3 ms·

While you sort of have a point there, there's much more diversity in how people dress at top tech companies than in, say, finance or consulting. It seems you'r

While you sort of have a point there, there's much more diversity in how people dress at top tech companies than in, say, finance or consulting. It seems you're upset that an interviewer might be biased against someone for wearing a suit. That's fair; an interviewer shouldn't be biased against a candidate for that. And most wouldn't be -- consciously. But subconscious bias can still exist. It's best to skip the suit, particularly for a very technical role.

ewjordan 9y ago
While maybe it shouldn't be a strong signal, showing up for a tech interview in a suit is kinda like showing up for a finance interview in jeans and a hoodie. It indicates that you're either unfamiliar with the norms in the industry, or deliberately violating them, and neither one is a great first impression. The typical interview rule, IMO, is a good one, at least for men (women unfortunately are under very different pressures): dress one (and only one) notch nicer than the people that will be interviewing you. There are some rare situations where dressing down compared to your interviewer makes sense, but a normal dev looking for a normal job is not one of them.
- gaylemcd 9y ago
  Yes and no. Dressing abnormally does indeed show that you're either unfamiliar with the norms in the industry or you're deliberately violating them. Agreed. In finance, it's sort of reasonable to be concerned about someone showing up in jeans and a hoodie. A good part of that job is being able be "corporate" and adhere to norms. If you can't do that in an interview, how will you treat clients? In a coding interview for a tech company, adherence to social norms is not particularly valued. Weirdness is tolerated, if not celebrated. So it's fairly different. Tech companies would be far more accepting of a candidate in a suit than a finance firm would be of a candidate in jeans and hoodie. That said... it's still probably best to just avoid the risk of subconscious (or even unfair conscious) bias.
lovich 9y ago
Unless you're interviewing at companies where everyone is expected to at least interview in a suit. I don't know what other areas are like but in Boston it seems like a 60/40 chance as to whether they want you to be dressed casual/business casual for the interview or want you in a full suit. its not just non technical people who expect the suit at time either. I've met at least a handful of engineers here who have said they straight up wont hire anyone who doesn't wear a suit to the interview.
groby_b 9y ago
Advice for any kind of interviewing: Ask the recruiter "what's the dress code at your company" and "how do people typically dress for the interview"

ewjordan 9y ago

While maybe it shouldn't be a strong signal, showing up for a tech interview in a suit is kinda like showing up for a finance interview in jeans and a hoodie. It indicates that you're either unfamiliar with the norms in the industry, or deliberately violating them, and neither one is a great first impression. The typical interview rule, IMO, is a good one, at least for men (women unfortunately are under very different pressures): dress one (and only one) notch nicer than the people that will be interviewing you. There are some rare situations where dressing down compared to your interviewer makes sense, but a normal dev looking for a normal job is not one of them.

gaylemcd 9y ago
Yes and no. Dressing abnormally does indeed show that you're either unfamiliar with the norms in the industry or you're deliberately violating them. Agreed. In finance, it's sort of reasonable to be concerned about someone showing up in jeans and a hoodie. A good part of that job is being able be "corporate" and adhere to norms. If you can't do that in an interview, how will you treat clients? In a coding interview for a tech company, adherence to social norms is not particularly valued. Weirdness is tolerated, if not celebrated. So it's fairly different. Tech companies would be far more accepting of a candidate in a suit than a finance firm would be of a candidate in jeans and hoodie. That said... it's still probably best to just avoid the risk of subconscious (or even unfair conscious) bias.

lovich 9y ago

Unless you're interviewing at companies where everyone is expected to at least interview in a suit. I don't know what other areas are like but in Boston it seems like a 60/40 chance as to whether they want you to be dressed casual/business casual for the interview or want you in a full suit. its not just non technical people who expect the suit at time either. I've met at least a handful of engineers here who have said they straight up wont hire anyone who doesn't wear a suit to the interview.

groby_b 9y ago

Advice for any kind of interviewing: Ask the recruiter "what's the dress code at your company" and "how do people typically dress for the interview"