suit or no suit?

September 12, 2009 3:04 AM

Should I wear a suit to an interview when the dress code is casual?

I have an interview Monday with a clothing company and the dress code is casual and sounds relatively liberal. The position I am interviewing for is relatively senior (reports to the person beneath the CIO). I feel like wearing a suit is appropriate for the position but perhaps out of touch with the culture of the organization. I don't want to seem tone deaf. Suggestions?

posted by zennoshinjou to Work & Money (34 answers total)

Best answer: Wear the suit but leave off the tie.
posted by evil_esto at 3:16 AM on September 12, 2009

Yes
posted by dfriedman at 3:30 AM on September 12, 2009

I agree with evil_esto. I'd say a nice shirt and jacket, but no tie. Whenever I see a tie on an interviewee where I work, I think they are trying a little too hard (plus, they almost always look uncomfortable)...
posted by Gorgik at 3:36 AM on September 12, 2009

To my last interview, the recruiter told me to wear a suit. The hiring manager was dressed very casual and the lead developer was wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I noticed that the developer was very stiff until I threw in a quip about the recruiter insisting upon the suit and that he would never see me in such offensive clothing again. He immediately lightened up. The interview with the president went well, and I found out later that she appreciated the gesture of the suit.

So, I would go with the suit, if only because sr. management types tend to appreciate them, maybe no tie, but make sure you let your personality shine through the suit, and if you meet with someone who is obviously turned off by your garb, find a way to quickly deflect it and possible even use it to your advantage.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 4:11 AM on September 12, 2009 [1 favorite]

You can never go wrong by being the best dressed man in the room.
posted by suburbanrobot at 4:21 AM on September 12, 2009 [4 favorites]

to wear a suit does not mean that you have to look stiff or uncool, just don't wear a tie and choose a striped shirt in a bolder color instead of the usual white/light blue: wear a dark, slimmer suit, black shoes and for the shirt choose something something like this
posted by matteo at 4:24 AM on September 12, 2009 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Yes, wear the suit...it shows, for one, that you have enough class to actually own one. It shows respect. I run a very casual agency, I typically wear jeans and t-shirts to work... People showing up for an interview wearing a suit show me that they have an investment getting the job.
posted by HuronBob at 4:39 AM on September 12, 2009 [1 favorite]

Doesn't have to be a full on suit, but definitely wear a button-up, collared shirt and slacks with a belt, plus a decent pair of leatherish shoes. (No jeans! No running shoes! Even if people working there wear that).
posted by molecicco at 5:39 AM on September 12, 2009

"You can never go wrong by being the best dressed man in the room."

Actually this isn't totally true. In places where the casual culture is deeply ingrained -- my last couple of workplaces were like this -- showing up in a full blown suit definitely made a even senior candidates stand out a bit much. Hell, in one of those positions I was a low-level executive at a bank and people looked at me slantways when I had the suit on.

Maybe this is my California regional and technology field biases showing through but if you're really set on the suit I'd take every possible measure to dress it down: pass on the tie completely, show up with the coat over your shoulder, and maybe idly roll up your sleeves a a couple of notches as you're talking your way through the meet-n-greet. Keep the shoes low key.
posted by majick at 5:44 AM on September 12, 2009 [2 favorites]

I went to an intern interview wearing about $2000 worth of Ralph Lauren suit, tie, and shoes, and six weeks later I had/have the job of the person who hired me, and my work "uniform" is jeans, t-shirt, and Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Just sayin'.
posted by Devoidoid at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2009

Suit up! The job market is competitive. While your position may not require you to "dress up" day to day, making the effort to wear a suit shows that you take the opportunity seriously and that you can will approach your job with the same diligence that you did the interview.

If you are going to wear a suit make sure it fits and looks good. I know that sounds stupid, but I've interviewed more than a few techies whose suit was so ill-fitting or out of style, that while I gave them an "A" for effort, they got a "C-" for execution.

Make sure your shoes are shined.

If you are going to wear a tie, make sure the knot is tied "right" and the tie matches (and is not from 1973).

If you don't know how to dress yourself "professionally" (it's not an innate talent, you need to be taught) either get some help from a girlfriend (or a store clerk). Oh, and get a haircut (or at least make sure your hair looks good). Knowing that you look good will give you an extra boost of confidence.

Owning at least one suit is important. Besides the inevitable interview, you never know when you may be called upon to go to court, attend a funeral or some other formal function.
posted by MCTDavid at 6:02 AM on September 12, 2009

Wear the tie. Since this is a clothing company I would agree with MCTDavid about the knot etc. My workplace is casual, but if anyone showed up for an interview without a suit and tie they probably wouldn't make it to the end of the day, much less for the call back.
posted by caddis at 6:10 AM on September 12, 2009

I'm in the wear-the-suit camp. I've hired many people, been interviewed myself many times - for all sorts of disfferent environments. Only once did I not wear a suit, and that's because I knew the person interviewing me and cleared it with her beforehand (didn't want to wear a suit to my then-current job as it was an obvious giveaway). Wear it once, get the job, and kiss the suit goodbye for the next few years.
posted by Nick Verstayne at 6:57 AM on September 12, 2009

I hired one of our staffers because he had a great professional personality and the right experience for the job, but the suit really sealed the deal. MCTDavid has it - if you're going with a suit, make sure it fits. If you're worried about being too dressy in a casual environment, you can still ditch the jacket and tie and look great. Good luck!
posted by futureisunwritten at 6:59 AM on September 12, 2009

Agree with matteo, you should go with something more modern. Not necessarily bold colours - black shirt on black pants will do just fine. The advantage of black on black is that it would look out of place with a tie. Your outfit will look complete. Tuck the shirt in, wear a belt.
posted by crazycanuck at 7:02 AM on September 12, 2009

Suit up!
posted by firei at 7:42 AM on September 12, 2009

Wear a suit and a tie. It should not even be a question.


black shirt on black pants will do just fine

NO BLACK SHIRTS. What is he, Johnny Cash?
posted by Zambrano at 8:21 AM on September 12, 2009 [8 favorites]

If the interview isn't first thing Monday morning, ask the person who arranged the interview! Drop them a line and explain that as you prepare for the interview you're wondering what the appropriate level of dress would be. This shows that you're thinking about making a good impression, and that you're preparing -- both pluses.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 8:22 AM on September 12, 2009

My last company was very casual, everyone but senior management wore jeans nearly everyday. However, once I began helping with interviewing candidates, I learned that HR and the senior managers (who also never wore suits to work, usually khakis & polo shirts) expected interviewees to wear suits to interviews (and follow-up interviews) to show that they took the position seriously.

My new company is even more casual, and I in no way felt out of place wearing suit separates to my interview (as a woman, maybe I have a little more leeway when it comes to professional dress).

I say wear the suit or something similar to a suit. Definitely a jacket.

I have interviewed at many casual companies (I work as a tech writer and engineering teams are usually very casual) and I have never regretted wearing a suit to an interview -- but I *have* regretted NOT wearing a suit to an interview. The most casual I will get, as a woman, is to wear a skirt with a different color or pattern as my jacket. But I will always wear a jacket. Always.
posted by tastybrains at 8:48 AM on September 12, 2009

I wore a suit to an interview with The Apple Sore...I mentioned that I looked like the PC guy, got a chuckle and a 2nd interview is coming up next week.
posted by Gungho at 8:58 AM on September 12, 2009

If the clothing company manufactures/sells suits, can you wear one of those?
posted by j at 9:01 AM on September 12, 2009

I learned that HR and the senior managers ... expected interviewees to wear suits to interviews … to show that they took the position seriously.

Yes, just like lawyers should wear wigs to court to show that they take the justice system seriously.

I say wear whatever you want, as long as its clear that you put effort into, and take pride in, your appearance. But I'm assuming that you're well qualified for the job.
posted by mpls2 at 9:34 AM on September 12, 2009

Should I wear a suit to an interview when the dress code is casual?

My company has a casual dress code. Before an interview (for most positions) the candidate is told that the dress code is casual. If you show up in a suit, it shows that you do not pay attention to implicit instructions or do not understand what a dress code is. I'm not saying this is the norm, but to assume that a suit is a pre-requisite even when you have been told otherwise is not a smart thing to do.

Smart casual is probably the safest bet.
posted by slimepuppy at 10:00 AM on September 12, 2009

Mpls2, lawyers should wear wigs to court if they're in England. In the U.S., some judges wont' let a lawyer into their courtroom without a jacket. Suit up.
posted by craven_morhead at 10:21 AM on September 12, 2009

Yes, just like lawyers should wear wigs to court to show that they take the justice system seriously.

The justice system, unlike senior management & HR, doesn't have a say in getting you hired for the job you want.

I'm just saying that some casual companies still have people who expect you to wear a suit, even if it's not company culture to dress-up.

I have personally been in meetings where the manager of a team said that they did not want to hire a specific candidate because they were underdressed for the interview and that rubbed them the wrong way -- even if they were otherwise a good match for the position. And if it ever came down to choosing between two similar candidates, one who wore a suit and one who didn't, it would be the suit who got the job offer.

Stupid reason? Maybe. But, as others have said, it's a competitive job market out there, and I think failure to wear a suit has more of a chance to hurt your interview than risking overdressing.
posted by tastybrains at 10:50 AM on September 12, 2009

Wearing a suit to an interview with a casual culture is a delicate dance. You arrive in full garb. They say, "You may have noticed, we don't dress like that around here, so you don't have to worry about that." You feign a little laugh. They feign a little laugh. Dance done.

But you HAVE to do this dance for reasons enumerated above. It's easy for a hiring person to imagine you wearing a tshirt and jeans. You want them to be able to picture you wearing the necessary costume to represent them in a professional manner. It's harder for people to just picture that without any help. Help clear away any doubt: wear the suit.

I just finished working for a regional environmental nonprofit where I regularly had to coax the executive director into wearing a jacket to meetings where we were going to ask for six figure contributions. Casual was the culture there. But for my two interviews, I wore a suit both times, even though the ED admonished me at first for being so overdressed. Needless to say, I got the job and with it came some extra responsibilities that I wouldn't have been given otherwise. I was tapped to represent the organization at industry events where only suits were allowed. Nobody else - Executive Director included - was comfortable in that scenario. But they knew I was. And they wouldn't have known if I had simply dressed to fit in with the office culture.

Also, mpls2 - your "wit" is misplaced. The goal here is to help zennoshinjou dress appropriately given certain social rules, not attack those social rules because they don't comport with how you (and I) think the world should be run. Sartorial conventions are dated, classist, completely unrealistic, violate almost all manner of utility in fashion and are often damned sexist. But let's not send zennoshinjou in as a proxy warrior in our battle against outmoded concepts of fashion.
posted by greekphilosophy at 11:25 AM on September 12, 2009 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: This thread pretty much illustrates my confusion; there is contradictory advice (which is understandable) ranging from wear whatever to full suit. My concern is that during the first interview the HR Director stressed that the work environment is very casual (verging on no dress code) so as Slimepuppy said, coming in a full suit means I wasn't paying attention. Conversely, not wearing a suit shows that I'm either not taking it seriously or lazy. I'm thinking I'm going to split the difference with a nice pair of slacks, a button down shirt and casual tie. Does that seem reasonable?

Also the company makes clothes for grade school aged girls so I don't think I could wear their clothes without probably getting arrested :)
posted by zennoshinjou at 12:06 PM on September 12, 2009

i think no tie.
posted by apostrophe at 1:10 PM on September 12, 2009

Sartorial conventions are dated, classist, completely unrealistic,
You can stamp your little feet all you want- it's just the way it is. The suit wins. And it will always win.

classist

Did anyone here say "wear an expensive suit, shirt and tie"?


You can never go wrong with wearing a suit. It's preposterous to think otherwise.
posted by Zambrano at 1:24 PM on September 12, 2009

Wear a modern cut, well fitting suit with a subdued, appropriate tie.

Men's business wear is designed to show how well the wearer can fit into expectations while still allowing room for stylistic variations that reveal personality by way of elegance, expense and tailoring decisions.

I could go on about this for an hour, but really there is no choice in the matter.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:29 PM on September 12, 2009

You can never go wrong with wearing a suit. It's preposterous to think otherwise.

It's only been a few decades since it was "preposterous to think" you could wear anything but suits when working in an office. Now even quite high level offices at least have casual fridays, and in many offices you can wear pretty much whatever you feel like. The shift in culture is a bit complicated to navigate.

One consideration is whether you'd rather err on the side of overdressed or underdressed, and this can come down to what you're personally more comfortable in. If being in a suit makes you feel good, you can laugh off not matching the rest of the crowd; if it tends to make you feel awkward and you'd feel best in something more casual, dressing down makes more sense.
posted by mdn at 4:06 PM on September 12, 2009

There's no rule against calling up your HR contact and asking what level of dress is appropriate for the interview. Since you already have an interview scheduled, an HR person can't really hurt you, especially for such a senior position.
posted by telegraph at 4:26 PM on September 12, 2009

I'm interviewing a bunch of folks now for positions in a casual work environment, and what I like to see is that someone has made an effort -- and a suit = effort in my book. That said, a suit would not be a huge plus, but clearly place them in the "I'm taking this seriously" column. In the other column are the candidates who have shown up in the past month in sweatpants, without a pen and paper, or completely unprepared to ask a single question relevant to the position. Yikes.

If a suit makes you feel professional and prepared, wear it!
posted by mozhet at 6:26 PM on September 12, 2009

This question has been asked before (Most recently in June)

My take on this is that you can't go wrong with a suit. It's a safe bet that shows you're taking the interview seriously. There may be a paradigm shift happening but you probably won't hear anyone say, "Man, he wore a suit? We're definitely not hiring him!" At least not yet.
posted by carpyful at 7:42 PM on September 13, 2009