Facebook Interview Dress Code

devnull

Going to an interview with Facebook next week in their offices.

Not sure how to dress, the interviewer told me:
- Whatever is comfortable
- No Tracksuits or ratty clothes

My original question to him was would a suit be over-dressing and was told
- Anything business casual+ is fine.

Since the two bits of information he gave contradicts, what would you go with?

Nody

It's an interview; suit and tie.

xabi

Suit and tie without a doubt.

devnull

I thought so, but the mnetion of "Whatever is comfortable" and the other remarks made me think I'd ber overdressed and should perhaps drop the tie. I will have to make presentation as well on Monday.

sebcity

I would always wear a suit to an interview.

However, I have heard through recruitment friends that these hi-tech companies frown upon wearing a suit to an interview because it means you never did your research into the lifestyle and ethos of the company and how they do things...i.e. casual clothes

sebcity

I would always wear a suit to an interview.

However, I have heard through recruitment friends that these hi-tech companies frown upon wearing a suit to an interview because it means you never did your research into the lifestyle and ethos of the company and how they do things...i.e. casual clothes

HEND085

shirt and suit pants. no tie

kirving

Even if you were applying for a job as a mechanic, or a block layer, something physical, you should almost always still wear a suit. When you get the job, then think about dressing down.

Until that point comes however, you have to show them how seriously you take the job.

TG1

I would always wear a suit, it just makes a better impression. I've interviewed people for retail assistant positions and they wore suits and it didn't count against them at all. I take the view that not making an effort for an interview is not a good starting point, so make as much visable effort as possible. A suit is an easy way to do this.

mcgovern

Some ex-colleagues of mine have had interviews with Google, wearing a suit for the interview was frowned upon, I would guess Facebook is similar.

HEND085

you will feel like an idiot in a full suit in a place like google- paticularly if they've told you in a round about way not to.
im speaking from experience .
the guy that interviewed me was wearing an ireland soccer jersey, jeans, and a pair of asics gym runners.

mattaiuseire

Would trust people who say they have experience... But don't go too casual. Still look smart, smart casual shirt, smart casual trousers, smart casual yourself up beeyatch.

Crow92

Why not just dress smartly, something along the lines of shirt, jumper and a blazer /jacket with dark denim jeans and dressy shoes?

Something like this but you don't need to look wankery in it.

https://cdn.lookastic.com/looks/blazer-v-neck-sweater-long-sleeve-shirt-chinos-low-top-sneakers-original-9504.jpg

Atlantic Dawn

Suit and tie will trump anything else, you won't be underdressed no matter what.

For the likes of Facebook/Google I'd personally wear nice pair of slacks, a nice shirt and a tie. Not too dressy. Not too casual. Personally wouldn't wear a suit. Was once told by a recruiter that you should always dress as appropriate to the place you're interviewing for; Facebook/Google tend to be very casual in appearance.

Speedwell

Facebook HQ is in California. I'm an American corporate IT professional. For any American company, the "IT business-casual interview" for men is a decent pair of trousers (not jeans, not suit trousers) and a button-down business shirt, with good shoes that have seen a polish within living memory. For women, a skirt or dressy trousers with a dressy blouse and comfortable low-heeled, but not flat, shoes. Clean, well-kept hair and body (no smells, even of cologne, other than clean soap) are the most important thing.

stoller

I would imagine that being FB and taking into account the following:

1) people have stated it is frowned upon in similar tech companies to over dress for interview
2) its facebook not your average interview where a suit shirt and tie are a min
3) the interviewer isnt there to catch you out so him saying business casual and to wear whats comfortable tells me they don't want a suit

My advice would be to wear chinos, nice shoes and a polo neck t-shirt or a casual shirt tucked in but with no tie. (many senior managers and executives wear this sort of thing and we are business casual where I work)

Business casual can mean a few things but the casual part usually rules out a full suit!

devnull

My initial idea was smart black shoes black trousers and white button down shirt with a smart coat over the top but now thinking of suit jacket instead? Under the coat but worried that is too many layers

I know people who have gone with a smart formal shirt and smart jeans but felt that was too casual for me

AndyBoBandy

a pair of navy/beige chinos & a plain shirt.

Speedwell

devnull wrote: »

My initial idea was smart black shoes black trousers and white button down shirt with a smart coat over the top but now thinking of suit jacket instead? Under the coat but worried that is too many layers

I know people who have gone with a smart formal shirt and smart jeans but felt that was too casual for me

Honestly, a pure white shirt is too formal... but maybe that's my Texas prejudice showing; in that market it says "trying too hard" or "Mom bought me this shirt for interviews". A pale color or a faint stripe do much to relieve this. And wear the coat that is appropriate for the weather. I assure you that what you know will go much further than what you wear anyway, given that your interviewer, if they are an IT person and not an HR person, is likely to be... I say this as an Aspie myself... not overly connected with social niceties like clothing.

seamus

The rule is that if you don't get told what to wear, wear a suit & tie.

If you do get told what to wear, wear that.

You've been told;

- Whatever is comfortable
- No Tracksuits or ratty clothes
- Anything business casual+ is fine.

So, wear a pair of slacks or a very clean, very new pair of black jeans. And on top of that wear either a neat jumper, or a neat shirt - doesn't have to be a dress or a "work" shirt - something you'd wear to the pub is fine so long as it's not short-sleeved or with a Hawaiian motif.

Do not wear a tie and you can bring a suit jacket if you wish and wear it more like a blazer, but a normal clean and neat jacket is fine.

I've gotten a job before turning up to the interview in a pair of jeans and a hoodie. I got pretty much the same "dress code" from the HR guy except he specifically said, "jeans and a t-shirt are fine if that's what you're comfortable in".

devnull

I have some striped and checked shirts so I can go with them but don't really go well with my chinos which leaves me with dark blue jeans or black or dark grey trousers

Larbre34

A sharply cut pair of dark jeans, jeanos or slacks, nice pair of brogues or chelseas with matching belt

A well fitting sportcoat over either just a shirt or with a v-neck sweater if the weather dictates. Think college lecturer, Hank Scorpio, Robert Langton.

Even if t-shirts are the order of the day on the office floor, they aren't suitable for an interview. Dont wear a stockbroker suit, but do show them you respect yourself and respect them. Clean shaven or an edged and tidy beard.

Good luck!

Speedwell

devnull wrote: »

I have some striped and checked shirts so I can go with them but don't really go well with my chinos which leaves me with dark blue jeans or black or dark grey trousers

Black or dark grey will always do. Just make sure your shirt is toned down, but not all the way to white.

devnull

Speedwell wrote: »

Black or dark grey will always do. Just make sure your shirt is toned down, but not all the way to white.

They're more formal though really for suits my chinos would clash with the checked and striped shirts

Shoes is no problem, have a very nice designer pair of brogues that I will wear.

Montiii

Take my word for it.

Don't ear a suit, it will give the wrong impression.
For my interview I wore shoes, chinos and a shirt and even then I looked over dressed compared to everyone else

Montiii

Take my word for it.

Don't wear a suit, it will give the wrong impression.
For my interview I wore shoes, chinos and a shirt and even then I looked over dressed compared to everyone else

edit to add, ignore the point about being clean shaven.
If you have a beard or stubble keep it, just be tidy

devnull

I'm not going to wear one.

So what I've got in my head now is
- Chequered or striped shirt that is ticked in
- black smart brogues
- smart coat/jacket

I don't really have chinos that go with the colour of my formal shirts, the one pair that I did have are not in great condition.

So I have choice of
- Dark Navy Blue Jeans (smart, wore once)
- Black formal suit trousers
- dark grey formal suit trousers.

I currently work for another MN in Sandyford, where it's pretty much same dress code as Facebook, so I don't need to dress up with chinos and matching shirt often and normally if I go to weddings etc I would use full suit.

lapua20grain

Wear a pair of slacks a decent shirt a v neck jumper and a par of shoes that are clean no tie, at the end of the day you have got an interview so they see something in your CV that peaks their interest my advice would be don't worry I interview people and their dress only has a small bearing on their suitability for a position

hardCopy

If you wear a coat leave out in the waiting area or lobby. You'll roast if you wear it in the room and will have to carry it on your arm while people are possibly trying to shake your hand as you leave.

yourpics

I would wear a suit but if you were to follow Zuckerberg's lead you would wear a plain t-shirt! The reasoning behind it is that he always wears the same style / colour of t-shirt as this is one less decision to make so your brain is better rested for making important decisions (decision fatigue!)

TG1

Mr.S wrote: »

Does a suit really say your suited for the job? I've found more and more that people are just adopting the smart casual route. In the interviews i've sat in over the past year or so, very few would have worn suits. Dying out tbh!

I don't think it says your suitable for a job but it says you are willing to make an effort to impress for an hour because you want the job. It might not seem like much but of there are two similarly suitable candidates little things can give someone an edge.

seamus

yourpics wrote: »

I would wear a suit but if you were to follow Zuckerberg's lead you would wear a plain t-shirt! The reasoning behind it is that he always wears the same style / colour of t-shirt as this is one less decision to make so your brain is better rested for making important decisions (decision fatigue!)

Holistic wankology in reality, the same kind of people that talks about eating clean to be successful and, "Successful people use these apps, do you?"
Some people are obsessed with the idea that if you act like <insert successful person here> you'll suddenly become successful. Which is all bollox so that you can be sold stuff.

The question of what to wear isn't one that's going to tax Zuckerberg's brain and "waste thinking time". The fact is that his outfit is part of his brand, like Jobs and his black turtlenecks. He wears it to reinforce who he is and what he does and make himself instantly recognisable.
He comes across as a genial, quiet guy, but he loves his time in spotlight like Jobs did.

rainbow kirby

Mr.S wrote: »

Does a suit really say your suited for the job? I've found more and more that people are just adopting the smart casual route. In the interviews i've sat in over the past year or so, very few would have worn suits. Dying out tbh!

Female developer here - my lucky interviewing outfit is a bottle green shift dress, black cardigan and heels. Got my last 2 jobs in it, haven't worn an actual suit for an interview since my first job out of college.

ED E

An addendum that might help, it depends on the department too. If you get the chance to stroll around google dock you'll see the Dev/ops guys and those in sales/SEO etc have significantly different styles.

fergalr

Assuming you are on the tech side [your name is devnull] then don't listen to the 'always wear a suit to an interview' folk; you'll probably be overdressed and feel awkward, and it even could count against you.

So what I've got in my head now is
- Chequered or striped shirt that is ticked in
- black smart brogues
- smart coat/jacket

Anything like that is probably fine, or even go a bit more causal; don't over think it, spend your time whiteboarding algorithms questions instead, or whatever the facebook interview looks like :-)

psnKOB79LFC

devnull wrote: »

Going to an interview with Facebook next week in their offices.

Not sure how to dress, the interviewer told me:
- Whatever is comfortable
- No Tracksuits or ratty clothes

My original question to him was would a suit be over-dressing and was told
- Anything business casual+ is fine.

Since the two bits of information he gave contradicts, what would you go with?

"no tracksuits"... damn that's my dream job gone.

testicle

Shirt and tie, with jacket. No pants.

The Bishop Basher

Ties are a relic of a bygone age. Do not wear a tie, You will stick out like a sore thumb which will have you feeling uncomfortable before the interview even starts.

It's a business, they don't want to play mind games with you. If they said it's smart casual then it's smart casual however I would always aim to go a step further. You want to stand out from the crowd but for the right reasons.

The amount of people I see coming in to us for interviews wearing badly fitted suits and their dad's 30 year old tie is unreal. It really does make them stand out and it looks awful.

Invest in smart well fitted suit, a good quality shirt and decent looking shoes. You'll use them over and over and if you feel a bit overdressed on the day you can always remove the jacket.

Best of luck with the interview...