Dress code fof 18 year old going for interviews

[996owner]

Hi,

I'm a little out of touch with interview dress code.

What should my son who's 18 wear for job interviews?
He is applying for part time jobs (still at college, hence part time) at the likes of super markets, bars etc.

I suggested a smart polo shirt and smart trousers.

Thanks,


D

[CMTMB]

You'll get people saying anything less than top hat and tails isn't acceptable, but the world has moved on from wearing a full suit to every interview. I'd personally still recommend a smart shirt and trousers though.

[tegwin]

Sounds like you are on the right track -

Polo shirt, smart trousers, proper shoes.

Shave, smart hair, dont smell like a teenager.

[butchstewie]

You'd like to think it's about demonstrating appropriate dress for the job.

Supermarket or bar? I'd have said "smart casual" trousers and polo or shirt is acceptable.

Everyone is different but if someone turned up wearing a suit or shirt and tie to that sort of thing I'm not sure it should count for much.

Main thing is don't look like you've just crawled out of bed and don't know what a shower is IMO.

[Countdown]

I'll go against the grain and say suit and tie.

[Gary29]

butchstewie said:

I'd have said "smart casual" trousers and polo or shirt is acceptable.
.

Agree with this. I think a suit and tie is overkill for an 18 year old applying for these kind of jobs.

[996owner]

Thank you for responses.

Smart casual it is minus aftershave :-)


Dave

[Scabutz]

Countdown said:

I'll go against the grain and say suit and tie.

Id agree. No one is going to mark you down for making an effort, but people are likely to if you havent.

[butchstewie]

I think that's fair too for most roles but if he doesn't own a suit I wouldn't be buying one for an interview at a supermarket or bar.

Also in the nicest way depending how the lad is built it can sometimes look a bit too close to a school uniform and just looks a bit "school trip".

Cliche but there's more to showing you're employable than a suit

[Gary29]

996owner said:

Thank you for responses.

Smart casual it is minus aftershave :-)


Dave

The main thing would be to show some enthusiasm! Some of the apprentices we have here are so apathetic, it's painful! When one of them shows even the slightest initiative and willing it's a breath of fresh air and you want to do all you can to help them progress.

So my tip would be attitude is way more important than how you're dressed, provided you're at least clean and tidy of course.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Countdown said:

I'll go against the grain and say suit and tie.

depends on the company, defiantly not for a modern tech company

[Countdown]

Dave Hedgehog said:

Countdown said:

I'll go against the grain and say suit and tie.

depends on the company, defiantly not for a modern tech company

is there any such thing as an antiquated / outdated tech company?

You may well be right but one of my kids works for a US based tech company. He went for an interview in a suit and tie (he had a few interviews all around the same time, same dress code for all of them).

For all our Support service departments IT seem to have the most "flexible" dress code for staff at middle or lower grades. the Director is always suit and tie, his two deputies tend to be in polo shirts and trousers.

[Muzzer79]

Gary29 said:

butchstewie said:

I'd have said "smart casual" trousers and polo or shirt is acceptable.
.

Agree with this. I think a suit and tie is overkill for an 18 year old applying for these kind of jobs.

I don't think you can overdress for an interview (in realistic terms)

Wearing a suit or at least a jacket may seem antiquated, but it shows effort and may actually make him stand out from a crowd, if the job has high competition.

[CSR Performance]

tegwin said:

Sounds like you are on the right track -

Polo shirt, smart trousers, proper shoes.

Shave, smart hair, dont smell like a teenager.

Agreed, regular shirt or polo shirt, smart jacket if he has one. Nothing branded and definitely no trainers/jeans. Being smart and showing some enthusiasm will put him leagues ahead of the competition off the bat.

[2 GKC]

Muzzer79 said:

I don't think you can overdress for an interview (in realistic terms)

Wearing a suit or at least a jacket may seem antiquated, but it shows effort and may actually make him stand out from a crowd, if the job has high competition.

He’s interviewing for jobs in a bar. Suit and tie completely inappropriate.

[JQ]

2 GKC said:

Muzzer79 said:

I don't think you can overdress for an interview (in realistic terms)

Wearing a suit or at least a jacket may seem antiquated, but it shows effort and may actually make him stand out from a crowd, if the job has high competition.

He s interviewing for jobs in a bar. Suit and tie completely inappropriate.

I interview people every year for a job where they'll never wear a suit and they definitely get marked up for wearing one. It's not the suit I care about it's making an effort. In the same way that I ask people what they know about my company - I don't care what they know, I care that they've gone to the effort of doing some research and shown an interest.

My kids are 16 & 17 and both have part time jobs in retail, where they wear tracksuits to work. Both worse suits for the interviews and both got the jobs against fierce competition. Feedback was they stood out from the crowd, plus it helps they're pretty intelligent, confident and articulate. It certainly didn't harm their chances.

[Hoofy]

996owner said:

Smart casual

Dinner jacket, then.

https://youtu.be/paP1RFjgElg?si=ERZezWX1bzLpW-2k&a...

[Slow.Patrol]

Countdown said:

I'll go against the grain and say suit and tie.

I'd agree with this.

Dress for success.

Everyone else will be smart casual.

A suit as a minimum. The tie could be optional.

[Pedro25]

Agree with smart casual, if you take a look at how management in supermarkets now dress its jeans and trainers ! Poor old staff still have to wear uniforms!😂

[alangla]

Muzzer79 said:

Gary29 said:

butchstewie said:

I'd have said "smart casual" trousers and polo or shirt is acceptable.
.

Agree with this. I think a suit and tie is overkill for an 18 year old applying for these kind of jobs.

I don't think you can overdress for an interview (in realistic terms)

Wearing a suit or at least a jacket may seem antiquated, but it shows effort and may actually make him stand out from a crowd, if the job has high competition.

I’d agree with this. The company I work for has a casual dress code going right up to chief executive level, but for (video call) interviews I’d expect candidates to at least attempt to look smart, no need for a jacket or tie, but a shirt is a start. As per other posters, at least knowing a bit about the company and its recent history helps too, it shows a bit of effort.

If in doubt, go extra smart, but if you can get an idea of the corporate “uniform” go for one step smarter than this (so if it’s t-shirt then go for something with a collar, open-neck shirt wear a tie etc).