Appropriate Dress for Interview

[exnavynuke]

How to Dress for Jr Developer Position | Men & Women

What to wear to a junior developer interview (men & women):
Dress shirt (and this doesn’t have to be one that you’d wear to a wedding or a funeral, there are great dress shirts out there that count for both casual and professional attire)
Black pants, khakis or dark washed jeans
Clean dress shoes
Minimalist dresses (past the knee and covers chest, no spaghetti straps!)
Pants for women preferred to skirts

What not to wear to a junior developer interview (men & women):
Suit
Tie
Sneakers
T-shirts
Shorts
Jeans (this can be an exception – if the jeans are nice, fitted, dark and clean – go for it)
Tight and/or short skirts
High heels (more than an inch)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauren...r-for-your-tech-job-interview/2/#9a80b7958067

Does how I dress matter in an interview?Does how I dress matter in an interview? - Programmer and Software Interview Questions and Answers

The consensus from everyone in the tech industry per my Google searching seems to be that a suit would only be appropriate if going for a tech job in specific companies (tech guy in a non-tech company for example, maybe doing black box trading programming for Wall Street for instance), or going for a very very senior role (CIO level positions). Otherwise, a suit could be detrimental and dressing more in-line with the culture of the company/position is more appropriate. As stated above, check with the HR people if possible and your best bet is likely "1 step above what you'd wear in the job".

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

Going to an interview at a professional job in less than a suit and tie, is like going to a "Black Tie Optional" event in a suit. It works, just not as well.

Sir, you reminded me of something...

When it seemed like we were going to weddings every month for a long stretch, my wife had to get a new dress/gown for every event. God forbid someone would see her in something she already wore to another affair.. I got a lot of mileage out of my limited suits, other than the mandatory dry cleaning of the suit and usually the tie. .
We finally get the black tie invitation. I ask her so what does this mean exactly? She said it means your going to rent a tuxedo. I said no way. Well we all know what I did, as I was getting fitted for the tuxedo, I decided to buy a used one. I wore it at least 5 times since purchase. The men that did show up in regular suits did A) feel compelled to tell me why they didnt have a tux, B) felt/looked out of place.

 

[REWahoo]

Athena said it right...one notch above their norm is the way to go.

Don't want to show up in suit and tie if the norm is shorts and flip flops (which is the case at some tech companies).

Ties and sport coats are very rare at tech companies. Has been that way for well over a decade now.

+1

I'll never forget showing up for an interview at a tech company in the early 80's wearing a suit. Of the hundreds of employees at the location I was the only one wearing a coat and tie and I still recall how I stood out.

 

[Big_Hitter]

suit and tie

clean cut

 

[aaronc879]

Like others have said, it depends. I have never worn a suit in my life but i've never had a job as high up as engineer. My bosses bosses boss(director) wears slacks and a polo shirt. You have to get up to VP level before there is a tie involved. However, in an interview you should always go above what would be expected in the job. I would go with a shirt and tie but would skip the jacket if it's hot outside. You don't want to take the jacket off and be soaked in sweat.

 

[SecondCor521]

Former software engineer and hiring manager at two high tech companies in Idaho here.

For an intern interview, the candidate should wear something between a suit and tie and a dress shirt and slacks. I personally would subtract points if a candidate showed up in jeans of any kind, but I am more traditional.

Yes, the other people working on site will be dressed more casually. The interviewers will also likely be dressed more casually. But that is all expected and normal. He'll stand out to everyone as an interview candidate, but everywhere I worked treated interview candidates kindly. If he gets the job, he will then know how to dress on the job.

A suit and tie might possibly be considered "too much" by some very edgy tech companies. If I were interviewing at Uber or Facebook or Instagram or some place like that, I'd probably back off to a suit jacket / tie / dress shirt / slacks. But any older or more established tech company like HP or Microsoft or Apple, a suit and tie will always be OK.

Finally, I think college-aged interns, especially juniors, are often given some slack as they may not know the traditional and somewhat arbitrary interview dress code unwritten rules. If a candidate is very capable and polite and on time and interested in the company and at least well groomed and wearing clean clothes, I wouldn't rule him out based on his attire that day. But I'd probably try to find out why he didn't dress up. Maybe he's an orphan, or an immigrant, or poor, or something - all of which would be OK. If he's just trying to challenge societal norms, or is too lazy to iron, or something, I'd be a little less enthusiastic to hire him.

 

[braumeister]

Back when I was looking for a job, I was given this advice:

Go to the place a day early and sit in your car in the parking lot or across the street at lunchtime. Spend an hour there and pay careful attention to the people going in and coming out of the building. Next day for your interview, dress at least as nicely as the employees you watched.

Back then, it was common to go through one or more phone interviews before getting an in-person interview, so they already have some idea of what you're like. This observation technique can help you get some information about them, and give you a bit more confidence when you walk in.

It must have been decent advice, because I followed it and got the job.

 

[socca]

I remember arriving late in the evening at a hotel in Seattle for a system engineering job interview the next morning. The HR people had thoughtfully left instructions inside the information packet that was waiting for me at the hotel stating that a suit was strongly discouraged. Well, thanks for letting me know, but a suit was all I had brought with me. I didn't get an offer.

The hiring manager will most likely talk to everyone the intern chats with before making a decision. The intern will want to 'fit in' rather than 'rise above' his or her future colleagues. Therefore, I recommend dressing to match the culture, whatever that may be.

Good luck - it's a jungle out there!

 

[MRG]

Retired IT. I've been in a bunch of companies talking to their IT staff and dress is all over the board. When I started Megacorp it was suit and tie, today jeans and a decent shirt.

If he can't find out information ahead of time a suit, or sport jacket and tie is seldom wrong.

 

[Koogie]

I disagree with the title.

I don't think he should wear a dress at all.

 

[jollystomper]

Suit and tie in probably fine 90% fine. If he finds out ahead of time that it is not required, at least go in clean, very neat, pressed clothes. Sometimes they appreciate someone asking ahead of time what the dress culture is.

 

[Jerry1]

If I couldn't find out ahead of time through HR or observation, with the state of casual in the business world today coupled with the exceptionally relaxed state of dress in the tech field, I would go with one step below a suit. I nice blue blazer, med dark slacks (wool, not cotton or khaki), blue shirt w/ button down collar and a tie that he's comfortable in (I like a dark burgundy with some blue in it). Nice matching leather black or burgundy. CLEAN and SHINED shoes!

 

[rodi]

An interview is different attire than what people wear in the workplace. You want to show you care enough to dress up. At minimum slacks/sport coat, button down shirt (tie optional.) A suit is a good move.

I was one of several "technical" interviewers (vs manager or HR) for interns and experienced job candidates. I did *not* dress up at work... I tended to wear capris and flip flops.... But I still noted how the interviewee was dressed. If they came in wearing a tshirt and shorts I'd think they were trying to tank the interview...

I would never mark someone down for wearing a suit... even though I was in t-shirt and capris... It shows the candidate is interested in making a good first impression. (I already had the job and didn't need to make that impression anymore.)

 

[panacea]

All interesting and helpful feedback. Thanks! Definitely some different opinions on the subject.

Overall it seems like if you were to make a mistake as an interviewing intern, it would be better to err on the side of being a bit overdressed. That is unless, as a few people said, you could gather some good info ahead of time about the culture and whether it's better to dress down for that particular interview. If I were running the interview I think my focus would be on attitude, resume and the effort to present well... knowing that this is a first interview with a young individual with no real world experience.

Does that seem like a generally reasonable approach if there's no intel to be had on appropriate interview attire? FYI we're in the midwest so not sure he's going to run into as many "flip flop" sort of companies around here. (which is good because the poor kid has my ugly feet).

 

[panacea]

I disagree with the title.

I don't think he should wear a dress at all.

But "a tire" may not be appropriate either!

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

OP, keep us posted if he got the job

 

[foxfirev5]

There is no easier way to show respect than show up dressed for success. Even if "overdressed" you're expressing desire and willingness. A concept not grasped by many applicants.

 

[SecondCor521]

All interesting and helpful feedback. Thanks! Definitely some different opinions on the subject.

Overall it seems like if you were to make a mistake as an interviewing intern, it would be better to err on the side of being a bit overdressed. That is unless, as a few people said, you could gather some good info ahead of time about the culture and whether it's better to dress down for that particular interview. If I were running the interview I think my focus would be on attitude, resume and the effort to present well... knowing that this is a first interview with a young individual with no real world experience.

Does that seem like a generally reasonable approach if there's no intel to be had on appropriate interview attire? FYI we're in the midwest so not sure he's going to run into as many "flip flop" sort of companies around here. (which is good because the poor kid has my ugly feet).

Agreed. Most of the flip-flop places are probably in Silicon Valley or ex-urban Boston. Midwest is probably on the conservative side IMHO.

+1 to what rodi said a few posts up. Well said.

 

[timo2]

our office was casual, but for interviews, nearly everyone that was hired wore the traditional male/female fancy interview clothing.

 

[MRG]

An interview is different attire than what people wear in the workplace. You want to show you care enough to dress up. At minimum slacks/sport coat, button down shirt (tie optional.) A suit is a good move.

I was one of several "technical" interviewers (vs manager or HR) for interns and experienced job candidates. I did *not* dress up at work... I tended to wear capris and flip flops.... But I still noted how the interviewee was dressed. If they came in wearing a tshirt and shorts I'd think they were trying to tank the interview...

I would never mark someone down for wearing a suit... even though I was in t-shirt and capris... It shows the candidate is interested in making a good first impression. (I already had the job and didn't need to make that impression anymore.)

Ding ding.....

I wore a t-shirt one day that was the "XYZ shirt" (XYZ wasn't what it said; proper etiquette would not suggest XYZ was appropriate language, or within forum rules to post). It had XYZ all over it. My manager, knowing how I was dressed, called me into a meeting with the ultra--conservative COO and a potential client!

The client was OK, apparently liked the message. My bonus and stock options were approved that year(I never wore that shirt again).

BUT that's not an interview.

Rodi's post is pure gold.��

 

[aaronc879]

our office was casual, but for interviews, nearly everyone that was hired wore the traditional male/female fancy interview clothing.

I know this is very different than the OPs situation, but: I was once called for a third interview for a blue collar union job(paper mill). There were single digit people left out of hundreds. I came dressed in a dress shirt, slacks, dress shoes. One of the other people wore jean shorts(it was 80+) and a non-dress shirt untucked. He got the job. Clothing is not usually high on the list of things that matter in deciding who gets a job.

 

[aaronc879]

I know this is very different than the OPs situation, but: I was once called for a third interview for a blue collar union job(paper mill). There were single digit people left out of hundreds. I came dressed in a dress shirt, slacks, dress shoes. One of the other people wore jean shorts(it was 80+) and a non-dress shirt untucked. He got the job. Clothing is not usually high on the list of things that matter in deciding who gets a job.

My next interview after this I wore jeans and a basic button down shirt tucked in. I got the job working in a warehouse at a union paper converter.

 

[Nemo2]

I know this is very different than the OPs situation, but: I was once called for a third interview for a blue collar union job(paper mill). There were single digit people left out of hundreds. I came dressed in a dress shirt, slacks, dress shoes. One of the other people wore jean shorts(it was 80+) and a non-dress shirt untucked. He got the job. Clothing is not usually high on the list of things that matter in deciding who gets a job.

Could it have been that the interviewers, looking at your attire, thought that you'd be constantly searching for something better, while the other guy'd be around for the long term?

 

[MRG]

Could it have been that the interviewers, looking at your attire, thought that you'd be constantly searching for something better, while the other guy'd be around for the long term?

That's what I would think. I worked in mills, perceived overdressing could be seen that way. Who would have thought?

 

[imoldernu]

Should I ever return to the workplace, my interview would find me in proper dress.