Dont people want a job?!?!
Discussion
louiebaby said:
I think it's not too difficult to work out what to wear for an interview.
Always dress a notch above what you would be expected to wear to do the job, and turn up presentable.
Carrot picker - dirty overalls --> clean jeans and a polo shirt.
Sales role - smart suit --> full smart suit, with trimmings.
It's really not rocket surgery.
I agree with you but I would be inclined to make an exception for school leavers. IME when they go for their first role they're not always aware of "office etiquette" so i'd be prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. We are all young and gauche once.Always dress a notch above what you would be expected to wear to do the job, and turn up presentable.
Carrot picker - dirty overalls --> clean jeans and a polo shirt.
Sales role - smart suit --> full smart suit, with trimmings.
It's really not rocket surgery.
for a normal, office based, role jeans at interview would count against you. The interview should be you at your most impressive and if that's jeans then I guess we just have a different outlook on life.
To take it to an extreme, would you employ somebody who turned up in sunglasses, shorts, and flip flops ?
Having gone on a few assessment days by recruitment consultants, in any normal office role, they would expect you to turn up in a suit. The actual best recommendation from all of these is (for guys):
smart black suit (always black, never blue or grey, and probably best to avoid pin stripes too)
White long sleeve shirt - if the interview takes his jacket off, so can you, otherwise keep it on
Plain dark blue tie.
Black smart shoes
Plain boring watch with a black leather strap - some people get weird about expensive looking chrono style watches in interviews - I've seen it happen!
Make sure you're clean shaven, or failing that your beard is a proper fully grown one, rather than some trendy stubble.
What you're trying to achieve is that while you're physically unmemorable, what you say in the interview will be how you are remembered. In this case, the OP will remember the candidate because he wore jeans, not because of anything he said.
We had a guy arrive last year in a smart suit, but with designer stubble all over his face. He got job, but what was memorable was the comments from one colleague on "I hope he learns to shave before he starts here...". Simply proves what I said above.
As for how I know this approach works? At least 1 interview a week during January to March 2010 when I was unemployed. Got 2nd interviews from most of them, but usually got beaten by someone a lot older with a lot more experience, willing to work for less money. And lets face it in a recession that's inevitable!
smart black suit (always black, never blue or grey, and probably best to avoid pin stripes too)
White long sleeve shirt - if the interview takes his jacket off, so can you, otherwise keep it on
Plain dark blue tie.
Black smart shoes
Plain boring watch with a black leather strap - some people get weird about expensive looking chrono style watches in interviews - I've seen it happen!
Make sure you're clean shaven, or failing that your beard is a proper fully grown one, rather than some trendy stubble.
What you're trying to achieve is that while you're physically unmemorable, what you say in the interview will be how you are remembered. In this case, the OP will remember the candidate because he wore jeans, not because of anything he said.
We had a guy arrive last year in a smart suit, but with designer stubble all over his face. He got job, but what was memorable was the comments from one colleague on "I hope he learns to shave before he starts here...". Simply proves what I said above.
As for how I know this approach works? At least 1 interview a week during January to March 2010 when I was unemployed. Got 2nd interviews from most of them, but usually got beaten by someone a lot older with a lot more experience, willing to work for less money. And lets face it in a recession that's inevitable!
Einion Yrth said:
RacerMDR said:
It's cool though - you can dress how you want.........don't end up in front of me for an interview though. You buy the ticket, and take the ride.
No, that's fine, I'd send my suit; it can't program for s
t but I'm sure you'd find it more suitable as an employee.You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
Einion Yrth said:
RacerMDR said:
I can't believe anyone would ever think it was ok to turn up to interview in jeans.
I find it scarcely credible that anyone can be shallow enough to really care.I have a job available, standard office type job, it is not working in a clothes shop or manual labour
You supposedly want it
No one ever failed to get a job for wearing a suit to an interview for such a job
Ergo if you wear jeans either you don't give a toss about this job or you are thick, or someone who thinks it's what is inside that really matters man, not the skin or the clothes, or your attitude sucks
Regardless you can f
k off and go and work for Levis or GreenpeaceEdited by Adam B on Thursday 28th April 12:08
Adam B said:
FFS, can I ask how old you are and what is your line of work - in all seriousness i am genuinely interested.
your attitude astounds me but maybe you work in a very different field to most people I know.
26 years old.your attitude astounds me but maybe you work in a very different field to most people I know.
I have worked in the leisure industry (customer facing), as a race mechanic (customer/sponsor facing) and I am now a professional driver.
I have only worn trousers to one interview.
The last interview was for an HGV driving job. The candidate who went in before me for the driving assessment part of the interview turned up in a footballer style suit, pink big collared shirt and shiny shoes.
He looked like a right cock when he had to take of his clown shoes to put on some toe-caps and when he had a hi-vis vest over his jacket.
When he came back in he went straight to the toilets to try and get 5th wheel grease out of his suit.
I turned up in jeans and a plain blue shirt with my toe-caps on.
I was complimented on my no-nonsense attitude, on being prepared for the interview and my general demeanour.
They had two positions going, 9 candidates and when they let me know that I had got the job I was told that they were still undecided on who had got the other position, but I had stood out head and shoulders above the rest.
Ok, so it's the haulage industry (insert rape and murder joke here) and you are not expected to wear a suit when at work, but if your rules apply, why did I get a job over matey-boy in his Boss suit and his Loakes shoes? Could it be that the interviewer and the driving assessor were looking for the person, not the perception?
louiebaby said:
I think it's not too difficult to work out what to wear for an interview.
Always dress a notch above what you would be expected to wear to do the job, and turn up presentable.
Carrot picker - dirty overalls --> clean jeans and a polo shirt.
Sales role - smart suit --> full smart suit, with trimmings.
It's really not rocket surgery.
Pretty much this. Although I would add that a full suit should be worn at interview for any office based role, even if the office has casual dress (i.e. many IT companies).Always dress a notch above what you would be expected to wear to do the job, and turn up presentable.
Carrot picker - dirty overalls --> clean jeans and a polo shirt.
Sales role - smart suit --> full smart suit, with trimmings.
It's really not rocket surgery.
It's not hard to wear a suit but it shows that you care.
If you employ someone who turns up to an interview in jeans, can you complain when they turn up on your client's site wearing jeans? I think we've seen from this thread that enough people care about what you wear that this makes a difference.
Adam B said:
OK let me spell it out to you.
I have a job available, standard office type job, it is not working in a clothes shop or manual labour
You supposedly want it
No one ever failed to get a job for wearing a suit to an interview for such a job
Ergo if you wear jeans either you don't give a toss about this job or you are thick, or someone who thinks it's what is inside that really matters man, not the skin or the clothes
Regardless you can fk off and go and work for Levis or Greenpeace
I have a job available, standard office type job, it is not working in a clothes shop or manual labour
You supposedly want it
No one ever failed to get a job for wearing a suit to an interview for such a job
Ergo if you wear jeans either you don't give a toss about this job or you are thick, or someone who thinks it's what is inside that really matters man, not the skin or the clothes
Regardless you can f
k off and go and work for Levis or Greenpeace
genius - what he said
Adam B said:
OK let me spell it out to you.
I have a job available, standard office type job, it is not working in a clothes shop or manual labour
You supposedly want it
No one ever failed to get a job for wearing a suit to an interview for such a job
Ergo if you wear jeans either you don't give a toss about this job or you are thick, or someone who thinks it's what is inside that really matters man, not the skin or the clothes
Regardless you can fk off and go and work for Levis or Greenpeace
I have a job available, standard office type job, it is not working in a clothes shop or manual labour
You supposedly want it
No one ever failed to get a job for wearing a suit to an interview for such a job
Ergo if you wear jeans either you don't give a toss about this job or you are thick, or someone who thinks it's what is inside that really matters man, not the skin or the clothes
Regardless you can f
k off and go and work for Levis or Greenpeace
RacerMDR said:
yeah - but i'll have interviewed plenty of other programmers, just as good as you, there may even be one better (imagine that), and without the bad attitude......so I'd still get my employee.
You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
Absolutely spot on!! You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
I wonder how many people are working in jobs below their potential because they can't be bothered to put the care in for an interview.
RacerMDR said:
yeah - but i'll have interviewed plenty of other programmers, just as good as you, there may even be one better (imagine that), and without the bad attitude......so I'd still get my employee.
You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
As an aside, you do realise that programming has not a lot to do with the language(s) employed and a hell of a lot to do with problem solving. don't you?You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
If you were selling your car would you leave 6 weeks worth of dirt on it for when the potential buyer arrives. Nope, you would clean it so it was presented well.
Apply the same theory to a job interview. You are trying to sell yourself this time, not the car, so you need to appeal to the person interviewing. 99% of people would rather you arrived in a suit than a pair of jeans, so you dress according to what people expect.
Apply the same theory to a job interview. You are trying to sell yourself this time, not the car, so you need to appeal to the person interviewing. 99% of people would rather you arrived in a suit than a pair of jeans, so you dress according to what people expect.
Or trying to keep it car-related;
Two cars that are identical in all respects except one has been valeted to within an inch of its life, the other has grimy bodywork, dirty mats, and used crisp packets/sweet wrappers inside. Which would you buy?
In my interviewing experience the difference between the top 3 candidates can be very small and often you are looking not just at the technical aspects but "attitude" and how well they will fit into the team. Why would you deliberately handicap yourself ?
Two cars that are identical in all respects except one has been valeted to within an inch of its life, the other has grimy bodywork, dirty mats, and used crisp packets/sweet wrappers inside. Which would you buy?
In my interviewing experience the difference between the top 3 candidates can be very small and often you are looking not just at the technical aspects but "attitude" and how well they will fit into the team. Why would you deliberately handicap yourself ?
LSI - ok a very different story for haulage or car mechanic
For the customer facing leisure job I would not hire someone wearing jeans to an interview.
And given your example i reckon if you had turned up in a suit with a bag full of work clothes in case they wanted you to do something practical you would have still got the job.
The other guy may have been a knobber (you certainly describe him as such) and he would not have get the job regardless of what he had worn
For the customer facing leisure job I would not hire someone wearing jeans to an interview.
And given your example i reckon if you had turned up in a suit with a bag full of work clothes in case they wanted you to do something practical you would have still got the job.
The other guy may have been a knobber (you certainly describe him as such) and he would not have get the job regardless of what he had worn
Einion Yrth said:
RacerMDR said:
yeah - but i'll have interviewed plenty of other programmers, just as good as you, there may even be one better (imagine that), and without the bad attitude......so I'd still get my employee.
You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
As an aside, you do realise that programming has not a lot to do with the language(s) employed and a hell of a lot to do with problem solving. don't you?You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
You need a job, to get a job you have to go to an interview and impress the interviewer. What do you do next?
Einion Yrth said:
RacerMDR said:
yeah - but i'll have interviewed plenty of other programmers, just as good as you, there may even be one better (imagine that), and without the bad attitude......so I'd still get my employee.
You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
As an aside, you do realise that programming has not a lot to do with the language(s) employed and a hell of a lot to do with problem solving. don't you?You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
If you're head and shoulders above the others (a "Picasso") you might get the job but, in a lot of cases, the candidates will be (more or less) equally proficient. Turning up in jeans can ony lose you marks, it won't gain you any. So why do it?
Einion Yrth said:
RacerMDR said:
yeah - but i'll have interviewed plenty of other programmers, just as good as you, there may even be one better (imagine that), and without the bad attitude......so I'd still get my employee.
You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
As an aside, you do realise that programming has not a lot to do with the language(s) employed and a hell of a lot to do with problem solving. don't you?You aren't Picasso....just some guy that has learnt C++ or whatever.
One is their attitude. I've taken on loads of people that weren't the best candidate at a certain area of the job, but they had the right attitude.
How they dressed at interview helps me determine their attitude.
Of course I have people in the team, that work in the organisation now, that wear jeans. They have however earned it, because they have delivered consistantly.
When you turn up for an interview, you have to tick every box that I want - and convince me you are the right man for the job as frankly, at the point you haven't delivered anything for me (regardless of what your CV says)
Assuming you haven't invented a car that runs on water, or solved the ageing process - you are going to need to look the part.
Life Saab Itch said:
26 years old.
I have worked in the leisure industry (customer facing), as a race mechanic (customer/sponsor facing) and I am now a professional driver.
I have only worn trousers to one interview.
The last interview was for an HGV driving job. The candidate who went in before me for the driving assessment part of the interview turned up in a footballer style suit, pink big collared shirt and shiny shoes.
He looked like a right cock when he had to take of his clown shoes to put on some toe-caps and when he had a hi-vis vest over his jacket.
When he came back in he went straight to the toilets to try and get 5th wheel grease out of his suit.
I turned up in jeans and a plain blue shirt with my toe-caps on.
I was complimented on my no-nonsense attitude, on being prepared for the interview and my general demeanour.
They had two positions going, 9 candidates and when they let me know that I had got the job I was told that they were still undecided on who had got the other position, but I had stood out head and shoulders above the rest.
Ok, so it's the haulage industry (insert rape and murder joke here) and you are not expected to wear a suit when at work, but if your rules apply, why did I get a job over matey-boy in his Boss suit and his Loakes shoes? Could it be that the interviewer and the driving assessor were looking for the person, not the perception?
Your situation then is entirely different from the role that the OP is interviewing for, and therefore entirely removed from the interview process that you went through to get the job that you mention above.I have worked in the leisure industry (customer facing), as a race mechanic (customer/sponsor facing) and I am now a professional driver.
I have only worn trousers to one interview.
The last interview was for an HGV driving job. The candidate who went in before me for the driving assessment part of the interview turned up in a footballer style suit, pink big collared shirt and shiny shoes.
He looked like a right cock when he had to take of his clown shoes to put on some toe-caps and when he had a hi-vis vest over his jacket.
When he came back in he went straight to the toilets to try and get 5th wheel grease out of his suit.
I turned up in jeans and a plain blue shirt with my toe-caps on.
I was complimented on my no-nonsense attitude, on being prepared for the interview and my general demeanour.
They had two positions going, 9 candidates and when they let me know that I had got the job I was told that they were still undecided on who had got the other position, but I had stood out head and shoulders above the rest.
Ok, so it's the haulage industry (insert rape and murder joke here) and you are not expected to wear a suit when at work, but if your rules apply, why did I get a job over matey-boy in his Boss suit and his Loakes shoes? Could it be that the interviewer and the driving assessor were looking for the person, not the perception?
Don't you think that with that in mind, an interviewee would be correct to wear smarter attire to an interview for an office based sales role? If you're going to an interview as an HGV driver and have to demonstrate some technical and hands-on abilities, your chosen attire made sense. So don't assume that every single role out there requires the same style of thinking.
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