What to wear at an interview for a senior job tomorrow?

What to wear at an interview for a senior job tomorrow?

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Discussion

okgo

38,055 posts

198 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Cultural fit is more important now than it was when most of the old gits on PH likely last interviewed. If someone came to our place in a suit we’d probably question the fit a little. How did they get it so wrong.


BoRED S2upid

19,705 posts

240 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Marketing. You need Vivian Westwood not a suit and tie 😎

PlywoodPascal

4,187 posts

21 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
okgo said:
If someone came to our place in a suit we’d probably question the fit a little.
"hmm, wouldn't you have thought that someone with such a long torso would look better in a 2-button jacket than a single-button one? As it is the low buttoning point and long lapels makes him look terribly unbalanced top to bottom. And I don't know if it was just me, but I did think those reverse pleats really just added too much volume around his midriff."

Countdown

39,913 posts

196 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
okgo said:
Cultural fit is more important now than it was when most of the old gits on PH likely last interviewed. If someone came to our place in a suit we’d probably question the fit a little. How did they get it so wrong.
Unless they've actually been in your offices a few times beforehand how would they pick up on the "culture" Thinking about it, even if somebody had physically been to our offices beforehand the dress code varies from team to team. IT seem to dress like hobos who havent had a bath or a shave for a week,, HR dress as if they're going for a night out, it's only Finance and Legal that dress relatively formally (possibly because both of those teams have lots of meetings with clients). For Board meetings at our place you would always be expected to wear a suit (tie optional).

PlywoodPascal

4,187 posts

21 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Countdown said:
okgo said:
Cultural fit is more important now than it was when most of the old gits on PH likely last interviewed. If someone came to our place in a suit we’d probably question the fit a little. How did they get it so wrong.
Unless they've actually been in your offices a few times beforehand how would they pick up on the "culture" Thinking about it, even if somebody had physically been to our offices beforehand the dress code varies from team to team. IT seem to dress like hobos who havent had a bath or a shave for a week,, HR dress as if they're going for a night out, it's only Finance and Legal that dress relatively formally (possibly because both of those teams have lots of meetings with clients). For Board meetings at our place you would always be expected to wear a suit (tie optional).
obvious innit, the successful candidates are in the same club or golf club or go the same cycling shop or have children at the same nursery as the people who already work there. that's what people really mean when they say "cultural fit".

bigandclever

13,792 posts

238 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Yup. Nobody has ever not got the job because they were wearing a suit and tie. But people have not got the job because they didn't wear a suit and tie.
Anecdotal, obvs, but I've been in the room post-interview when candidates who were booted and suited were sifted and rejected for 'not understanding the company ethos'. Spectacular arrogance on the decision-makers part.

Rusty Old-Banger

3,836 posts

213 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
PlywoodPascal said:
Sunday Drive said:
Make yourself stand out from the other candidates.
Purple velvet suit it is then.
Actual lol biggrin

Rusty Old-Banger

3,836 posts

213 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
sunnyb13 said:
Countdown said:
sunnyb13 said:
How is a £75k job a senior job?

Either you’re being low balled on salary, or it’s a fairly mid level role.
It puts you in the top 10% of UK earnings. Sounds fairly senior to me.
£75k is 2-3 years out of a grad scheme.

Why companies insist on low balling senior roles is beyond me. Sites such as glassdoor and levels.fyi give better indication of true salary.
Actual lol at this too.

okgo

38,055 posts

198 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
I know. Isn’t it actually about a half decent starting salary these days? 2-3 years! Mental.

Rusty Old-Banger

3,836 posts

213 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
okgo said:
I know. Isn’t it actually about a half decent starting salary these days? 2-3 years! Mental.
Our tea lady would spit in your brew if you offered her that.

Muzzer79

9,994 posts

187 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
okgo said:
Cultural fit is more important now than it was when most of the old gits on PH likely last interviewed. If someone came to our place in a suit we’d probably question the fit a little. How did they get it so wrong.
I have interviewed in 2024......

If someone came to our place every day for work in a suit, I may question the fit culturally.

If they came to an interview in a suit, I wouldn't.

But it's clearly related to industry and corporate-ness of the company you're trying to work for.

If you had an interview as a stock broker in Canary Wharf, would you turn up in jeans and a jumper?

Likewise, if you had an interview for a tech startup in Farringdon you probably wouldn't pack a tie........would feel odd for me, but that's not my industry.


Edited by Muzzer79 on Tuesday 26th March 16:39

okgo

38,055 posts

198 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Having spoken to some senior marketing folk at a very famous investment bank just recently - no suits. In fact, very casual all round.

the-norseman

12,444 posts

171 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Muzzer79 said:
I have interviewed in 2024......

If someone came to our place every day for work in a suit, I may question the fit culturally.

If they came to an interview in a suit, I wouldn't.
What if somebody came to an interview in a nice 3 piece suit & tie.

They then proceeded to carry on wearing 3 piece suits & ties during the day at work, but then turned up for night shifts also wearing 3 piece suits & tie.

The office dress policy has always been "smart casual", night shifts are relaxed down to jeans/shorts allowed etc.

Said person is very different from the others in the office.

Countdown

39,913 posts

196 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
What if somebody came to an interview in a nice 3 piece suit & tie.

They then proceeded to carry on wearing 3 piece suits & ties during the day at work, but then turned up for night shifts also wearing 3 piece suits & tie.

The office dress policy has always been "smart casual", night shifts are relaxed down to jeans/shorts allowed etc.

Said person is very different from the others in the office.
Devil's advocate - if their quality of work is fine then what's the problem?

This thread seems to swing between two extremes

1. "We don't care what somebody looks like as long as they can get the job done"
2. "We rejected somebody because they had the temerity to turn up in a suit and tie"

Muzzer79

9,994 posts

187 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
the-norseman said:
Muzzer79 said:
I have interviewed in 2024......

If someone came to our place every day for work in a suit, I may question the fit culturally.

If they came to an interview in a suit, I wouldn't.
What if somebody came to an interview in a nice 3 piece suit & tie.

They then proceeded to carry on wearing 3 piece suits & ties during the day at work, but then turned up for night shifts also wearing 3 piece suits & tie.

The office dress policy has always been "smart casual", night shifts are relaxed down to jeans/shorts allowed etc.

Said person is very different from the others in the office.
In that situation, I hope the person would read the room and adjust their dress for actually working at the business.

But also, it depends on their reason for wearing a 3 piece suit.

If it's because they feel they have to and everyone else should - that's a concern

If it's because they just like to dress well - more power to them. Leave them to it.



the-norseman

12,444 posts

171 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
To be fair to him he does look good, but I sense he feels it gives him some kind of power, he's quite snobbish.

Anyway I do like a nice 3 piece, but in the right setting.

blueg33

35,922 posts

224 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Muzzer79 said:
the-norseman said:
Muzzer79 said:
I have interviewed in 2024......

If someone came to our place every day for work in a suit, I may question the fit culturally.

If they came to an interview in a suit, I wouldn't.
What if somebody came to an interview in a nice 3 piece suit & tie.

They then proceeded to carry on wearing 3 piece suits & ties during the day at work, but then turned up for night shifts also wearing 3 piece suits & tie.

The office dress policy has always been "smart casual", night shifts are relaxed down to jeans/shorts allowed etc.

Said person is very different from the others in the office.
In that situation, I hope the person would read the room and adjust their dress for actually working at the business.

But also, it depends on their reason for wearing a 3 piece suit.

If it's because they feel they have to and everyone else should - that's a concern

If it's because they just like to dress well - more power to them. Leave them to it.
My ops director always wears a 3 piece suit and a tie everyone else is smart casual. He always looks super smart, he is a short dapper tyre and it suits him. He still fits in, the fit is about culture , values and work ethic not what people are wearing.

snuffy

9,767 posts

284 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Countdown said:
sunnyb13 said:
How is a £75k job a senior job?

Either you’re being low balled on salary, or it’s a fairly mid level role.
It puts you in the top 10% of UK earnings. Sounds fairly senior to me.
A top 10% salary but also only 3 times the minimum wage.

It's not much when expressed like that.

Countdown

39,913 posts

196 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
snuffy said:
Countdown said:
sunnyb13 said:
How is a £75k job a senior job?

Either you’re being low balled on salary, or it’s a fairly mid level role.
It puts you in the top 10% of UK earnings. Sounds fairly senior to me.
A top 10% salary but also only 3 times the minimum wage.

It's not much when expressed like that.
It's also 27.8 billion Iranian Riyals per annum so it's a lot when you express it like that biggrin


Jasandjules

69,913 posts

229 months

Tuesday 26th March
quotequote all
Personally I would be suited and booted all day long. Shirt, cufflinks and matching tie.