Sartorial advice

[Ozone]

I know this comes up every now and then, but I need some PH collective help.

I am going for an informal interview at a large corporate company in IT and the dress code is business casual.

I've only ever worked for a small companies and I haven't been to a job interview this century

So, what is considered business casual? I was thinking black shoes, suit trousers and shirt, but that may put me at a disadvantage as a bit uptight/stuffy?

Googling says blazer and slacks or roll neck sweater and chinos

Serious and not so serious advice gratefully received

[Jasandjules]

I would wear a suit. I don't know if it would mark me out as a sad case but an interview is an interview to me.

[Usget]

I'd go for a suit with a smart open-neck shirt. You can lose the suit jacket once you sit down for interview.

[Wacky Racer]

Usget said:

I'd go for a suit with a smart open-neck shirt. You can lose the suit jacket once you sit down for interview.

This.

[Ozone]

Thanks.

This interview is a walk around and meet some management and a chat, rather than a sit down Q & A session I'm told. Sort of do I fit in / is it for me meeting

[sc0tt]

Suit no tie.

[JulianPH]

Wacky Racer said:

Usget said:

I'd go for a suit with a smart open-neck shirt. You can lose the suit jacket once you sit down for interview.

This.

Another +1 for this ^.

You really can't go wrong.If the person interviewing you is in jeans and a T-shirt they will appreciate that you made an effort. If they are suited and booted you are only a tie behind them and they told you to dress casual so no problem there.

[Ozone]

I was hoping this wouldn't be moved to a less visited part of PH and get a bit more traffic

Anyway, thanks for the input everyone

[g3org3y]

Ozone said:

I was hoping this wouldn't be moved to a less visited part of PH and get a bit more traffic

Anyway, thanks for the input everyone

You've already got the answer you need.

Suit, smart shoes, shirt (white or light blue) with no tie.

Best of luck with your interview!

[James_B]

I’d agree with the above. A relaxed suit and not too formal shirt with no tie.

Do you have a “travel suit” in a modern material, not too structured?

[Countdown]

Royal Blue suit
White shirt with cream collars and cuffs
Either old Etonian tie or, for the more casual look, cravat
Red braces
Brown shoes
Pocket square
Chunky watch

[Frank7]

I NEVER wear a tie, save for weddings and funerals, but I’m so old that I tend to think that if you’re going to wear a suit for an interview, then a tie is a must.
When I was making periodical “appearances’ at the Public Carriage Office to be assessed when I spent 22 months doing The Knowledge, it was de rigeur to be “suited and booted.”
That included a suit and tie, the rumour was, that even if you knew every street and alley within a 6 mile radius of Charing Cross, if your shoes weren’t brushed, you’d be marked down.

[putonghua73]

sc0tt said:

Suit no tie.

I have to disagree. If wearing a suit, wearing a tie is de rigueur. If you want to remove the tie, remove the jacket. The problem is that suit trousers will look like suit trousers. So either wear a suit w/ tie, or wear business casual. Do not mix and match. That said, it's IT - no-one in IT will (a) know, or (b) give a crap (probably), but it may be noticed outside of the IT dept (particularly if you have to provide user support, stakeholder management, yada yada yada) in a corporate environment.

Or someone will take a surreptitious picture and post on Styleforum to mock your sartorial faux pas.

Business casual is generally sports coat, shirt, slacks, derbies [shoes]. Oxfords are on the formal side. If going for an interview, then I would generally stick to a white or blue shirt.

Christ! I have almost posted what Frank7 said word for word, prior to reading his post!

Edited by putonghua73 on Friday 10th August 13:43

[Usget]

putonghua73 said:

If wearing a suit, wearing a tie is de rigueur.

This chap thinks it isn't.

[putonghua73]

Usget said:

This chap thinks it isn't.

He's not attending a job interview

[4x4Tyke]

Usget said:

This chap thinks it isn't.

Not many of us can pull that off though

[Frank7]

4x4Tyke said:

Not many of us can pull that off though

I’d come close, but probably not tall enough at 1.75 m, and nowhere near close enough to look like Bond, maybe Bond’s dad.
I have a couple of well cut dark suits that came in at at around a grand apiece, I keep my waist down to 88 cms, I wouldn’t have that chunky watch for love nor money though, my watches are as slim as razor blades, and unobtrusive.

[Monkeylegend]

swerni said:

Frank7 said:

4x4Tyke said:

Not many of us can pull that off though

I’d come close, but probably not tall enough at 1.75 m, and nowhere near close enough to look like Bond, maybe Bond’s dad.
I have a couple of well cut dark suits that came in at at around a grand apiece, I keep my waist down to 88 cms, I wouldn’t have that chunky watch for love nor money though, my watches are as slim as razor blades, and unobtrusive.

Down to 88cm?
Sounds a bit chunky for someone who’s only 5’9” tall short

Just saying

But when you are chucking a grand per suit you want to get value for money in terms of material so the fatter the better.

Just saying

[Strudul]

Shirt, trousers, socks, shoes, belt.

[James_B]

putonghua73 said:

I have to disagree. If wearing a suit, wearing a tie is de rigueur.

What business are you in where you feel that that’s the case?

It’s not been true in banking for years.