Always Dress for Your Next J*b

[Bryan Barnfellow]

You may remember the old maxim about getting ahead in the world: "Always dress for your NEXT j*b." So, I wonder how many of us, in the year before we reached planned full FIRE status, came to w*rk in our pajamas? I didn't think of it then; almost wish that I had.

-BB

 

[Spock]

underwear.
best way to get fired.

 

[JoeWras]

What you do is come in to work with your dress shirt untucked*.

Oh, wait, nevermind. That will get you promoted because you are "with it."

* - I really don't get this trend. I guess I am old.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

UP until the early 90's, depending on where you worked in my job, some places did old fashioned roll calls.
This consisted of The Sergeant calling your name as you stood up in rank and file and read off your assignment. Then you marched out of the roll call room and stood at attention in front of "THE DESK". At this point the lieutenant would instruct the Sgt to inspect us before turning out. 2 random items maybe shined shoes and a working flashlight. The the lieutenant would give us some words of wisdom and off we would go. This one time the LT got up, mind you he had to be in his late 50's looked about 80, started yelling and cursing at us about how we looked terrible and should be ashamed at our appearance. It was a midnight shift , he came from behind the desk and was wearing a uniform shirt, tie, and when he emerged from behind the desk he was wearing only a gun belt and boxer shorts with black socks and shoes. We were Howling , he was not a joker type of guy. He wanted to lighten the mood as we were in a very busy area(euphemism for a bad neighborhood, where shoot outs were all too common). If the Captain was working I dont know if he would have been amused, but almost 30 years later it still puts a smile on my face.

Sadly he was killed by a drunk driver several years later, coming home from mass on new years morning.

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

What you do is come in to work with your dress shirt untucked*.

Oh, wait, nevermind. That will get you promoted because you are "with it."

* - I really don't get this trend. I guess I am old.

The funny thing about that guide that you linked is that they show you the limits of dress shirt length in untucked state with a model wearing blue jeans. So, right off the bat, dress shirt + blue jeans does not compute for me.

The new rule is no rules, I suppose.

-BB

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

underwear.
best way to get fired.

That reminds me of the time my 19 year old assistant came to work with the micro-ist of miniskirts on. My associate director, a woman, said to her, "I see, Sally, that you decided to come in today in just your underwear!"

I had to take her (the associate director) aside and remind her that by such statements she could be charged with sexual harassment the same as any man in the office. She seemed shocked to learn this.

-BB

 

[ExFlyBoy5]

Well, since I wore a flightsuit during my w*rking days, I would say that is as close to wearing pajamas to w*rk as you can get.

My uniform today pretty much consists of t-shirts, khaki shorts and flip flops.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

That reminds me of the time my 19 year old assistant came to work with the micro-ist of miniskirts on. My associate director, a woman, said to her, "I see, Sally, that you decided to come in today in just your underwear!"

I had to take her (the associate director) aside and remind her that by such statements she could be charged with sexual harassment the same as any man in the office. She seemed shocked to learn this.

-BB

Such is the world we live in. Walk on egg shells .

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

Blue Collar Guy,

1. I love your story of the LT in his boxers. Hilarious. What a guy.
2. Now, I understand your username better!

-BB

 

[Sojourner]

I wonder how many of us, in the year before we reached planned full FIRE status, came to w*rk in our pajamas?

This was one of the subtle perks about my career in the dot com tech world. The dress code was practically nonexistent. I think the only actual rule was, you had to come to the office at least partially clothed. I pretty much always wore jeans and a casual shirt or sweater, but there were some who seemed oblivious to the most basic, minimal standards of business/office fashion etiquette. Dingy, grimy, dime-store flip flops with plastic straps were one my pet peeves in this regard.

 

[gayl]

County had a strict dress code .... blue denim unacceptable but color denim fine. Go figure

son is with my old department. It's dress pants & shirt. Preferably white button down unless it's casual Friday which means a color button down shirt. Accountants

 

[Johanson]

I generally wear blue jeans and a hawaiian shirt to work every day.

 

[ncbill]

Out for lunch one day back in December, I ran into someone wearing a sport shirt and khakis who works at my former corporate employer, a large (Fortune 500) bank.

I said I appreciated how back when I was working there the CEO would personally visit the various offices scattered around town and thank the employees around Xmas-time.

He said the current CEO still does that, but they make sure to dress up before that visit.

I didn't tell him everyone had to wear suits, every day of the week back then...

 

[FIREd]

Except for wearing closed footwear (no sandals or flip flops), there was no dress code at my old job.

 

[CoolRich59]

I didn't tell him everyone had to wear suits, every day of the week back then...

I worked for one megacorp which (finally) went to business casual in 1995. I left in 2001 and went to work for a small software company and then on to a consulting firm, both of which had very casual dress codes.

In 2007, I was recruited by another megacorp. One the day of my interview, I was walking out the door "dressed up" in khakis, an oxford shirt, and a blue blazer.

The Mrs. says "You can't go to an interview like that". I was sure she was wrong, but after some protests, I changed into a suit and tie.

I got to the megacorp offices and was shocked to learn that they still wore suits every day!!

 

[JoeWras]

The funny thing about that guide that you linked is that they show you the limits of dress shirt length in untucked state with a model wearing blue jeans. So, right off the bat, dress shirt + blue jeans does not compute for me.

The new rule is no rules, I suppose.

-BB

Yep. Maybe I should open up the "What to wear to a software engineering interview" thread again.

The latest trend seems to be dress shirt: untucked of course!, no tie, with jeans. Shoes are your choice. Socks and sandals will even do.

The dress shirt earns you points for being "formal." I mean, what the

 

[Luck_Club]

OK I'm on a glide path and work out of the home as well. So most days I'm in PJ's until 10.

 

[mystang52]

I have a thin beard so was able to get away with this: at some point in the last year or so I started shaving every other day. The beginnings of a 5 o'clock shadow were evident, but not to the point of looking sloppy. I never would have done that previously.

 

[tmm99]

Blue Collar Guy,

1. I love your story of the LT in his boxers. Hilarious. What a guy.

-BB

I enjoyed the longish lead-in too. I knew the punch line was coming and I wasn't disappointed. ?


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[Jerry1]

Our mega corp has shed the ties for the white collar workers. I didn't think I minded wearing my tie but now that it's been off for awhile, I don't like the days I wear one. Today it's only for board meetings or visits from outside stakeholders.

 

[aja8888]

Corporate planning job (Mega Oil Co) in 1981 - 1985 - We wore three piece suits and were told to.

Oilfield management jobs now are dress casual. Field jobs now call for FRC coveralls or FRC denims.

 

[38Chevy454]

Jobs definitely more casual now than 30 years ago. When first out of college as engineer, it was tie most days. Maybe 2 days/week no tie, one always being Friday. At end of my career, it was never a tie unless a big outside visitors meeting.

Funny story about the dress for next job. At my last job one guy was all dressed up one day, I joked about him having an interview. He said his wife gave them for Christmas and he had to wear them, but added trying to be funny "As you know dress for the job you want, not the job you have". I replied, "Well guess I better show up in tennis shoes, shorts and t-shirt then because I want to be a retired bum"

 

[MarieIG]

UP until the early 90's, depending on where you worked in my job, some places did old fashioned roll calls.
This consisted of The Sergeant calling your name as you stood up in rank and file and read off your assignment. Then you marched out of the roll call room and stood at attention in front of "THE DESK". At this point the lieutenant would instruct the Sgt to inspect us before turning out. 2 random items maybe shined shoes and a working flashlight. The the lieutenant would give us some words of wisdom and off we would go. This one time the LT got up, mind you he had to be in his late 50's looked about 80, started yelling and cursing at us about how we looked terrible and should be ashamed at our appearance. It was a midnight shift , he came from behind the desk and was wearing a uniform shirt, tie, and when he emerged from behind the desk he was wearing only a gun belt and boxer shorts with black socks and shoes. We were Howling , he was not a joker type of guy. He wanted to lighten the mood as we were in a very busy area(euphemism for a bad neighborhood, where shoot outs were all too common). If the Captain was working I dont know if he would have been amused, but almost 30 years later it still puts a smile on my face.

Sadly he was killed by a drunk driver several years later, coming home from mass on new years morning.

I loved this (except for the last part). My DF told me some hysterical stories. He retired from the NYCPD in 1990. GF was also NYCPD, although he died young.

 

[ocean view]

This was one of the subtle perks about my career in the dot com tech world. The dress code was practically nonexistent. I think the only actual rule was, you had to come to the office at least partially clothed. I pretty much always wore jeans and a casual shirt or sweater, but there were some who seemed oblivious to the most basic, minimal standards of business/office fashion etiquette. Dingy, grimy, dime-store flip flops with plastic straps were one my pet peeves in this regard.

I worked in that place too. I was interviewing a woman from the east coast who said she didn't think it was appropriate for men to wear shorts EVER. I told her that we were lucky to get them (the engineers) to wear shoes.

 

[Senator]

MyW2 company, a bank, always had a casual Friday where jeans were allowed. I wore jeans everyday, except maybe two days a year for 10+ years.

I figured that is Dockers were allowed, jeans were no different. It's still pants. I never had an issue...