Job Interview - Suit or not to suit?

[bobski1]

Haven't been to a job interview for best part of 10 years but office attire has changed a lot since. Is the standard still to wear full suit and tie or have things become more casual these days?

[ikarl]

full suit/tie unless you know specifically otherwise

[p4cks]

Full suit always stands out

[Gary29]

Depends on the role but you can never be over dressed for something, so I'd always go for the full suit option, and personally lose the tie if it wasn't a 'glitz and glamour' type place/role.

[Muzzer79]

Somewhat of a contentious topic now.

There'll be some people along in a moment to tell you that a suit is old fashioned and will show (in certain environments) that you don't fit in.

When this topic was last discussed, someone suggested that a 3/4 zip up top with chinos was more suitable.

I'm in the camp that says I can't think of anyone who has been turned down for a role for being over-dressed. I have encountered people who have been turned down for being under-dressed.

So, suit or jacket and trousers.

Tie? This does depend on your vertical. When I last interviewed a couple of years back, I didn't wear a tie and it was fine.

However, if you are a lawyer interviewing in London for example, absolutely wear a tie

[kurokawa]

I work in scientific/engineering sector. Have not wear a tie in my past few interviews and I never wear a jacket in summer either.
However, my friends in finance and banking say they always go full suits

[geeks]

I hate wearing a suit and tie with a passion, but even I get these out for a job interview.

[Countdown]

For me it's a suit but no tie.

[Tom8]

A good lesson I learned in the military was that you can always dress down (like remove jacket and tie etc.) but you can't dress up, so if in doubt, the answer is obvious.

[the-norseman]

For me a suit is standard attire for an interview, tie optional depending on the role.

But there is roles that I wouldn't go suited for, years ago when I was 17-18 I went for a labourer at a reclaimers yard in a suit, stood out like a sore thumb.

[MustangGT]

Gary29 said:

Depends on the role but you can never be over dressed for something, so I'd always go for the full suit option, and personally lose the tie if it wasn't a 'glitz and glamour' type place/role.

I agree with this.

[Zio Di Roma]

Countdown said:

For me it's a suit but no tie.

You told us that you were appointed to a board position of an international company, after being interviewed in shorts. This was after an inspirational post you'd written on Linkedin, if I recall correctly.

Have you changed your mind, or do you have a jacket that matches your shorts?

[Countdown]

Zio Di Roma said:

You told us that you were appointed to a board position of an international company, after being interviewed in shorts. This was after an inspirational post you'd written on Linkedin, if I recall correctly.

Have you changed your mind, or do you have a jacket that matches your shorts?

I may have been mocking the PH Powerfully Built Director stereotype where "PHers interview Companies rather than the other way round, where interviews happen informally at 5-star restaurants usually somewhere in Europe or the US, and where, if the Company doesn't like their unique and imitable PH Director style, they can shove their 6-figure paying job up their arses"

[Zio Di Roma]

Countdown said:

Zio Di Roma said:

You told us that you were appointed to a board position of an international company, after being interviewed in shorts. This was after an inspirational post you'd written on Linkedin, if I recall correctly.

Have you changed your mind, or do you have a jacket that matches your shorts?

I may have been mocking the PH Powerfully Built Director stereotype where "PHers interview Companies rather than the other way round, where interviews happen informally at 5-star restaurants usually somewhere in Europe or the US, and where, if the Company doesn't like their unique and imitable PH Director style, they can shove their 6-figure paying job up their arses"

Ah ok, you weren't being Walty then.

[98elise]

the-norseman said:

For me a suit is standard attire for an interview, tie optional depending on the role.

But there is roles that I wouldn't go suited for, years ago when I was 17-18 I went for a labourer at a reclaimers yard in a suit, stood out like a sore thumb.

This. Dress to what would be considered smart for the particular job.

A suit an tie for any normal office based role, exceptions would be things like the creative industries where they tend not to wear suits. As you say a for labouring job a suit out of place, not smart.

You want to look smart/presentable for that particular role, but not get the dress code entirely wrong.

[CHLEMCBC]

Muzzer79 said:

Somewhat of a contentious topic now.

There'll be some people along in a moment to tell you that a suit is old fashioned and will show (in certain environments) that you don't fit in.

When this topic was last discussed, someone suggested that a 3/4 zip up top with chinos was more suitable.

I'm in the camp that says I can't think of anyone who has been turned down for a role for being over-dressed. I have encountered people who have been turned down for being under-dressed.

So, suit or jacket and trousers.

Tie? This does depend on your vertical. When I last interviewed a couple of years back, I didn't wear a tie and it was fine.

However, if you are a lawyer interviewing in London for example, absolutely wear a tie

I once turned someone down for his bow tie and marron corduroy suit - among other things, but it was the suit that pushed him into the weeds.

[bigpriest]

How many points are you scoring for a suit v no suit? Seems ludicrous to me, has no bearing on 'suit'ability - and if someone is a good candidate just ask them to wear a suit when they start the role. Interviews bring out the worse in office management bks.

[Batfoy]

Muzzer79 said:

Tie? This does depend on your vertical.

What does this mean?

[Fast and Spurious]

Countdown said:

For me it's a suit but no tie.

I'm 100% the opposite to this. Never had a job yet!

[anonymous-user]

Always "suited and booted". don't forget to polish your shoes!