7 ms·

So, if you're sitting around writing code then make sure you're the best dressed person in the room. Then on the way to the boardroom for an IPO meeting change

by jiggy2011 12y ago

So, if you're sitting around writing code then make sure you're the best dressed person in the room. Then on the way to the boardroom for an IPO meeting change into the sweat pants and hoodie.

Swizec 12y ago
As a software engineer who actually kinda cares what they look like, I usually end up overdressed for most occasions and when I'm in a proper business meeting I end up being underdressed (because I'm dressed the same). So I guess I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to?
- jiggy2011 12y ago
  "An investigationof boundary conditions demonstrates that the positive inferences disappear whenthe observer is unfamiliar with the environment, when the nonconforming behavioris depicted as unintentional, and in the absence of expected norms and sharedstandards of formal conduct" So if you're dressing that way out of laziness or apathy it doesn't count, you have to be non-conforming on purpose.
  - Swizec 12y ago
    Grey area. I have a very distinct style that is my own. It is done on purpose and I have been known to be late for things because it took me too long to choose what to wear. The style doesn't really conform to anything. So while I'm not being nonconforming to be nonconforming, I am also particular about what I wear. The only times when my dress is purely a matter of convenience/laziness is when I'm at home or working out.
  - MarkPNeyer 12y ago
    i think you're reading this wrong. laziness and apathy are intentional; the decision is made not to conform. unintentional noncomformance would be someone who didn't even realize there WAS a standard. it's like buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you really like them, vs. buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you saw them and thought 'oh hey, sunglasses.' people see the former as the decision of a savvy person, the latter as that of a fool.
  - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
    What if you are dressing down as a way to be more productive? I mean, you can't work 12 hours straight in a suit and tie, while changing after 8 would lead to inefficiency. As an aside, has anyone fathomed that some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement?
    - sigil 12y ago
      > some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement It's all about credibility indicators, and they go both ways. A founder friend relates a story about the day he gave in and started wearing suits. He has a tech background and is generally averse to display, but noticed that wearing a suit was correlated with shorter meetings. On the flip side, when he dressed casually, there was a longer proving period at the beginning of every meeting where he had to establish credibility in spite appearances / signalling. So, he started bringing a suit along everywhere as a "make meetings shorter" hack. Pretty sure he plain old enjoys wearing suits at this point though.
      - ams6110 12y ago
        In the span of almost 25 years I've had only two jobs where everyone wore a suit and tie to work. While not exactly the most comfortable thing to wear, there was something about formal business attire that seemed to put everyone more or less in a productive frame of mind. For me it was sort of a feeling that "I'm dressed for work, so I should work." A mid-day impromptu game of frisbee was unlikely. It also helped separate work/home life. After work, when you got home, the act of taking off the suit--the uniform of work--was a ritual that signified "I am done working for the day." It was nice. I can't say I really ever enjoyed wearing suits, but they had their benefits.
asogi 12y ago
The problem with overdressing (as an engineer) is that outside visitors will assume that you're not an engineer.
- jiggy2011 12y ago
  I imagine that could be used to your advantage if you played it right.
- Swizec 12y ago
  You can overdress in a way that still makes it super obvious you're not being "dressy". Unconventional accessories are always a good pick. Like, you can be wearing the nicest of tuxedo pants with the nicest of button-down shirts, but adding just the right hat or scarf magically turns it into a casual outfit.
  - Kaizyn 12y ago
    This is beyond the capability and competency of any decent engineer.
  - csq 12y ago
    I have to say, this advice sounds a bit unsound. "Unconventional accessories are always a good pick" is playing with fire, as is recommending tuxedo pants, a button down, and a hat or scarf. Have you seen what nerds do when told it's okay to wear hats?
    - ForHackernews 12y ago
      Fedoras, fedoras everywhere...
      - dllthomas 12y ago
        Nothing wrong with a (real) fedora...
        12y ago

So, if you're sitting around writing code then make sure you're the best dressed person in the room. Then on the way to the boardroom for an IPO meeting change into the sweat pants and hoodie.

Swizec 12y ago

As a software engineer who actually kinda cares what they look like, I usually end up overdressed for most occasions and when I'm in a proper business meeting I end up being underdressed (because I'm dressed the same). So I guess I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to?

jiggy2011 12y ago
"An investigationof boundary conditions demonstrates that the positive inferences disappear whenthe observer is unfamiliar with the environment, when the nonconforming behavioris depicted as unintentional, and in the absence of expected norms and sharedstandards of formal conduct" So if you're dressing that way out of laziness or apathy it doesn't count, you have to be non-conforming on purpose.
- Swizec 12y ago
  Grey area. I have a very distinct style that is my own. It is done on purpose and I have been known to be late for things because it took me too long to choose what to wear. The style doesn't really conform to anything. So while I'm not being nonconforming to be nonconforming, I am also particular about what I wear. The only times when my dress is purely a matter of convenience/laziness is when I'm at home or working out.
- MarkPNeyer 12y ago
  i think you're reading this wrong. laziness and apathy are intentional; the decision is made not to conform. unintentional noncomformance would be someone who didn't even realize there WAS a standard. it's like buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you really like them, vs. buying a $100 pair of sunglasses because you saw them and thought 'oh hey, sunglasses.' people see the former as the decision of a savvy person, the latter as that of a fool.
- seanmcdirmid 12y ago
  What if you are dressing down as a way to be more productive? I mean, you can't work 12 hours straight in a suit and tie, while changing after 8 would lead to inefficiency. As an aside, has anyone fathomed that some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement?
  - sigil 12y ago
    > some clothes are good for thinking and coding while others are good for meetings and customer engagement It's all about credibility indicators, and they go both ways. A founder friend relates a story about the day he gave in and started wearing suits. He has a tech background and is generally averse to display, but noticed that wearing a suit was correlated with shorter meetings. On the flip side, when he dressed casually, there was a longer proving period at the beginning of every meeting where he had to establish credibility in spite appearances / signalling. So, he started bringing a suit along everywhere as a "make meetings shorter" hack. Pretty sure he plain old enjoys wearing suits at this point though.
    - ams6110 12y ago
      In the span of almost 25 years I've had only two jobs where everyone wore a suit and tie to work. While not exactly the most comfortable thing to wear, there was something about formal business attire that seemed to put everyone more or less in a productive frame of mind. For me it was sort of a feeling that "I'm dressed for work, so I should work." A mid-day impromptu game of frisbee was unlikely. It also helped separate work/home life. After work, when you got home, the act of taking off the suit--the uniform of work--was a ritual that signified "I am done working for the day." It was nice. I can't say I really ever enjoyed wearing suits, but they had their benefits.

asogi 12y ago

The problem with overdressing (as an engineer) is that outside visitors will assume that you're not an engineer.

jiggy2011 12y ago
I imagine that could be used to your advantage if you played it right.
Swizec 12y ago
You can overdress in a way that still makes it super obvious you're not being "dressy". Unconventional accessories are always a good pick. Like, you can be wearing the nicest of tuxedo pants with the nicest of button-down shirts, but adding just the right hat or scarf magically turns it into a casual outfit.
- Kaizyn 12y ago
  This is beyond the capability and competency of any decent engineer.
- csq 12y ago
  I have to say, this advice sounds a bit unsound. "Unconventional accessories are always a good pick" is playing with fire, as is recommending tuxedo pants, a button down, and a hat or scarf. Have you seen what nerds do when told it's okay to wear hats?
  - ForHackernews 12y ago
    Fedoras, fedoras everywhere...
    - dllthomas 12y ago
      Nothing wrong with a (real) fedora...
      - 12y ago