Interview Attire

Submitted by JMStahl on Sun, 06/28/2009 - 19:57.

General Questions and Comments

I work for a large power company in the Midwest and I am interviewing for another position within the company. It would be a lateral move not a vertical one. Being that I work in the generating stations (where attire is usually jeans, work boots, and a polo shirt) and that my interview is taking place there, what should my attire be for the interview? My first thought is a suit but I am afraid that will be overdressed and would come off brash. Then I thought about khaki’s and a button down shirt with no tie or sport coat. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Submitted by wmarsha1 on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 11:24.

Dress to Impress

I'd go for the suit, white shirt, nice red power tie, and shiny black shoes. I would think it means you're serious about this position.

If you end up being perceived as overdressed, then shucks. Unless someone anyone actually tells you "Just come to the interview in your normal clothes," I don't see how you'd be dinged for wearing a suit. No risk there. However, if you end up being perceived as underdressed, because you opted to wear khakis and a polo, then you'll have egg on your face. Big risk there, no reward.

- BJ

Submitted by ken_wills on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 12:44.

Look a level or two up

jmstahl -

Because this is an internal move, you can easily gain insight about the company's culture and dress expectations - and use that to your advantage. It's true that you generally want to err on the conservative side (and when in doubt, all of the advice on the M-T Interview Series is great).

The circumstances you give in your question raises your concern about a potential disadvantage of being OVERdressed - and that's worth thinking about.

Here's a suggestion: use you "insider" access to look at the dress of people who are a level ABOVE the position you're applying for - and dress like that.

One caveat that's occured to me: if you learn that they're interviewing a lot of external candidates, and those candidates are likely to be dressed in suits, go with the suit. You don't want to risk appearing too casual (both literally and figuratively).

Think it through, and do what makes sense.

Submitted by MD_144 on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 14:08.

I like suits

My first suggestion is that you think about what you'd expect from an external candidate? Would an external candidate wear a suit? If you were going to interview at your buddy's plant down the road, would you wear a suit?

My second suggestion is that you not worry about being overdressed for a job you don't have yet. (Mark's rule: You got nothing.) Take a change of clothes for after the interview if you want to avoid ribbing from your buddies.

We don't wear suits, or even ties, or sometime even collars, where I work, unless we're interviewing. I wear a suit on days that I'm interviewing candidates to help them be comfortable, but I'm unusual.

md-144

Submitted by wendii on Mon, 06/29/2009 - 19:14.