Interview today, wear a tie?

Got an interview today for a NOC position for a video streaming CDN. Was planning on going suit and dress shirt, but deciding on whether I should wear a tie.

Find more posts tagged with

Save $250 on 2025 certification boot camps from Infosec!

Book now with code EOY2025

Button

Comments

Xcluziv

drew726 wrote: »

Got an interview today for a NOC position for a video streaming CDN. Was planning on going suit and dress shirt, but deciding on whether I should wear a tie.

you are already wearing a suit, why not wear a tie......no brainer, go with the tie!

vCole

I always wear a tie. I have never worn a full suit however. (I know what people's opinions are on this, so you don't have to tell me.) I do however, wear suit pants, a very nice dress shirt, tie and dress shoes. Also, learn to match your clothes/accessories for the love of everything that is good! I like to dress sharp, and it doesn't cost a fortune either! I spent $55 at Kohl's the other day on a $40 dress shirt $25 belt, $80 suit pants. (Woot for sale's!) I'd much rather wear a sharp outfit like that - then a dated suit. (If it's a newer suit, then by all means go for it! Make sure it's tailored and in style. A nice tailored suit will be my next purchased

)

Everyone

Wear the tie. Also make sure everything is clean and pressed.

rsutton

Wear a tie. Also, this has been covered many times in these forums, search is your friend.

QHalo

Always. No exceptions.

gosh1976

I would skip the suit coat before I would ever skip the tie and I would only consider doing that in the summer.

Akaricloud

If you're going for a suit definitely wear a tie.

Now, about wearing the suit... that really depends on the position and the company. If the entire company is in jeans and a t-shirt then wearing a suit makes it look like you wouldn't fit in.

I've overdressed an interview before and it was most likely why I didn't get that position.

Devilsbane

Absolutely. Go with the suit too.

SteveLord

vCole wrote: »

I spent $55 at Kohl's the other day on a $40 dress shirt $25 belt, $80 suit pants. (Woot for sale's!) I)

Now you're starting to sound like my wife.

Too bad all the "sale" clothes she just bought me recently doesn't fit. Their XLs are a little to small.

QHalo

I think it's funny when we have these discussions because this same arguement comes up. If a place isn't going to hire you because you show up in a suit to show respect for them and yourself, well then I personally wouldn't care to work somewhere that's so uptight on something so little.

ehnde

Next time I have a job interview I'm wearing a tux. Straight up *****-face at the interview too. The thing is, when you wear a tux everyone else around you is IMMEDIATELY UNDER DRESSED.

So I dare you

edit: why did the word "*****" get auto-edited out of my post?

edit: let's try this again, word describes a mythical creature that hides under a bridge

Akaricloud

QHalo wrote: »

I think it's funny when we have these discussions because this same arguement comes up. If a place isn't going to hire you because you show up in a suit to show respect for them and yourself, well then I personally wouldn't care to work somewhere that's so uptight on something so little.

The same argument be used on why NOT to wear a suit.

If you wouldn't want to work somewhere that cares how you dress then why bother even putting on any dress clothes?

In interviews you want to look like you fit into their company which is exactly what interviews are really about. If you're applying to McDonalds with a $3,000 suit then you're not going to get hired. You can overdress.

QHalo

Akaricloud wrote: »

The same argument be used on why NOT to wear a suit.

If you wouldn't want to work somewhere that cares how you dress then why bother even putting on any dress clothes?

In interviews you want to look like you fit into their company which is exactly what interviews are really about. If you're applying to McDonalds with a $3,000 suit then you're not going to get hired. You can overdress.

I interviewed with the railroad, about as blue collar as it comes, as a conductor in a suit. I was the only one there with a suit while everyone else wore shorts and tee shirts. They asked me about it and I told them it was respect to them for their time and for myself. They hired me. Do I think my suit made the difference? Probably not, but when everyone else shows up in shorts, I wanted to stand out.

And yes, if I had to interview at McDonald's I would show up in a suit. Sorry, I prefer to look professional when I interview. It's not the end all be all of the interview but why chance it? I don't think clothing is a way to show you're going to fit in.

In the end its simply my opinion that you show up in a suit, my opinion and what I recommend to others. People are going to do what they want to do. If you feel that showing up in less will help you, then so be it. But I wouldn't.

Akaricloud

QHalo wrote: »

I interviewed with the railroad, about as blue collar as it comes, as a conductor in a suit. I was the only one there with a suit while everyone else wore shorts and tee shirts. They asked me about it and I told them it was respect to them for their time and for myself. They hired me. Do I think my suit made the difference? Probably not, but when everyone else shows up in shorts, I wanted to stand out.

And yes, if I had to interview at McDonald's I would show up in a suit. Sorry, I prefer to look professional when I interview. It's not the end all be all of the interview but why chance it? I don't think clothing is a way to show you're going to fit in.

In the end its simply my opinion that you show up in a suit, my opinion and what I recommend to others. People are going to do what they want to do. If you feel that showing up in less will help you, then so be it. But I wouldn't.

Yep, opinions differ.

I'll still recommend that people dress appropriately for an interview and not underdress or overdress. It's really just the safest way.

I agree that in a perfect world it shouldn't matter, but in reality it does.

drew726

Thanks guys. Scored a 2nd interview next week.

hiddenknight821

drew726 wrote: »

Thanks guys. Scored a 2nd interview next week.

Congrats! Did they say anything about you overdressing at the interview?

themagicone

Humm reading this I totally under dress. Most I ever where to an interview is a pair of dress slacks and a button up shirt. I look very bad in a suit, my body type doesn't just work for some reason (and I'm not heavy or skinny). Congrats in getting the 2nd interview, best of luck to you.

reloaded

Wore a full suit to an interview for a network engineer position a few weeks ago. Got at least two comments about it, one from the hiring manager, the other from HR. Then the HR told me stories about how so many candidates really underdress and how wearing a suit tends to earn the respect of hiring managers, telling them you're serious about the position. Needless to say, I got the job.

Essendon

Suit and tie every time, unless you are going to McDonald's or something. No brainer, you should look professional. Full stop.

TLeTourneau

I'm a suit and tie kind of guy for interviews. If the culture is more dressed down after you get the job great but we are supposed to be business professionals and I've found that, at least in the market segment I work in, employers expect a certain mode of dress. The most dressed down I've even been working (not from home) is slacks and a polo shirt. My current employer is business formal all the way, no casual days.

Also, a bit OT and has been discussed before, IMHO for us to be taken seriously by management and up we not only need to sound like we belong in the meeting we also need to look like we belong in the meeting.

LAN_Guru

You always wear at least a tie on the first interview. Always. No exceptions.

I always dress business professional or business formal for the first interview. Always. I have never been told I was overdressed. I get countless positive comments about my professional appearance. Hiring managers or HR people apprecreciate the respect. It shows that you honor tradition. Even in a non-traditional job or job-market, the respect is appreciated.

Doctors, lawyers, and accountants are called professionals. Though they have gotten more casual the last decade or two, your doctor is probably wearing a tie under his lab coat. Us geeks like to be referred to as IT professionals. It is my opinion that we have gotten far too casual. I wear at least a tie at least 3-4 days a week even in business casual environments. I never wear jeans, not even on jeans Fridays. I get more respect from clients and management than my peers. There is the philosophy that if you ever intend on being the CEO of a company, then you better look like the CEO. If they can't picture you in that position, you will never even be considered for the position.

You want to be called a professional, be treated like a professional, and get paid like a professional? Then look and act like a professional...

Forsaken_GA

Akaricloud wrote: »

The same argument be used on why NOT to wear a suit.

If you wouldn't want to work somewhere that cares how you dress then why bother even putting on any dress clothes?

In interviews you want to look like you fit into their company which is exactly what interviews are really about. If you're applying to McDonalds with a $3,000 suit then you're not going to get hired. You can overdress.

Honestly, I would still show up in a suit for the first interview.

If I was overdressed for the first interview, and I was called back for a second one, I might dress down a bit to fit in closer with the company culture, but the first interview, I would always show up dressed as best as I possibly can

Blackout

First Impressions........ The question should be why in god's name would you go to an interview not dressed for success, I thought this kinda stuff was common sense? Wear a suit and a tie, your wallet and life depend on it

You want your interviewer to take you seriously? Then dress the part. If I was interviewing someone for a position that maintains hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, I want someone who looks like they have their **** together.

I have been in the military for 10 years, I still shine my boots, keep my hair in standards, press my uniform, and everything else the job entails, why? First its my job and second, I respect myself.

cyberguypr

Blackout wrote: »

First Impressions........ The question should be why in god's name would you go to an interview not dressed for success, I thought this kinda stuff was common sense? Wear a suit and a tie, your wallet and life depend on it

You want your interviewer to take you seriously? Then dress the part. If I was interviewing someone for a position that maintains hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, I want someone who looks like they have their **** together.

I have been in the military for 10 years, I still shine my boots, keep my hair in standards, press my uniform, and everything else the job entails, why? First its my job and second, I respect myself.

Well said man. Years ago when I started at my previous job I used to see a guy in a suit walking around the office. I thought he was a VP or CxO. Later on someone told me he was just an admin. When someone asked him why he wore a suit everyday he said his philosophy was "dress for success"

RockinRobin

QHalo wrote: »

I interviewed with the railroad, about as blue collar as it comes, as a conductor in a suit. I was the only one there with a suit while everyone else wore shorts and tee shirts. They asked me about it and I told them it was respect to them for their time and for myself. They hired me. Do I think my suit made the difference? Probably not, but when everyone else shows up in shorts, I wanted to stand out.

And yes, if I had to interview at McDonald's I would show up in a suit. Sorry, I prefer to look professional when I interview. It's not the end all be all of the interview but why chance it? I don't think clothing is a way to show you're going to fit in.

In the end its simply my opinion that you show up in a suit, my opinion and what I recommend to others. People are going to do what they want to do. If you feel that showing up in less will help you, then so be it. But I wouldn't.

I agree.

vCole

themagicone wrote: »

Humm reading this I totally under dress. Most I ever where to an interview is a pair of dress slacks and a button up shirt. I look very bad in a suit, my body type doesn't just work for some reason (and I'm not heavy or skinny). Congrats in getting the 2nd interview, best of luck to you.

Have you gone somewhere to get fitted for one? I'm a small guy (5'2"!) so getting fitted for clothes in a MUST for me. Makes a hug difference in the way clothes fit.

drew726

They didn't say I was over dressed, but everyone there were jeans. It wasn't even something I noticed after a while because I was pretty into the conversation with those guys. Very laid back place it seems like. After the first guy, they brought in another engineer to speak to me, then his boss came in after that. Then the first guy said he wanted me to speak to his boss and said he will definitely call me and told me to schedule a time to meet them next week. Sounds pretty promising, but I don't want to keep my hopes up obviously. I've been disappointed a lot of times.

Devilry

drew726 wrote: »

They didn't say I was over dressed, but everyone there were jeans. It wasn't even something I noticed after a while because I was pretty into the conversation with those guys. Very laid back place it seems like. After the first guy, they brought in another engineer to speak to me, then his boss came in after that. Then the first guy said he wanted me to speak to his boss and said he will definitely call me and told me to schedule a time to meet them next week. Sounds pretty promising, but I don't want to keep my hopes up obviously. I've been disappointed a lot of times.

Sounds like it went well, good luck!

Devilsbane

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

Honestly, I would still show up in a suit for the first interview.

If I was overdressed for the first interview, and I was called back for a second one, I might dress down a bit to fit in closer with the company culture, but the first interview, I would always show up dressed as best as I possibly can

What is your advice for interviewing for a job inside your company? I've been here a little over a year and see that a position has opened up that I would be intererested in. I haven't applied for it yet (still working on an update of the resume) but my boss told me today that if I get an interview to come talk to him first for some tips. (He has been here longer than me and knows the hiring manager better than me. I assume he just has some ideas about what I should talk about.)

So the question comes up. If I get this interview, do I wear a suit? It's going to feel out of place because nobody wears suits around here, and we have an entire month of casual. Coworkers are going to instantly question why I'm in a suit. (I wore one once because I went to a funeral over lunch and I think I was asked 4 times if I had an interview).

QHalo

Devilsbane wrote: »

What is your advice for interviewing for a job inside your company? I've been here a little over a year and see that a position has opened up that I would be intererested in. I haven't applied for it yet (still working on an update of the resume) but my boss told me today that if I get an interview to come talk to him first for some tips. (He has been here longer than me and knows the hiring manager better than me. I assume he just has some ideas about what I should talk about.)

So the question comes up. If I get this interview, do I wear a suit? It's going to feel out of place because nobody wears suits around here, and we have an entire month of casual. Coworkers are going to instantly question why I'm in a suit. (I wore one once because I went to a funeral over lunch and I think I was asked 4 times if I had an interview).

I interviewed for another position with another group and they told me that I didn't need to wear a suit. However the company IT structure was very small and everyone was already familiar with who everyone was. I think it all depends on how formal things work around your IT department, which is sounds like its pretty laid back. If it wasn't so tight knit I would probably wear a suit just in case. If my boss knows he wouldn't be suspicious anyway.