interview for the internal job as my outsourcing boss sits a few desks away from me and i dont want him to see me in a suit as he will know im looking for another job then. I know the managers who will be interviewing me as I work with them on a daily basis. should i ask them to allow me to wear semi casual attire to the interview, or to change the venue of the interview? if my current boss sees me in a suit he will instantly know im looking at another position and then they will lose interest in me as an employee, and i dont want that to happen,. as the saying goes " dont throw out the dirty water until you have recieved the fresh water". advice would be greatly appriciated.

Yes wear a suit. Tell your work colleagues you have to go to a funeral, hence the formal attire... no further questions asked

Malice

hermit wrote:

Yes wear a suit. Tell your work colleagues you have to go to a funeral, hence the formal attire... no further questions asked

This will also serve as a convenient explanation as to why you require the time off!
If you drive, couldn't you bring your suit with you and just put it on near the interview time?
Also I worked for a large American multinational for a few years and interviewed for various internal positions in that time. My various supervisors had no problem with that (well one did but that's another story). It also looks good that you are willing to put yourself forward and progress in your career. Why would your boss lose interest in you just for interviewing for another job in the same company? If they start treating you unacceptably, a visit to your HR dept or person should soon sort that out. Don't take this as being rude but you're easily replaceable in your job. We all are!

fret_wimp

Thanks guys. Unfortunately the interview is in an office up the corridor from my desk so keeping a suit in the car and wearing it just for the interview isnt an option as i will be seen. I think I will talk to my client manager who will be interviewing me. Malice, I see your point about the company not losing interest in me and thinking im ok for wanting to further my career, but at the mo I get on really well within my current company, and they think highly of me and want me to stay, so i dont want to change that, on the offchance this interview for the job on the client site doesnt work out. Thanks all

copacetic

fret, are you sure you can take a job this way?

I have a few people here on contract from various companies and all the contracts state that we can't hire them direct.

calsatron

I wouldn't bother with a suit personally.

The point of wearing a suit is to create a good impression and give off an air of professionalism. Since you already know and work with the interviewers they will already have an opinion on you that wearing a suit on the day is unlikely to change.

Just say to them beforehand that due to the current situation you'll be attending in casual attire and will that present any problems.

I've known guys who've done interviews in coffee shops because their prospective employer was based in the office upstairs and they didn't want anyone to see them.

fret_wimp

Hi Copacetic. yes, id guess about 30% of the employees for the client company came from the outsourcing company! it happens all the time here.
It is such a massive contract for the outsourcing company, that they dont mind losing a few employees if it keeps the contract going.


Thanks Calstron. thats what i thought. these guys have worked with me for almost 2 years, they know me and a suit wont change their opinions at this stage! I will chat to them anyway and just ask them what they think, and let you guys know.

Thanks for the replies.

Malice

Sorry fret_wimp, I got confused between your thread title and your first post! The situation isn't quite like I thought. I thought you were moving to another position in the same company.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I would always wear a suit to an interview. You want to present yourself in your best light and show the interviewer that you're capable of making the effort. Sure the dress code is casual but at least you're showing that when required, you're capable of smartening up.

fguihen

Error post

Gone West

Just wear trousers, shirt to work. Leave it unbuttoned and casual during the working day, and when its interview time, whip out a decent tie and away ya go.

No point telling silly lies about funerals
Karma and mocking is catching.

Newaglish

I would just explain the situation exactly as you did in your first post - i'm sure they'll understand. Given that you know them as well, it shouldn't be such a big deal if you're not wearing a suit.

If they really want you to wear the suit, either go with the funeral excuse (or a less karma-related suit wearing event!) or just really nail the interview!

the_syco

Wear a suit. The place I work in: everyone dresses casual. On interview day, we had a laugh at those who came in suits. We knew there was interviews going on, so no biggie.

If you don't want to let the current boss know, wear slacks, and a short sleaved shirt. When going into the interview, whip on the suit jacket that came with the slacks, wrap a tie around your neck, and no-one is wiser.

fret_wimp

the problem there is that even slacks and a short slieve shirt is "dressy" here. we literally wear what we want so its music tshirts jeans and runners. think il talk to the interviewers first and see what they advise