Suit for interview
Author
Discussion

Baked_bean

Original Poster:

1,945 posts

219 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
Hiya guys,
I have just been contacted for my first interview since graduating, which is all very exciting. However i currently don't have a suit that fits so im gonna have to buy a new suit for my upcoming interview and potentially any other interviews i may have. I'm just wondering where you would recommend for a suit, as i don't want to spend too much money as i dont have much to spend but equally i don't want to look like i got my suit from asda.

Thanks

arfur daley

834 posts

193 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
birthday suit?

Stevenj214

4,941 posts

255 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
I like M&S Ultimate suits, the top end of the Tesco range (similar price) or head for Slaters if you have one nearby.

Original Poster

5,429 posts

203 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
M&S sounds ideal for your needs.

A2Z

1,080 posts

253 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
Stevenj214 said:
head for Slaters if you have one nearby.
Agreed. Not much money, they measure you, alterations thrown in with the price. At least it will fit a bit better.

http://www.slaters.co.uk/en/shortcuts/storelocator...

grumbledoak

32,510 posts

260 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
M&S, mate. As a new graduate no-one will expect you to have the cash for anything more, and the staff are generally pretty good if you want advice.

Grey Ghost

4,608 posts

247 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
Original Poster said:
M&S sounds ideal for your needs.
+1

Also polish your shoes and wear a plain shirt and tie. First impressions count biggrin

Edited to add best of luck thumbup

Edited by Grey Ghost on Wednesday 21st July 20:36

V8mate

45,899 posts

216 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
TK Maxx.

Designer suits - pretty much all under £100.

Look out for ones which have red price stickers and they're reduced as part of their aged stock management process.

Pothole

34,367 posts

309 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
definitely POLISH SHOES, COMB HAIR, SHAVE.

spanishchocolate

356 posts

208 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
From a woman's point-of-view, there is little worse than a cheap suit. Suits and shoes speak volumes, and no amount of dressing them up will cover up that they are cheap. So spend a little - you will get good use out of it.

Don't go for black - because you'll look like you're going to a funeral. Clearly, beige, brown, green etc should be reserved for those European weirdos. Grey only works if you are buying an expensive wool suit - same for pin-stripes. I would therefore go for navy, and single-breasted, and in no way shiny! Personally, I have a thing for double-cuffs - can't undertand why guys bother with single cuffs. Silk knot or plain cufflinks from somewhere like Tie Rack will work, so no need to go overboard on expensive ones.

Needless to say, no joke or dodgy socks or ties biggrin Or tie-pins!

Make sure you take some questions to ask them - doesn't matter if they are printed out on a sheet of paper (put it in a document holder of some kind). Conveys that you made an effort, and have researched the company (oh, and research the company! You may be asked what you know about the company, as an opener - it's a popular one).

A firm handshake is always good - weedy ones leave me wincing. The best piece of interview advice I ever read was: the interviewer has taken time to think up a question to ask you, so show them the respect of taking time to consider it before answering smile This also has the added effect of ensuring mouth doesn't go on a journey of its own, without brain. Oh, and the other bit of good advice I read, was don't wear aftershave (perfume, in my case) - because if the interviewer doesn't like it, it will put them off - at minimum, concentrating on what you have to say.

At the end, make sure you shake everyone's hand and thank them for their time - even if they don't go for your hand.

And: REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR MOBILE OFF BEFORE YOU GO IN!

Good luck (and sorry if that was more than you asked for!)!



Edited by spanishchocolate on Wednesday 21st July 23:05

Pothole

34,367 posts

309 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
all very well, your Iberian Cocoaness, if the interviewer is female...I was complimented today on my turnout for an interview, the guy said he appreciated the effort made.

What was the suit? £100 washable job from M&S. £12 shirt from M&S outlet. Cheaney shoes from their factory shop and a Liberty tie might have distracted attention, who knows?

moleamol

15,887 posts

290 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
When I first wanted a suit for interviews and the like I went to Debenhams and they had a good range at varying prices. More importantly though they had staff that knew what they were talking about and what would work. No idea if it's still the case as this was years ago but I ended up with a suit that fits well for the amount of money I wanted to pay. I got some fairly plain square brushed steel cuff links from Next at the same time for £9.99. Worth spending a bit extra for a nice silk tie and a decent shirt IMHO, since once they're talking to you they will most likely see your tie and collars more than the rest.

Only other advice I can give is research the company, and when you give a 'firm' handshake make sure it's just firm and don't try to look like you've got something to prove.

spanishchocolate

356 posts

208 months

Wednesday 21st July 2010
quotequote all
@Pothole

Sorry, I forgot to add 'IMHO'. Everything I post is only my opinion, unless it has been proven to be fact. That is taken as read

Wasn't written assuming the interviewer would be female, especially since I have always worked in a male-dominated environment

Clearly everything is relative. To a guy who buys his suits in Asda, one from Waitrose (if they did them) might seem like luxury. I am probably old enough to be the OP's mother, so my tastes are a little more advanced/expensive/fussy biggrin However, 'not cheap' doesn't have to mean spending hundreds of pounds. I just meant not a shiny polyester suit, and not plastic shoes

A good point that can be taken from your post however, is it's probably how you wear it and what you convey as a person (eg confidence) that matters more (unless the garb is so inappropriate/hideous as to blind the interviewer with bad taste)

beer

PS I have no idea what 'Cheaney' is - is it something Northern? biggrin
PPS Congratulations on the compliment - very nice to get. I hope you are successful smile
PPPS What about Next? Would that be any good for the OP?





Edited by spanishchocolate on Wednesday 21st July 23:32

Pothole

34,367 posts

309 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all

Stevenj214

4,941 posts

255 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all

dougc

8,241 posts

292 months

blindswelledrat

25,257 posts

259 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all
arfur daley said:
birthday suit?
:|

okgo

41,909 posts

225 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all
dougc said:
I'd second this, buy a couple at that price, good kit from Jaegar.

Benzman

231 posts

227 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all
If your anywhere near one of the large "Outlet Malls" try Suits You, they usually have a very good and very extensive range of suits on offer all at reasonable prices.

The other advice given above is an absolute must, clean shoes, plain shirt, plain tie, hair-cut, shave and if you have any tatoos cover them up.

GSP

1,965 posts

231 months

Thursday 22nd July 2010
quotequote all
Even M&S are expensive for suite nowdays if your a student with no cash.

Other options are NEXT, Topman, Burton, River Island.

Some of the best hard wearing suit trousers I have owned are from Next.

The most important advice is make sure you get one that you are comfortable in, there is nothing worse than seeing someone who is clearly uncomfortable in what they are wearing.

Edited by GSP on Thursday 22 July 14:11