Wearing a suit to an interview is a mild form of hazing

The attitude he has displayed in this news group probably comes across the same way in any interviews.

I have a small group of engineers working for me. During the summer months most of them dress like they are on their way to the beach. But when we call on clients, I expect a professional appearance which is sometimes a suit and other times business casual.

I have a talented group of people who display a number of eccentricities I have to work around, but rude behavior isn't one of them.

Bubba's technical competence is irrelevant if no one want to be around him.

Mark Walsh

I give up. Either you're a troll or a complete d*****ad who *deserves* unemployment. The world works the way it does; not the way you want it to. Grow up or piss off.

pete

Even worse, they expect you to actually SHOW UP and DO WORK before they'll pay you! Some might say actually working for your salary is not a big deal and that employees should simply do it and forget about it. Look at it from the other angle. If it were not a big deal then emloyers would not require it. THEY would not care either way.

Good luck with those lottery tickets -- I've a feeling you're never going to be able to get/keep a job.

In the nude?

Bah. An employer isn't going to "require" a suit for an interview, but the headhunter may tell you otherwise to improve his odds of a commission. In the end, interviewing is a competition, and you're trying to sell your services.

Consider this...

If your "sales pitch" only emphasizes technical skills, you need to be remarkably over-qualified to rise above the competition. So, you'd always be accepting roles beneath your capabilities, and probably earning less than you could.

In contrast, if you sell the fact that you are technically qualified, but you're also professional, methodical, have good industry knowledge, a strong work ethic, good interpersonal skills, and don't smell... you have a better shot at more challenging roles that will maximize your technical skills (earning you more income) and stretch your skills (making you more valuable for the next opportunity).

As a general rule, it's wise to dress 1 or 2 notches above the person you're calling on; no more, no less. You want to look a little sharper, but not make them feel underdressed. (So, if their dress code is business casual, wear a tie or a suit. If it's t-shirts and flip-flops, wear business casual or a tie.)

Exactly. I wear scruff order to work normally, and for informal meetings with companies we know well or with suppliers (i.e. if FAEs or techies from people we regularly deal with are dropping in). If it's the first meeting with an important customer, or if I'm going onsite somewhere, I dress at least as smartly as I expect the other parties there to be.

I've had to deal with everything from near-Tourettes to profound Aspergers. I've only ever had to deal with one engineer with a chip on his shoulder as big as Bubbagump's. He lasted about 18 months in my previous company - his perpetual bleat was that he was "being systematically deskilled by the intellectual elite" ;)

Indeed. I wouldn't even be inclined to probe his technical competence if his interpersonal performance was as poor as the projection he makes here - I suspect that even if his CV didn't immediately strike me as being stereotypically passive-aggressive, a phone interview would be enough to tell me he wouldn't be someone I'd ever want to hire.

pete

That's brilliant! I've got to remember that one.

business casual work

Oh God, please, bring red-hot pokers for my eyes QUICKLY. I never want to see for real the picture of my current workplace that your message evoked in my imagination.

I wouldn't hire anybody named BubbaGump no matter how he was dressed.

And how do you know that anybody "requires" a suit for an interview?

I figure an interview is mutual, not an act of submission. If *they* look good enough, I might let them hire me.

I've never worn a suit to an interview, and I've turned down more employers than have turned down me. Show a little spine, for pete's sake.

John

Nothing else sends a clearer message that you're interested in the job like showing up on time and in formal dress. If you're spiritual enough to be ordained, wear a roman collar.

Dressing smartly to an interview gives the interviewer a clear message that you -

1. Can and will dress smartly when needed (e.g. meeting important customers), and
2. Care enough about this interview and the company to be bothered.

Sure you might get the job and then turn up the next day in jeans and a T-shirt, but that's everyday work and attending a job interview is not everyday work.

- Charles

It would be more appropriate for BubbaGump to wear an Elizabethan collar, so he doesn't salivate on the interviewer. A straitjacket might set off the ensemble nicely.

He did claim to be "working class" and "socialist", to be fair. ;)

We adopted that as a slogan for any routine or dull task - "Would you mind reviewing this test spec?" "OH NO!!! I'm being systematically deskilled by the intellectual elite!"

One day I'll tell the story of "My position in this company has become untenable!" - he only said that once and it wasn't the day he resigned either ;)

pete

I haven't been on so many interviews and only on one in western culture since I relocated in 1999 from Eastern Europe. Never I have been told before interview about any dress code but I did wear suit whenever possible, same as for my final exams at the university.

An interview is a business meeting, you want to look good to them and they want to look good to you because there is potential of mutually useful relationship.

My opinion is that most interviewers (or potential business partners) would not turn you down for not wearing a suit. Some may give it more importance than others depending on job type and interviewer personality. It may matter more if you are applying for sales, PM or CEO than for software R&D or cable technician positions. But generally good appearance does not hurt and can only help your chances.

Not only did my nephew have to wear a business suit to his interview, he was told after he was hired that he had to have a minimum of five suits in his closet. That was a condition of employment. Then again, he is a lawyer.

;-)

I don't even own a suit that fits anymore. I have a coupla sports jackets and slacks to match. I only wear them to funerals and weddings.

When I went for an interview at MIT, I wore my sports jacket and slacks. Everyone there, as per custom, was very, very casual. But when I asked a friend who worked there what to wear to the interview, he said "suit." I got the job and dressed like the rest of them later. The chief scientist on many days wore cargo shorts. A lot of the time he looked like he was on safari.

Al

I'd find it a bit freaky if somebody showed up for an interview in formal dress. A suite (or just jacket) and tie is plenty.

That's interesting... I don't think anyone would wear a suit for finals here.

On the other hand, senior year I did so many of the little half-hour on-campus preliminary interviews, mixed in around my ordinary class schedule, that I basically wore a suit all the time for the better part of a month.

I kind of liked it.

No, I'm glad I don't have to do it, glad I don't have to deal with the dry cleaning... but there is something enjoyable about presenting yourself as serious.

Every once in a while I feel like making a tailored anti-static jacket ;-)

Indeed, and that is why a good rule of thumb for interview dress is to dress as well as one will ever need in the course of one's on-the-job duties.

I suspect that robers97's definition of "formal" is a suit or jacket and tie. It seems, today, that few people understand that "formal dress" means, at minimum, a tuxedo.