What's happened to folk's interview approach/attire!?

[rash_decision]

Hi all, I'm astounded with the way some folk have presented themselves in the past couple of weeks at interviews I have been conducting.

Am I old fashioned in that I would wear a suit, shirt and tie, and at least polish my shoes!?

I have had numerous candidates turn up in jeans and T shirt, or jeans and hoodie, and accompanied by trainers! We're recruiting for professional mechanical engineers, and these guys haven't even been teenagers or younger guys, they're guys in their 30s or 40s that should, in my opinion know better. I'm not of the ilk that I judge a book by it's cover, per se, but I believe it makes a good impression, at least, to be able to present yourself smartly and professionally at an interview.

Is it me, or is this the norm these days? Even one of the recruitment girls that I was working alongside seemed miffed by my comments!

[LeeThr]

I'm only 23, but for every formal interview i've ever attended i've felt like I made a conservative effort, maybe not a full suit, but at minimum a tidy shirt & tie & polished shoes etc.

I think i'd actually feel out of place just turning up to an event like that in some casual clothes.

[Rawwr]

I interviewed some people for a couple of support roles at the end of last year. All I do is the technical interview to probe peoples' knowledge a bit and try to establish if they're real IT nerds or just saw the word 'computer' somewhere once.

Of the 12 candidates, only two of them dressed smartly with proper shoes.
10 of them wore trainers.
4 wore hoodies.
1 of them wore a Hawaiian shirt

I don't really care how people dress when they've got the job but when they're trying to get it, I want to see some effort and understanding of how things work.

[sc0tt]

I had a very successful interview this morning.

My attire was a navy suit. Polished black shoes. White pocket square, white shirt and a striped tie.

Always dress for the job you want. Not the one you have.

[arfursleep]

rash_decision said:

Hi all, I'm astounded with the way some folk have presented themselves in the past couple of weeks at interviews I have ben conducting.

Am I old fashioned in that I would wear a suit, shirt and tie, and at least polish my shoes!?

I have had numerous candidates turn up in jeans and T shirt, or jeans and hoodie, and accompanied by trainers! We're recruiting for professional mechanical engineers, and these guys haven't even been teenagers or younger guys, they're guys in their 30s or 40s that should, in my opinion know better. I'm not of the ilk that I judge a book by it's cover, per se, but I believe it makes a good impression, at least, to be able to present yourself smartly and professionally at an interview.

Is it me, or is this the norm these days? Even one of the recruitment girls that I was working alongside seemed miffed by my comments!

spanner twirler - I'd say lowest acceptable to be shoes, smart jeans, shirt.
desk jockey - lowest is suit and boot at interview, if place is informal dress normally then revert to that if you get the job

interviewed for professional engineer last year and every one arrived smart in shirt and tie. even the guy that could barely speak English and admitted that he didn't really want the job, couldn't drive and wasn't going to relocate 40 miles so his not driving wasn't an issue....

[br d]

sc0tt said:

I had a very successful interview this morning.

My attire was a navy suit. Polished black shoes. White pocket square, white shirt and a striped tie.

Always dress for the job you want. Not the one you have.

You're getting me all hot.

[alorotom]

Sounds like people who don't actually want the job tbh

I work in a professional environment and it's second nature for interviews I do (which are rare now) but I sat in on some grad placement interviews last year and everyone one of the students made an effort with suits, trouser and short/blouse combo or dresses etc... not one turned up under dressed and had they I would have stepped in and asked them to reevaluate their appearance and what it intimates and ask them to go away and come back later that day dressed appropriately and we'd see if we could fit them in!

Wouldn't have wasted my time on them!

[KrazyIvan]

If that is the level of effort they are willing to go to when their looking to impress and get the job, are they likely to put more or less effort in if they get it.

For me it was always suit/shirt/tie and polished shoes, that however was for an office based job.

[RizzoTheRat]

We've been interviewing the last few days, I think a couple turned up in blazers but the rest were all in suits. We all tend to wear jeans and t-shirt in the office, but for interviewing new recruits or having meetings with a customer switch to suits.

sc0tt said:

Always dress for the job you want. Not the one you have.

That's exactly how I ended up in a disciplinary meeting at work, my boss didn't think showing up to work dressed as Batman gave the right image.

[rash_decision]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Hiring full time staff.

I'm a professional engineer, and don't wear a suit, the office attire is 'smart/casual'. They actually call it 'business casual', which I had to Google! Haha.

Generally the guys wear chinos/trousers, and open collar shirt/polo shirt with shoes. Still way smarter than some of the candidates recently.

Edited by rash_decision on Tuesday 14th February 15:48

[rash_decision]

RizzoTheRat said:

That's exactly how I ended up in a disciplinary meeting at work, my boss didn't think showing up to work dressed as Batman gave the right image.

I just got some funny looks as I laughed quite loudly at that, with a chorus of Nananananananana...........BATMAN, running through my head!

[DuncB7]

I ditch the jacket for interviews but always wear best black shoes, shirt & tie. FFS it's not hard. It is unacceptable to turn up in trainers or jeans to be interviewed for a professional engineering type role. Who exactly is telling these people that a hoody etc is acceptable interview attire?

I don't make an effort when I'm employed but that's an entirely different scenario. Rather a more comfortable option when employed.

[Ayahuasca]

Rawwr said:

I interviewed some people for a couple of support roles at the end of last year. All I do is the technical interview to probe peoples' knowledge a bit and try to establish if they're real IT nerds or just saw the word 'computer' somewhere once.

Of the 12 candidates, only two of them dressed smartly with proper shoes.
10 of them wore trainers.
4 wore hoodies.
1 of them wore a Hawaiian shirt

I don't really care how people dress when they've got the job but when they're trying to get it, I want to see some effort and understanding of how things work.

Is not the bit in bold a problem? If your propective employees know how your current employees dress, it is not unreasonable for them to dress similarly? Standards should be consistent, otherwise they are not standards.

[LeeThr]

sc0tt said:

Always dress for the job you want. Not the one you have.

That's why I'm currently sat in a disciplinary meeting in a batman outfit.

[joshleb]

I feel better wearing a decent fitted suit, gives me more confidence, and you can't beat a good first impression.

For a grad placement I did wear tweed and chinos and shirt once, did get commented that I looked like I was going to the races once I had started the placement

[Rawwr]

Ayahuasca said:

Is not the bit in bold a problem? If your propective employees know how your current employees dress, it is not unreasonable for them to dress similarly? Standards should be consistent, otherwise they are not standards.

I think it is unreasonable. They're not an employee, they're there to sell themselves. Dressing smartly to an interview is nothing about how they look and all about how much effort they're prepared to make.

All in my humble opinion, naturally.

[NordicCrankShaft]

Always worn a suit to any job interview unless any communication has stated otherwise.

Something my dad always taught us, I'm not even that old...33.

[fat80b]

rash_decision said:

Generally the guys wear chinos/trousers, and open collar shirt/polo shirt with shoes. Still way smarter than some of the candidates recently.

This sounds about right to me; I've always thought it strange that a suit is normal interview attire for a role where a suit is not required. Imho, it makes both sides feel slightly uncomfortable.

I work in tech and the last few interviews I have done, I have worn what I would normally wear for the job - trousers (not jeans), shirt and shoes possibly a jumper. Probably stubble rather than clean shaven. No Suit jacket. It's me being interviewed and not my wardrobe. I'd rather people see what they will actually get.

When on the other side of the table / interviewing (for Software Engineers / tech industry), I would not expect experienced people to come fully suited and booted. In general it is only the grads that do this. Again, I'd rather the interviewee be comfortable so that they can really put themselves across as the way they would like / in a natural way.

Bob

[Vitorio]

Ill wear decently neat clothes, but not a suit. Im an IT guy (programmer), i never talk to clients outside of where im working (physically anyway), and i feel i should be judged on my abilities, not on how i dress, especially given i will flat out refuse to simply sit behind my desk in a suit.

[can't remember]

Rawwr said:

I interviewed some people for a couple of support roles at the end of last year. All I do is the technical interview to probe peoples' knowledge a bit and try to establish if they're real IT nerds or just saw the word 'computer' somewhere once.

Of the 12 candidates, only two of them dressed smartly with proper shoes.
10 of them wore trainers.
4 wore hoodies.
1 of them wore a Hawaiian shirt

I don't really care how people dress when they've got the job but when they're trying to get it, I want to see some effort and understanding of how things work.

I interviewed someone wearing a Hawaiian shirt once. I can't imagine what was going through his head that morning as he got dressed.