Tie or no tie?

darragh o meara

Ok, looking for some opinions.

I have an interview later this week with a multinational. My question relates to the dress code for an interview.

I'm not a person who is 100% comfortable in a suit and tie but do so make the effort when needed, however I find a tie a bit restrictive and with all the rest of the anxiety involved I'd prefer to not wear one of I can.

My question is: does not wearing a tie to an interview have an adverse implication in an interview.

I will of course be wearing a smart suit and shirt etc, and the job doesn't require me to wear a suit, in fact most of the people in this company at my level and above don't wear suits.

Manach

No it doesnt

Tie.
My 2c, the more formal you are, the more a good impression. A lot of social interaction is intuitive, and while 99% of the time at a job there is no need to wear a tie, understanding the social nuances of when it is appropriate (such as in an interview), will be a plus.

Gmol

+1 on tie

Larry Wildman

No it doesnt

You should wear a tie.

CatFromHue

Have you got a proper fitting shirt?

I used to find wearing a tie uncomfortable but then realised the collar/neck on my shirt was a bit too small and it was buttoning up my shirt right to the top which was causing the lack of comfort, not the tie.

Just run a tape measure around your neck to get your size in inches.

Blingy

No it doesnt

Definitely wear a tie.

Oink

My humble opinion, dress like you want this job, and like there's nothing more important for you than get THIS job. I'm actually a bit concerned that you have an interview coming up, and what you come here to ask about is whether you can get away with not wearing a tie.
(Trying to help here btw)


Edit: best of luck, hope it works out!

InReality

No it doesnt

Need a tie OP. Part of the BS production of doing interviews.
If you decide not to , I'd go with just shirt and trousers.
Wearing a suit without a tie would look worse i think.

Alan Shore

If you are wearing a suit you should wear a tie. If the dress code is more casual google or Microsoft the a suit pants with a smart shirt may do.

If the office dress code is a suit and tie then you should wear one. The point about the neck size is important use the tie to close the neck if the shirt is too tight when buttoned.

Also make sure you use a good knot on your tie - Google Windsor knot!

Oink

Alan Shore wrote: »

...use the tie to close the neck if the shirt is too tight when buttoned.

Also make sure you use a good knot on your tie - Google Windsor knot!

I hope you don't mean "unbutton the collar"... That defeats the whole purpose of wearing a suit and tie - with a fancy Windsor knot. I would take off the tie altogether, and go for smart casual rather than sloppy formal.

wexie

I would imagine it would very much depend on the multinational and indeed the position in the multinational.

Having said that, I wouldn't imagine there have been too many cases of people not being hired for office jobs because they were overdressed so may as well err on the side of caution.

lazygal

I would also go slightly overdressed. I was told at one interview I was the most impressive candidate to walk through the door as everyone else was more casually dressed, and I got the job! It was a customer facing role and being well turned out was important.
Having also been on the other side and conducted interviews you really have to make a good first impression from the time you walk into where you'll be interviewed.

TL/DR always wear a tie for an interview. Let everyone else be casual if they want to.

darragh o meara

CatFromHue wrote: »

Have you got a proper fitting shirt?

I used to find wearing a tie uncomfortable but then realised the collar/neck on my shirt was a bit too small and it was buttoning up my shirt right to the top which was causing the lack of comfort, not the tie.

Just run a tape measure around your neck to get your size in inches.

I have a comfortable shirt, I just don't like wearing ties. I feel kinda claustrophobic in them if that makes sense?

Oink wrote: »

My humble opinion, dress like you want this job, and like there's nothing more important for you than get THIS job. I'm actually a bit concerned that you have an interview coming up, and what you come here to ask about is whether you can get away with not wearing a tie.
(Trying to help here btw)


Edit: best of luck, hope it works out!

I'm pretty much 100% prepared for the interview itself, but its my first real face to face one in a good few years and the last interview I did, I was told that I was not to wear a suit under any circumstances! Got the job too

wexie wrote: »

I would imagine it would very much depend on the multinational and indeed the position in the multinational.

Having said that, I wouldn't imagine there have been too many cases of people not being hired for office jobs because they were overdressed so may as well err on the side of caution.

The position is in Engineering in a tech company and the work dress is a Bunny suit Any of the other engineers I have spoken too there all tell me that they never had to wear a suit and that the people interviewing me wont be wearing them either.

Anyway in conclusion: I reckon I'm just gonna have to stick the tie on and hope for the best. Thanks to all contributors.

sebbplatter

No it doesnt

Dickie bow is the way to go.

desbrook

No it doesnt

The secret is a tailor made shirt. I'm 17 and a half neck but only 38 chest so have little choice. The difference is amazing and a tie is a joy to wear. A quality white tailor made shirt will only cost you €30 from itailor.com.

darragh o meara

sebbplatter wrote: »

Dickie bow is the way to go.

Ha, I want to impress them in the interview, not have them doubled over laughing

CatFromHue

darragh o meara wrote: »

I have a comfortable shirt, I just don't like wearing ties. I feel kinda claustrophobic in them if that makes sense?

Not a huge amount tbh. If you've a correctly fitting shirt the tie shouldn't make much of a difference.

desbrook wrote: »

The secret is a tailor made shirt. I'm 17 and a half neck but only 38 chest so have little choice. The difference is amazing and a tie is a joy to wear. A quality white tailor made shirt will only cost you €30 from itailor.com.

Cheers for that, I didn't know they existed.

I've had the problem for years in getting good fitting shirts. The ones that would fit my shoulders and arms would be far too big for my stomach and quite long. The ones the fit my stomach and were a good length where too tight on my shoulders!

hmmm

In some companies you have to be dressed well, so a proper fitting suit and tie is important. However even when you're going for a job that doesn't require you to be dressed up, it's usually* a good idea to wear a suit/good shirt & tie. It isn't about fashion, it's saying to the interviewer that you're serious about the job, serious about the opportunity and you will make the effort to fit in. I've been part of interviewing panels and when someone comes in with an obviously ill-fitting suit, they'll still get marked up (subconciously) for wearing one in the first place.

A slimfit shirt (M&S have loads) might fit you better.

* there's a small handful of companies I wouldn't wear a suit for, but it's a very small sample

darragh o meara

hmmm wrote: »

A slimfit shirt (M&S have loads) might fit you better.

Cheers for that, unfortunately I wouldn't be the slimmest of lads and a slim fit would just look a bit daft on me .

sebcity

No it doesnt

I've done many interviews and including some for the few companies that you wouldn't really need to dress up for, I still wore a suit and tie though - it won't go against you. There was one interview I didn't though and that's because they specifically said in the interview email - "Please wear casual clothes, this isn't a fashion show, we're judging you on your abilities, not your dress sense and we want you to be comfortable"

Best of luck!

samantha fortune

I personally think a tie doesn't make a difference. Everybody has there own style.

dobsdave

No it doesnt

darragh o meara wrote: »

The position is in Engineering in a tech company and the work dress is a Bunny suit Any of the other engineers I have spoken too there all tell me that they never had to wear a suit and that the people interviewing me wont be wearing them either.

Anyway in conclusion: I reckon I'm just gonna have to stick the tie on and hope for the best. Thanks to all contributors.

So its Intel or one of the vendor companies?
Working there 18 years on and off myself.
Its very casual here.....except if you are being interviewed.

desbrook

No it doesnt

dobsdave wrote: »

So its Intel or one of the vendor companies?
Working there 18 years on and off myself.
Its very casual here.....except if you are being interviewed.

Exactly - when you are being interviewed you aren't doing the job. You are at a business meeting discussing ( and trying to win) a contract worth tens of thousands anually .