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I wouldn't take that advice seriously. Suit in tech would be awkward (even for most mgmt roles). Tech pioneered the concept that you don't need a suit to get t
by siva7 2y ago
I wouldn't take that advice seriously. Suit in tech would be awkward (even for most mgmt roles). Tech pioneered the concept that you don't need a suit to get the pay of a suit. You can be yourself.
- _blk 2y agoAs I learned, you can also be yourself, never wear a suit on the job and still wear one for the interview. First impressions count. Once people know I can wear a suit they just don't seem to mind me in shorts anymore.. So I might have a social skill after all :D
- tuvang 2y agoFirst impressions do count but I think the above poster has a point, a suit can actually harm your chances in an environment where no one wears suits.
- roenxi 2y agoI'd want to see some actual hard evidence before I believed that. The usual way social cues work is they are devastatingly effective even if people claim they are not. Much like how most interviewers are honestly convinced that their approach is unbiased but in practice they tend to hire people who are like themselves. My expectation is that turning up in a suit would get better results. The effect is probably smaller in hard-skill roles but I'd assume still present.
- khazhoux 2y agoWearing a suit to a tech interview in silicon valley would without a doubt send the signal that either (a) they have absolutely no clue about SV work culture, or (b) they’re a “look at me” guy who dresses odd on purpose
- lores 2y agoIf they're young it can also be because that's what they've been told to do, if they're from a different culture (even an American one) it may be shockingly weird not to wear a suit to an interview, and there are even people who wear suits all the time because a well-made suit is very comfortable, with no more showing off involved than dressing up any other way. An interview is not a regular work day, best not to summarily judge people like that.
- khazhoux 2y ago> If they're young.... if they're from a different culture... These are just instances of my point (a): not having a clue about SV work culture. > there are even people who wear suits all the time Not in silicon valley tech. I mean, sure, maybe there's one guy and the number is not zero.
- lores 2y agoMy point is that even knowing the work culture of SV does not mean that people necessarily believe it applies to interviews too, or that a suit will be a negative point, rather than good or neutral. There is a strong culture of looking smart at interviews that overrides knowledge of day-to-day attire. If you really care about people being in casual clothes, mention it in the invite, rather than looking down on them for doing what has been ingrained to be appropriate.
- ljm 2y agoRather than thinking about the suit itself, I’d consider the dress code or culture of the company you’re interviewing for. Turning up in formal business wear isn’t going to be a positive social cue if everybody you interact with is dressed casually. The social cue you’d be giving off is that you stick out like a sore thumb and probably didn’t do your research on the company before you showed up. Literally no different than turning up to Lloyd’s of London in a Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts.
- noodlesUK 2y agoI agree, but I suspect that you’d have much better luck if you wore something that was superficially similar to the kinds of things other people wore, but was much better fitted and higher quality. For instance, if you showed up in a nice pair of chinos and a tailored buttoned shirt (of appropriate formality), that might come across as being really put together rather than ignoring subtle social cues by dressing in something that stands out by not fitting in.
- anal_reactor 2y agoThe problem is that when someone who doesn't usually wear a suit puts it on just for one day, it's blatantly obvious he's uncomfortable.
- wavemode 2y ago> in practice they tend to hire people who are like themselves. So then by your own admission, the best way to come dressed is the same way your interviewer tends to dress. Which is essentially what most people in this thread are arguing for - dress to match the company's culture.
- thruway516 2y agoI don't know where you live but for most tech jobs here even outside of sv its almost as bad as putting your photo on a resume. Even for very senior non-technical roles you're better off showing up in slacks and a blazer than the whole enchilada
- dagw 2y agoFirst impressions do count but I think the above poster has a point, a suit can actually harm your chances in an environment where no one wears suits. There are many ways to wear a suit. If you walking in wearing a suit that doesn't fit, doesn't suite (no pun intended) you, and it obviously makes you feel uncomfortable then that could count against you. But you walk in wearing a suit that fits, makes you look good, and that you are comfortable wearing, then I have a hard time seeing how it will count against you.
- throwanem 2y agoIntimidating a potential hiring manager right up front isn't usually a great play.
- grues-dinner 2y agoWith reference to the GP about awkward people, if an adult hiring manager is intimidated by an professional applicant wearing a suit to an interview in good faith (after all, it's widely seen as mark of taking the interview seriously), I think it is perhaps not the applicant who need to learn the social skills. If an interviewer can't tell the difference between a flex and show of good intent, they probably should go back to jobs where they don't need to make judgements of character.
- throwanem 2y agoOh, I agree unreservedly. But if I still need to decide how to dress for the interview...
- WJW 2y agoIf there is a de facto dress code and you knowingly go against it, even if you look good in whatever you do wear, it makes you look like you don't understand the prevailing norms. This could lead to worries you might not align with other team norms either.
- lores 2y ago
- exe34 2y agocan you just ask them before the interview? "is it okay to wear a suit, or do you guys have a stick up your..."? I personally dress like a hobo when I'm out and about, and wear a uniform of jeans and a blue shirt when I go into the office, so I really don't care about the suit either way. I'm wearing it for your benefit, so if you don't like it, just tell me upfront - don't make me guess if the job isn't about mindreading.
- graemep 2y agoIt has spread to other industries and circumstances other than suits. I now have no idea how I am supposed to dress for most things other than formal occasions like wedding, funerals, or formal dinners.
- lo_zamoyski 2y ago"Be yourself"? What does that mean? What if wearing a suit is "being myself"? You'll be penalized in tech for that. Not everyone views the wearing of suits as some kind of punishment.
- zelphirkalt 2y agoSeeing someone wearing a suit for a dev interview would make me think one of the following: (1) This person really really needs the job. Probably is in a bad negotiation position, due to this urgent need. (2) Are you here to impress people with looks, or with your skills? (3) They take looks way more serious than they should, maybe not focussing enough on the technical side of things. (4) Hopefully this is not an "EnTeRpRiSe software" developer, and if they are, hopefully they don't work on my team and if they are, hopefully my next up manager does not get blinded by fancy clothes, instead of technical reasoning. That said, I would try to keep an open mind about the person, but they would be initially sorted into the category of managerial or close to management, rather than close to the other engineers, which is not a positive signal to send.
- triyambakam 2y agoSad because I /like/ wearing a suit, even to the grocery store. I know I must look weird, but I feel more comfortable with and confident in myself.
- lgas 2y agoYou probably wear suits that fit and the confidence probably shows through. Not to stereotype, but I suspect a large number of developers have one or two suits they wear for job interviews, weddings and funerals, and they bought them long enough ago that they are too loose or too snug by now, and consequently feel uncomfortable when wearing them. At least this used to be me.
- zelphirkalt 2y agoPersonally, I feel uncomfortable in any suit, not because of size or fit, but because I must be wary not to make it dirty at all, otherwise cleaning is a pita. Say you want to go for lunch with coworkers and someone orders spaghetti/pasta. Great ... I rather wear something simple, so there is no problem, if something unfortunate happens.
- amrocha 2y ago