4 ms·

I think calling it "unfair" is, well, unfair. There are thousands of "unwritten" rules in this world that exist for a bunch of reasons. If you don't pick up on

I think calling it "unfair" is, well, unfair. There are thousands of "unwritten" rules in this world that exist for a bunch of reasons. If you don't pick up on obvious social cues, then you'd likely feel some sort of way about the result, and you'd likely be more aware next time to avoid that feeling. That process is necessary in this world. It sharpens you. It forces you to grow and adapt and learn new skills.

chrisseaton 7y ago
Here's a concrete example. When you interview at Google, I think you're told 'dress as you're comfortable'. But really that's bad advice, as if you're most comfortable in a suit and wear that you're going to be getting it wrong. It would be more fair if they said 'most people wear jeans and hoodies'. 'Wear whatever you want' is what they want to be but not the reality. 'Wear a hoodie' is the reality.
- ghaff 7y ago
  >you're going to be getting it wrong Genuinely curious. Are you saying that if you wear a suit to an interview at Google, you're going to be automatically dinged and not hired because of what you're wearing? I admittedly don't interview candidates for engineering positions at my company, but I can't imagine marking someone down for wearing a suit even though you basically never see anyone in a suit day-to-day in the office.
  - chrisseaton 7y ago
    Have you never heard people joke about and dismiss people in the tech industry because they're wearing suits? I have. I don't think there's literally a box on the feedback form that says 'were they dressed appropriately', but I think it's part of the impression people will form of you and will judge you by.
    - ghaff 7y ago
      I have certainly heard the term "suits" used dismissively and generically in the same unthinking way as "pointy haired boss" etc. gets used. But, no, I don't think I've ever heard someone comment about an individual being "overdressed" in a negative way. But then I don't work in Silicon Valley.
  - mercutio2 7y ago
    I have literally listened to a senior VP laugh about a candidate after the interviews were done, during the hire/no hire discussion, for wearing a suit to an interview, and ultimately we turned the candidate down. In that specific case the candidate might not have been hired, anyway, they were pretty marginal. But it is 100% a real thing that Bay Area tech people will ding you for wearing a suit to an interview.
asdffdsa 7y ago
The whole point of culture is that its not "obvious" if you're outside it. Hence the last several decades of discussion around corporate culture, institutional racism, etc. Calling it obvious makes you seem kind of tone-deaf and privileged (and this is coming from someone who is conservative-leaning).

chrisseaton 7y ago

Here's a concrete example. When you interview at Google, I think you're told 'dress as you're comfortable'. But really that's bad advice, as if you're most comfortable in a suit and wear that you're going to be getting it wrong. It would be more fair if they said 'most people wear jeans and hoodies'. 'Wear whatever you want' is what they want to be but not the reality. 'Wear a hoodie' is the reality.

ghaff 7y ago
>you're going to be getting it wrong Genuinely curious. Are you saying that if you wear a suit to an interview at Google, you're going to be automatically dinged and not hired because of what you're wearing? I admittedly don't interview candidates for engineering positions at my company, but I can't imagine marking someone down for wearing a suit even though you basically never see anyone in a suit day-to-day in the office.
- chrisseaton 7y ago
  Have you never heard people joke about and dismiss people in the tech industry because they're wearing suits? I have. I don't think there's literally a box on the feedback form that says 'were they dressed appropriately', but I think it's part of the impression people will form of you and will judge you by.
  - ghaff 7y ago
    I have certainly heard the term "suits" used dismissively and generically in the same unthinking way as "pointy haired boss" etc. gets used. But, no, I don't think I've ever heard someone comment about an individual being "overdressed" in a negative way. But then I don't work in Silicon Valley.
- mercutio2 7y ago
  I have literally listened to a senior VP laugh about a candidate after the interviews were done, during the hire/no hire discussion, for wearing a suit to an interview, and ultimately we turned the candidate down. In that specific case the candidate might not have been hired, anyway, they were pretty marginal. But it is 100% a real thing that Bay Area tech people will ding you for wearing a suit to an interview.

asdffdsa 7y ago

The whole point of culture is that its not "obvious" if you're outside it. Hence the last several decades of discussion around corporate culture, institutional racism, etc. Calling it obvious makes you seem kind of tone-deaf and privileged (and this is coming from someone who is conservative-leaning).