Interview Attire

Roro4Brit

Hi,

Just a quick Q, I have an interview, well more I'm spending some hours on site, for a company that I really want to work for.

Now thing is, its one of these companies that places a huge emphasis on organisational culture and work environment....and it would be akin to Google say, in that they advocate a laid back, creative, wear what you want once your happy and work hard type attitude. Sound great eh?

So I'm not sure about what to wear. I remember that an old lecturer of mine saying that you always, no matter what, go to a professional interview neat as a pin and dressed in strict business attire...even if its for a job in a chip shop. But as this company is all about fitting in with their culture, I'm just confused as to what to wear for my time on-site. It may seem like a trivial worry but I really want to impress these guys.

Any exp or advice is greatly appreciated!

unJustMary

Have you already been to a first interview with them, ie have they seen you in a suit? If so, make it more casual .. aim for a bit more formal than the people you'll be hanging with, but not too much.

If not, then I'd be tempted to go for the suit, with a trendy shirt and tie. And to make a point of losing the tie at some opportune moment early in the few hours. And then to focus on fitting in irrespective of clothes, ie show then that you really don't care what you or anyone else is wearing, by focussing on more interesting things like what work they do.

I disagree with your old lecturer: if you turned up for a chip-shop interview in a suit, they'd think "ahh, sure this tosser has no idea what this job is like". Aiming for "just a bit more formal than the folks who'll be interviewing you" is usually better IMHO.

Roro4Brit

Hi thanks for that. No I've just had 2 phone interviews and a meeting off site so far. This is my first time to the hq so I'm nervous.

I think ill go with the suit, nice shirt and tie. It's always better to be overdressed than under I guess. I can always lose the jacket at any stage when I'm in with the team...

Damn this recruitment thing never gets easy does it

sharper

Your lecturer is right, wear the suit.

Turning up overdressed to an interview (in the small percentage of cases where that would be the case) is forgiveable and people will think nothing of it unless they explicitly told you to wear something else.

Turning up underdressed will lose you the job right there and then,

Roro4Brit

sharper wrote: »

Your lecturer is right, wear the suit.

Turning up overdressed to an interview (in the small percentage of cases where that would be the case) is forgiveable and people will think nothing of it unless they explicitly told you to wear something else.

Turning up underdressed will lose you the job right there and then,

Exactly what I'm thinking. Suit it is.

Roro4Brit

Ok confused again. I asked the guy on the phone today and he said business casual.....

So do I go for suit with open shirt then?

I don't wanna look like a stiff.....

Dave!

Open shirt?



For me, smart casual is shirt and tie with slacks, ie. no suit jacket

Roro4Brit

It's different I'll give you that.

majiktripp

Google Images for Business CAsual Attire gives you a rough idea.
Seems to be shirt, no tie and khaki's or chino type pants with dress shoes.

Atomic Pineapple

When I was told to come in for a face to face interview with the company I currrently work with I was told to dress casual.

I wore a shirt, no tie, jeans, dress shoes (brown) and a casual kintted Calvin Klein top

And got the job

Stercus Accidit

Grey suit jacket, shirt no tie, really nice jeans, leather shoes, slick hair-do.

That's my casual but suave look, wear it on a date, to an interview with a hip company, to the pub!

Perfect for all non suit but neat events!

Eoin

Jeans are not "business casual" though, which is what the OP was told to wear.

3DataModem

If I was told business casual i would always wear a suit with open necked shirt.

And I've interviewed for large companies even more casual than google.

If you underdress = no job.

If you overdress = at worst they'll at least realise you take it seriously.