4 ms·

I work for a company with a strict and specific dress code - ties and slacks for men, leather shoes, etc. I think there is a huge opportunity cost to this dress

I work for a company with a strict and specific dress code - ties and slacks for men, leather shoes, etc. I think there is a huge opportunity cost to this dress code, and we lose a lot of potential good talent. I was asked when interviewing (in a very serious tone) whether I could handle the dress code. It seemed obvious that they were aware it was a sticking point in recruiting.

xraystyle 9y ago
> It seemed obvious that they were aware it was a sticking point in recruiting. Understandably. I don't even own enough clothing that would qualify to make it through a week. This would most certainly be a deal-breaker for me unless the compensation was otherwise SPECTACULAR.
- johan_larson 9y ago
  Meh. I would consider formal attire a minus, but not a deal-breaker. It's a nuisance to take care of, but at least it looks good.
  - javier2 9y ago
    Yeah, but coding in a tie every day when there are options is a tough sell for me..
    - johan_larson 9y ago
      If a tie is really uncomfortable, you may be wearing shirts with necks that are too narrow. Ask a salesperson to measure you for correct fit. If it's the flopping around you object to, get a tie clip or consider a bow tie.
      - xraystyle 9y ago
        It's not that a shirt and tie is uncomfortable, it's that a t-shirt IS comfortable. If I can pick between two jobs where I sit at a desk all day in front of a keyboard, and only one requires a button-down shirt and a tie, the tie job can suck it. Why would I volunteer for that? Additionally, I think in terms of tech jobs, especially in California, you'd actually have to go looking for a place that makes you wear a tie. I don't think I've interviewed anywhere in my adult life that had a dress code other than 'you have to wear some kind of pants in the office'.
        johan_larson 9y ago
        I once worked for a big company that had no formal dress code at all. I asked my manager about that, and he said the issue was dealt with case by case when someone complained about someone else's attire. The only time I can remember it being an issue was when one guy wanted to go barefoot at work. The eventual decision was that going barefoot was out, but flip-flops were acceptable.
magic_beans 9y ago
I turned down a job at an old-school firm because of its strict dress code. This is in New York, where decent to great jobs in fun/casual environments are a dime a dozen. I also wasn't about to drop $500 to buy formal office attire I would never wear outside of the 8-5. Also, requiring non-client facing devs to be in a 8am!? Ridiculous, and I'm a morning person!

xraystyle 9y ago

> It seemed obvious that they were aware it was a sticking point in recruiting. Understandably. I don't even own enough clothing that would qualify to make it through a week. This would most certainly be a deal-breaker for me unless the compensation was otherwise SPECTACULAR.

johan_larson 9y ago
Meh. I would consider formal attire a minus, but not a deal-breaker. It's a nuisance to take care of, but at least it looks good.
- javier2 9y ago
  Yeah, but coding in a tie every day when there are options is a tough sell for me..
  - johan_larson 9y ago
    If a tie is really uncomfortable, you may be wearing shirts with necks that are too narrow. Ask a salesperson to measure you for correct fit. If it's the flopping around you object to, get a tie clip or consider a bow tie.
    - xraystyle 9y ago
      It's not that a shirt and tie is uncomfortable, it's that a t-shirt IS comfortable. If I can pick between two jobs where I sit at a desk all day in front of a keyboard, and only one requires a button-down shirt and a tie, the tie job can suck it. Why would I volunteer for that? Additionally, I think in terms of tech jobs, especially in California, you'd actually have to go looking for a place that makes you wear a tie. I don't think I've interviewed anywhere in my adult life that had a dress code other than 'you have to wear some kind of pants in the office'.
      - johan_larson 9y ago
        I once worked for a big company that had no formal dress code at all. I asked my manager about that, and he said the issue was dealt with case by case when someone complained about someone else's attire. The only time I can remember it being an issue was when one guy wanted to go barefoot at work. The eventual decision was that going barefoot was out, but flip-flops were acceptable.

magic_beans 9y ago

I turned down a job at an old-school firm because of its strict dress code. This is in New York, where decent to great jobs in fun/casual environments are a dime a dozen. I also wasn't about to drop $500 to buy formal office attire I would never wear outside of the 8-5. Also, requiring non-client facing devs to be in a 8am!? Ridiculous, and I'm a morning person!