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Smart Casual IT industry

  • 22-04-2016 01:22AM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭


    So after a long search I've gotten a job in the IT industry, American multinational, it's a tech role and in the job offer is dress code, smart casual, what is that?

    I had been for 3 interviews and had seen loads of staff walking around in jeans and t-shirt, but what I've just realised today is, all my interviews were on a Friday and of course it's "casual Friday". So I've no idea what to ware.


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,758 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Slacks/Chino's, ironed shirt, clean/polished shoes not runners, ties not worn..jeans on Fridays is the American multinational norm - I've worked for several over the last 18 years (showing my age) and that how its always been. Techs tend to be a bit more sloppy than others (crumpled shirts are the norm ) ;)

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  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 9,833 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manach


    Usually best to start with a Sunday best on the first day and then start to mirror what seems to be the accepted mean mode of dress from then after. In IT there always seem to be a wide range of what is such causal ware. So hopefully it will not be a factor after first week.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,417 ✭✭✭Diemos


    Supercell wrote: »
    crumpled shirts are the norm ;)

    Ah, it's funny, cos it's true :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭matt-dublin


    Shirts, trousers and shoes are fine. Penneys finest will do!

    Then see what everyone else does and begin to adjust if you want.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,590 ✭✭✭theteal


    Coming from a network engineer who works for an American multi in London, I can echo Supercell even though I would say our place is a little bit more suit oriented (the joys of being smack bang middle of the "City").

    I wouldn't go as far as to say crumpled shirts are the norm but you definitely do see one in the wild on occasion.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,468 ✭✭✭matt-dublin


    theteal wrote: »
    Coming from a network engineer who works for an American multi in London, I can echo Supercell even though I would say our place is a little bit more suit oriented (the joys of being smack bang middle of the "City").

    I wouldn't go as far as to say crumpled shirts are the norm but you definitely do see one in the wild on occasion.
    Makes you wonder are some of them due to lost bets???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,173 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Supercell wrote: »
    Slacks/Chino's, ironed shirt, clean/polished shoes not runners, ties not worn..jeans on Fridays is the American multinational norm - I've worked for several over the last 18 years (showing my age) and that how its always been. Techs tend to be a bit more sloppy than others (crumpled shirts are the norm ) ;)
    Modern technology companies are now on a "just put on some pants" basis when it comes to dress code. Tech companies involved in any kind of consulting or auditing have more of a formal setup, but other companies that segregate the customer-facing from the not tend to not care what the staff wear in the non-customer-facing area.

    For me, it's actually kind of a metric to judge a company against. Companies that demand a dress code across all areas of the company are less likely to give staff slack and treat them like responsible adults. Last two places I've worked in have had the "whatever you want" policy, and nobody takes the piss. People are still clean when they turn up to work, and there's no-one wandering around in hot pants with no top on. At worst, some people might walk around the office with their shoes off, but I see no issue with that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,177 ✭✭✭sesswhat


    Best of luck Senna!

    Not sure about the dress code but I'm looking around myself at the moment (possibly in the same locality ;) ) so let us know how you get on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,404 ✭✭✭JustShon


    It might be an idea to just give them a call. One company's definition of smart casual is different from another's.

    My company defines smart casual as jeans and a shirt in the contract but people wear whatever as long as they don't look sloppy.

    Just call them up, tell them that in your past job/s the attire has been formal or you've had a uniform and you're not entirely sure what's acceptable in smart casual. They're not going to jump down your neck for double-checking on dress code :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    Thanks for all the replies, think I will reach out to HR and I might see a current staff member beforehand and just bring up the topic of dress code.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,137 ✭✭✭experiMental


    I work in tech and people wear whatever they want. If they have meetings with somebody external, they wear a suit. For any other occasion, they wear anything that they are comfortable in, except tracksuits.

    What you have to wear depends on your department. If you are in external client facing or administrative departments such as HR, business development, sales or finance, you will have to wear a shirt, slacks or something that looks professional.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,095 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    From visits with friends to that big one in the docklands I've observed a marked difference between the engineering building and the everyone else buildings. TShirt + Cargo pants in the former, shirts and slacks in the latter. So it may depend where your role is but always risk over rather than under dressing of course.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna



    What you have to wear depends on your department. If you are in external client facing or administrative departments such as HR, business development, sales or finance, you will have to wear a shirt, slacks or something that looks professional.

    I'll be systems/platform, so won't be customer/client facing. Really hoping it's casual, wore a shirt/tie or suit all my working life, was looking forward to a break from that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,259 ✭✭✭él statutorio


    Senna wrote: »
    I'll be systems/platform, so won't be customer/client facing. Really hoping it's casual, wore a shirt/tie or suit all my working life, was looking forward to a break from that.

    Just wear a shirt and slacks the first day, then look at what everyone else is wearing for the next day.

    You'll probably end up wearing chinos/khakis and a polo shirt.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,260 ✭✭✭Irish_Elect_Eng


    Echoing what he others have said, most tech companies are very east-going. very casual, with the odd flurry of team jerseys at the later stages of the Championship :-)

    Exception would be when customers/VIPs are in house and a best foot forward approach is being taken :-)

    Also clothing should take health and safety into account, shorts, kaftans, high-heels, flip-flops and dangley jewelry can be prohibited depending on the role or environment.


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