internal interview...wear suit? yes or no?

easyontheeye

hi, i have an internal interview for a promotion coming up this week and im not sure if i should wear a suit or not? I work in engineering and everyone, managers, me included dresses very casual...what do you think ? im thinking yes...but dont want to over kill.

3DataModem

easyontheeye wrote: »

hi, i have an internal interview for a promotion coming up this week and im not sure if i should wear a suit or not? I work in engineering and everyone, managers, me included dresses very casual...what do you think ? im thinking yes...but dont want to over kill.

At the very least it shows you are serious.

I would suggest definitely YES.

Farls

I'd wear the suit.

As I said to a mate going for an interview a few weeks ago. I would rather be the only one sitting in the waiting room on an interview in a suit than being the one nob sat there in a t shirt and a pair of jeans!

I would bring my normal attire in the car though so I can change before/after interview unless of course your taking the rest of the day off!

easyontheeye

Farls wrote: »

I'd wear the suit.

As I said to a mate going for an interview a few weeks ago. I would rather be the only one sitting in the waiting room on an interview in a suit than being the one nob sat there in a t shirt and a pair of jeans!

I would bring my normal attire in the car though so I can change before/after interview unless of course your taking the rest of the day off!

yeah i will do...i wanted to keep it low key about me interviewing for the position...it will be so obvious when im see strutting around in a suit!

thanks for the confirmation!

Firetrap

Wear the suit. I've gone for internal interviews in my workplace and I've felt happier in myself when I wore a suit rather than just smart clothes. Maybe it's a psychological thing. Don't forget that your interviewers will most likely be turned out in their Sunday best for the day as well and the last thing you'll need is to feel a bit scruffy in their presence.

Making the effort to dress up will make a good impression as well. It will show that you're taking it seriously. Good luck!

kippy

Defo wear the suit. Standard practice and it defo won't show you in a negative light.

jimmycrackcorm

I disagree as I think it will be pointless. Your interviewers will have seen you strut around in casuals and know that you'll be back in them the next day so it will appear false. I'd suggest instead of going half way - smart casual so to speak with suit trousers and shirt. This will show that you are making an effort to indicate that you are taking the position seriously but recognizing that the normal dress sense is more relaxed.

Waxing the Gaza

Definitely wear the suit, I had an interview for an internal position last year and I wasn't sure if I should wear a suit or not because it was due to take place on a casual Friday. I chose to wear it in the end and got the Job and HR commented afterwards that they were impressed with the fact that I went to the trouble with the suit.

I don't know if it swung the job or not but it might differentiate you from the other candidates and that's what its all about in my experience.Good luck with the interview!!

qwertz

I recommend you dress according to the position that you're interviewing for.

kippy

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

I disagree as I think it will be pointless. Your interviewers will have seen you strut around in casuals and know that you'll be back in them the next day so it will appear false. I'd suggest instead of going half way - smart casual so to speak with suit trousers and shirt. This will show that you are making an effort to indicate that you are taking the position seriously but recognizing that the normal dress sense is more relaxed.

I would not go down this route. It shows a lax attitude and a hint of complacency about the interview process, despite any previous conceptions the interviewers have about you.
You've got to be careful in internal interviews as well, the fact that there is an interview at all would suggest that there are a number of candidates, all internal in this case. You'll be up against people who have the same inside knowledge as you with possibly the same "history" with the interviewers. Wearing a suit will at least give you that air of taking it seriously and treating it differently to any other day.
Also, be wary of the atmosphere in the interview, dont treat it as too "friendly" and be prepared for tough questions.
Kippy

doolox

Those who I have known to go for interview for managerial of senior engineering positions should wear a suit.
Those going for middle ranking technical or trade positions should opt for smart casual, a suit here might make the people think you are not a "hands on" type of person ready to get their hands dirty,so to speak, in getting machinery going and keeping it going.
Prepare in all other details like you would for an external interview and keep all small-talk with colleagues to a minimum. Most people are jealous of people going for interview as it shows ambition and initiative. Avoid any negativity with colleagues beforehand for this reason.
Take at least 15 minutes beforehand to wind down from your usual work routine.
Take time to freshen up in the washroom before the interview.
Especially when dealing with admin types nothing is more offputting than to arrive flustered and overheated from your usual routine, especially if your job is physically demanding. The backroom boys won't understand it and won't forgive it.

dh0661

qwertz wrote: »

I recommend you dress according to the position that you're interviewing for.

I agree 100% - Good luck with your interview.

kippy

dh0661 wrote: »

I agree 100% - Good luck with your interview.

Completely disagree.
If you are interviewing for ANY form of an office based job you need to wear a suit. Actually, I'd go as far as to say that if what you are attending is called an "interview" at all, you need to wear a suit. Its not something I agree with myself but at the very least almost everyone else there will be wearing a suit to the interview. You need to at least ensure you are starting on an even keel in the fashion stakes.
If you dress according to the position you are applying for, do you dress in jeans and a t-shirt if that is the Friday standard?
In a LOT of job interviews (where you havent worked in the company before) you dont really know what type of attire is acceptable on a daily basis in work so dressing in a suit for an interview is advisable.

Stheno

kippy wrote: »

I would not go down this route. It shows a lax attitude and a hint of complacency about the interview process, despite any previous conceptions the interviewers have about you.
You've got to be careful in internal interviews as well, the fact that there is an interview at all would suggest that there are a number of candidates, all internal in this case. You'll be up against people who have the same inside knowledge as you with possibly the same "history" with the interviewers. Wearing a suit will at least give you that air of taking it seriously and treating it differently to any other day.
Also, be wary of the atmosphere in the interview, dont treat it as too "friendly" and be prepared for tough questions.
Kippy

Exactly as was said above, I used work in a company where we were all consultants and on non client days people would slob in in the most casual of casual clothes.

Come an internal job advertisement every single candidate wore a suit, as did the managers, showed people were serious and formalised the process.

Wear the suit, it's one less thing to worry about even.

And good luck!

qwertz

kippy wrote: »

Completely disagree.
If you are interviewing for ANY form of an office based job you need to wear a suit. Actually, I'd go as far as to say that if what you are attending is called an "interview" at all, you need to wear a suit. Its not something I agree with myself but at the very least almost everyone else there will be wearing a suit to the interview. You need to at least ensure you are starting on an even keel in the fashion stakes.
If you dress according to the position you are applying for, do you dress in jeans and a t-shirt if that is the Friday standard?
In a LOT of job interviews (where you havent worked in the company before) you dont really know what type of attire is acceptable on a daily basis in work so dressing in a suit for an interview is advisable.

Well, he/she works there and knows the environment. It would be silly to show up completely overdressed for the job. OP, use your common sense and speak with your sponsor (if you have one). Depending on the people that will be part of that meeting you could always mention your reason for not wearing a suit.

kippy

qwertz wrote: »

Well, he/she works there and knows the environment. It would be silly to show up completely overdressed for the job. OP, use your common sense and speak with your sponsor (if you have one). Depending on the people that will be part of that meeting you could always mention your reason for not wearing a suit.

It wouldnt be silly at all. It would be standard practice. If a discussion comes up in the interview about not wearing a suit, you've done something wrong.
Kippy

doolox

I remember being told I nearly lost a job, admittedly junior and manual based because I turned up for interview in suit and everyone else was smart casual.
It was a factory job and the class distinctions were sharper in towns than in the country, at that time all country people wore suits, even when digging the road.........
One of the interview panel was a townie who didn't want to hire me because she was afraid I wouldn't muck in and do the work and take orders.
I got the job because another on the panel was a country guy who knew how country people dress for interview. It also helped that we were both from self-employed backgrounds his family being publicans and my father being a milkman.
I'd say however with the way times are now wearing a suit would not be seen as upstaging the boss in any way as a vast majority of jobs are now educationally based rather than manual and job induction and placement is much more formal than in the past.

easyontheeye

well i wore the suit... and was asked why i wore a suit and that i didnt have to. was told not to wear one for the second interview... oh well!

kippy

easyontheeye wrote: »

well i wore the suit... and was asked why i wore a suit and that i didnt have to. was told not to wear one for the second interview... oh well!

Well,
You got a second interview and were advised how to dress for it, nothing wrong with that.
Kippy

easyontheeye

kippy wrote: »

Well,
You got a second interview and were advised how to dress for it, nothing wrong with that.
Kippy

i just said it was a formal process and im sure the external canditates would be wearing suits so i thought i should be no different and dress formally!

kippy

easyontheeye wrote: »

i just said it was a formal process and im sure the external canditates would be wearing suits so i thought i should be no different and dress formally!

Good answer.
Tis always hard to tell but I would ALWAYS go with the suit UNLESS told otherwise and you weren't until in the interview.
Best of luck with the promotion, hopefully the second interview goes as well as the first.
Kippy

Blazer

easyontheeye wrote: »

well i wore the suit... and was asked why i wore a suit and that i didnt have to. was told not to wear one for the second interview... oh well!

lol..damned if you do..damned if you don't..

For my company most people within the IT/Engineering would wear a shirt + suit pants..that way you didn't look casual but not too stuffy either.

Firetrap

Well, wearing the suit didn't do you any harm either. Better to be told that you don't have to wear one next time out than to find yourself underdressed at the interview.

qwertz

Being told not to dress in a certain way at work, am I the only one that smiles at that?

easyontheeye

i've just been informed by a colleague that HR mark on Business attire in the interview...so im like wtf do i do!? Am i being shafted here!
this is silly!

kippy

easyontheeye wrote: »

i've just been informed by a colleague that HR mark on Business attire in the interview...so im like wtf do i do!? Am i being shafted here!
this is silly!

Has the colleague any vested interests?
Were there any HR people in the first interview?
Will there be any HR people in the second interview?
Are some people who were on the first panel going to be in the interview?

Strange one to be honest......I dont know how would approach that one.....

easyontheeye

kippy wrote: »

Has the colleague any vested interests?none
Were there any HR people in the first interview? no
Will there be any HR people in the second interview? yes
Are some people who were on the first panel going to be in the interview?yes

Strange one to be honest......I dont know how would approach that one.....

this is annoying me! am i over complicating this?!

Firetrap

Hmm. I think if I've been told not to wear the suit by internal people who'll be on the panel again, I wouldn't wear it again. Perhaps try a smart shirt/trousers combo. I think if I was in your shoes, I still wouldn't go into the interview wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

Incidentally, that's the first I've ever heard about HR marking someone on their interview attire. I know people try to look their best when they're being interviewed but it's not a fashion parade.

doolox

Marking for attire in a sales or people-related job would be logical. Good attire show attention to detail and presentation, essential in those roles.
Probably less important in technical, backroom roles but a smart appearance always helps.
It all depends on how the suit comment was made, it could have been a throwaway remark with little or no importance.

mathie

qwertz wrote: »

I recommend you dress according to the position that you're interviewing for.

So lifeguards should show up for interviews in Speedos?!

mark renton

internal interview...wear suit? yes or no?

yes its not overkill unless you look like your going to a wedding

Farls

Having being told its not necessary to wear a suit just dress smart casual, I would wear a shirt and a pair of trousers and shoes...no tie.

Again it depends on your normal attire that you wear to work? and the level of position you are being interviewed for?

Also make a point to say at the start of the interview something like 'Sorry if you thought my suit the last day was over kill, its just that I'm trying to portray my interest in this position as much as possible' or something along those lines...ie. get across to the board of interviewer's that you were told not to wear one again by one of them!