Do I need to wear a suit to this job interview?

hobbyjoggingphilosopher wrote:

Yes - wear the suit. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed - you would rather wear a tux to the beach than wear a speedo to a wedding.

Used to think that, but wore a suit at to an interview at a big tech company in San Diego. They told me in no uncertain terms that the suit cost me the job. They thought it was stuffy.

After years of dressing like a slob, I wouldn't mind wearing a suit to work. But it would stand out, so I don't.

9 months later I was his boss wrote:

A zillion years ago I wore a suit when applying for a job. The interview mocked me "You don't wear a suit to a waiters job interview". I replied that I did not see anything wrong with a suit since I wore a tuxedo at my last waiters job and figured I was dressing down to interview at his company. He hired me anyway.

That actually was the last time I interviewed for a job ever since then I have been recruited for my positions.

Yea, even when you get recruited you still interview. Unless you are still a waiter I guess.

I think you should wear a suit, even for an entry level position. Look good, feel good, be good. It's that simple. Go in there with your suit and the attitude that you're gonna own the interview, and you will.

I said a mark against them, but certainly not close to a deal breaker (depending on the job of course -government job as an assistant district attorney, probably so)

Ryan Braun's Addiction wrote:

I got an interview for a entry-level position in State Government....

Yes on the suit. If you were interviewing at an ad agency or similarly relaxed atmosphere, you could wear a jacket and trendy open collared shirt, but 1. you've got nothing to offer and 2. it's state govt. wear a suit.

I just got a job in State government. I wore a coat and tie to the interview. I had been working with some of these people (or their direct colleagues) for years so I knew what dress was appropriate. If I didn't know I would have worn a suit.

hobbyjoggingphilosopher wrote:

Yes - wear the suit. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed - you would rather wear a tux to the beach than wear a speedo to a wedding.

And when the king came in to see

the guests, he saw there a man which had

not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how

camest thou in hithernot having a wed-

ding garment? And he was speechless.

...

This goes more for women in interviews. A nice top that shows cleavage and a short skirt wouldn't hurt. Oh, and statements like "I'm willing to do anything, and I mean anything to get this job"

Bad Wiggins, I think you are confusing the subject of this thread.

It's not "Should an interviewer expect a candidate to wear a suit?"

It's "Do I need to wear a suit to this job interview?"

Your thoughts on what they should wear seem reasonable but what counts is what the potential employer thinks.

If most employers expect a suit and are looking for things to disqualify a candidate when there are many to choose from, then you wear a suit.

If you are valuable enough that you can lose points with many potential employers until you find the right one for you, that's great.

But that's pretty risky to pass up job opportunities.

I'm sorry to say that conformity is what works for most.

Dress like the natives. Find out what people wear in the position you are seeking and dress like that. They are trying to find out if you are a fit for the job. So dress like you already work there.

But candidates often make the mistake of putting too much thought into things like how they are dressed and how to give a good handshake.

It's a lot more important to be mentally prepared for the interview. Find out all you can about the company. Figure out how you can help the company and be ready to talk about it. Come prepared with questions. Be ready to sell your skills.

Show that you've given the position an awful lot of thought and you are really excited about the prospect of working there. If you give it a lot of thought and you are not excited, politely cancel the interview.

Also, be ready to have a conversation with the interviewer. The best interviews are ones where both parties share in the conversation evenly.

Oh, and be on time. While it's not quite as important as being mentally prepared, I do know someone who was hired simply because she was the only one who showed up on time.

Yes, all of this. Far more important than what I wore was that I read all the background reports related to the position I was interviewing for and the processes that would be in play.

Since your job is in state government it is very likely that there are publicly posted documents related to your job.

Yes its more important to be prepared, but the question wasn't what's more important.The question was, "Should I wear a suit?"

Government!!!!!!Better wear a suit.

Star wrote:

Bad Wiggins, I think you are confusing the subject of this thread.

It's not "Should an interviewer expect a candidate to wear a suit?"

It's "Do I need to wear a suit to this job interview?"

Your thoughts on what they should wear seem reasonable but what counts is what the potential employer thinks.

If most employers expect a suit and are looking for things to disqualify a candidate when there are many to choose from, then you wear a suit.

If you are valuable enough that you can lose points with many potential employers until you find the right one for you, that's great.

But that's pretty risky to pass up job opportunities.

I'm sorry to say that conformity is what works for most.

I may be remember wrong, but I believe Bad W once voiced the opinion that unemployment would be lower if resumes were not used. So realize who you are arguing with.

OP, wear a suit. Don't listen to BW. Send a written thank-you note to those you speak to after the interview. BW will probably also advise against that.

jeans and old 1992 marathon cotton t-shirt.

Wear a suit, get an offer, and send a thoughtful declination letter why you'd be an a$$h0le to go work for the government

TinWhistle wrote:

Wear a suit, get an offer, and send a thoughtful declination letter why you'd be an a$$h0le to go work for the government

As a popular meme goes, 'i don't think you thought your cunning plan all the way through.'. great idea angering the same government that knows everything about you, responsible for admintering justice etc

Bad Wigins is a horse turd. No one should ever take anything he posts seriously. He's so full of sh*t it oozes out his pores. He also has an enormous inferiority complex.

Wear a suit to the interview and a shirt and tie on your first day. Beyond that you can dress like a slob.