4 ms·

Re: the suit-and-tie thing... I am a dev doing interviews now, and where I grew up (blue-collar midwest), wearing a suit to an interview is a sign of respect, s

Re: the suit-and-tie thing... I am a dev doing interviews now, and where I grew up (blue-collar midwest), wearing a suit to an interview is a sign of respect, so I've been doing it... not a good idea?

eli_gottlieb 13y ago
In the tech industry, primarily the West Coast tech industry, it's a sign of being a "business guy" or worse, a "financial guy". Tech guys wear black T-shirts or turtlenecks, hoodies, and sweater-vests. (That was intended to be a joke, but it's also a surprisingly accurate description ;-).)
awakeasleep 13y ago
Let's not oversimplify. Ignoring the culture of the company you're interviewing with is a bad idea. If you're a serious candidate, it's hard to imagine a phone screening where you don't ask a few questions to feel out that sort of thing.
- dccoolgai 13y ago
  Well the company website said "don't wear a suit"... but I feel like kind of an a-hole going to an interview and not wearing a suit...I always thought that "don't wear a suit" stuff was just there to trip up super-awkward devs...the interview went well - I make it a point not to act or communicate like a guy in a suit, so maybe that helps...
georgemcbay 13y ago
Already basically covered by some other responses, but it depends greatly upon company culture which varies between industry and region. I can't speak to your region at all as I've never worked in the midwest, but in a lot of places I have worked (which includes the east and west coasts), employees at pure software shops often have a negative view of anyone wearing a "suit", including to an interview. It isn't going to tank your chances with an otherwise good interview, but it can leave a negative first impression which is something that can snowball out of control on an interview if you aren't careful. If you're totally unsure for a given interview, a good rule of thumb is to ask about the expected dress up front and then dress a little bit better than what the answer is.
Negitivefrags 13y ago
Just ask what kind of clothing to wear before you go to the interview. It's not an unreasonable question to ask and prevents the chance of any kind of awkwardness.
auggierose 13y ago
I went to a job interview at G-Research in London earlier this year, spending 7 hours there. Afterwards my recruiter told me, they were surprised how strong I was (despite having a Ph.D. and all), but they just wished I had shown a little more effort during the interview. I later found out that "a little more effort" was code for: You should have worn a suit instead of your hoodie. So glad I didn't get this job :-)
TheCoelacanth 13y ago
I think it depends a lot on the location. I work at a software company in the DC area where most people wear shorts or jeans to work, and yet still virtually every candidate that comes in for an interview is wearing a suit.

eli_gottlieb 13y ago

In the tech industry, primarily the West Coast tech industry, it's a sign of being a "business guy" or worse, a "financial guy". Tech guys wear black T-shirts or turtlenecks, hoodies, and sweater-vests. (That was intended to be a joke, but it's also a surprisingly accurate description ;-).)

awakeasleep 13y ago

Let's not oversimplify. Ignoring the culture of the company you're interviewing with is a bad idea. If you're a serious candidate, it's hard to imagine a phone screening where you don't ask a few questions to feel out that sort of thing.

dccoolgai 13y ago
Well the company website said "don't wear a suit"... but I feel like kind of an a-hole going to an interview and not wearing a suit...I always thought that "don't wear a suit" stuff was just there to trip up super-awkward devs...the interview went well - I make it a point not to act or communicate like a guy in a suit, so maybe that helps...

georgemcbay 13y ago

Already basically covered by some other responses, but it depends greatly upon company culture which varies between industry and region. I can't speak to your region at all as I've never worked in the midwest, but in a lot of places I have worked (which includes the east and west coasts), employees at pure software shops often have a negative view of anyone wearing a "suit", including to an interview. It isn't going to tank your chances with an otherwise good interview, but it can leave a negative first impression which is something that can snowball out of control on an interview if you aren't careful. If you're totally unsure for a given interview, a good rule of thumb is to ask about the expected dress up front and then dress a little bit better than what the answer is.

Negitivefrags 13y ago

Just ask what kind of clothing to wear before you go to the interview. It's not an unreasonable question to ask and prevents the chance of any kind of awkwardness.

auggierose 13y ago

I went to a job interview at G-Research in London earlier this year, spending 7 hours there. Afterwards my recruiter told me, they were surprised how strong I was (despite having a Ph.D. and all), but they just wished I had shown a little more effort during the interview. I later found out that "a little more effort" was code for: You should have worn a suit instead of your hoodie. So glad I didn't get this job :-)

TheCoelacanth 13y ago

I think it depends a lot on the location. I work at a software company in the DC area where most people wear shorts or jeans to work, and yet still virtually every candidate that comes in for an interview is wearing a suit.