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The company I work for is in Manhattan - used to be right on Fifth Ave, but
now in SoHo. People in different areas of the company dress differently-
marketing tends to dress more upscale, but I've never seen either the CEO
or president in a full suit and tie. Usually even for them it's jeans or
slacks and a sport coat ... rarely if ever a tie.. But even in NYC -
fashion capital of North America - the developers wear shorts and t-shirts
in the summer. However, when developers are interviewing candidates, they
tend to up their game a bit to dockers (or at least clean jeans) and a
collared shirt. Most of the candidates are either in suits or sport coats,
50/50 on the ties. I've never heard anyone mention what a candidate wore to
the interview.
That said, when I interviewed I wore a sport coat (a classic Brooks Bros.
blazer), slacks and a tie. And I got the job.
My 2Â
JG
On Fri, Jul 10, 2015 at 12:43 PM, Slager Timothy J <
Timothy -dot- Slager -at- dematic -dot- com> wrote:
> I once dressed up for an interview, only to meet with several people
> wearing shorts and T-shirts. I think they concluded I wasn't a good fit.
> I despise the fabric jewelry that until recently passed as the symbol of
> male professionalism. I determined I would not want to work for a company
> that considered such a silly accessory evidence of being qualified. But at
> one time, after a protracted job search, I gave up my principles and
> started wearing a tie. I got two job offers.
> Don't show up in a suit to be interviewed by surfers in sandals. Don't
> underdress if there's a chance that someone influential still thinks the
> clothes make the man.
> tims
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+timothy -dot- slager=dematic -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+timothy -dot- slager=dematic -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com]
> On Behalf Of Cardimon, Craig
> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 11:35 AM
> To: 'salt -dot- morton -at- gmail -dot- com'; 'techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com'
> Subject: [RMX:NL] RE: Inland Empire interview attire
>
> I always wear a suit because I want to make an excellent first impression.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com [mailto:
> techwr-l-bounces+ccardimon=m-s-g -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
> Chris Morton
> Sent: Friday, July 10, 2015 11:22 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Re: Inland Empire interview attire
>
> > Its not a crime to be overdressed, but showing up in a suit and tie at
> > a company where even the upper managers don't dress that way on a day
> > to day basis may make you seem a little out of place.
> >
>
> I disagree with Lynne. If not a suit, at least a sport coat and tie
> informs me (as the interviewer) that you're wanting to put your best foot
> forward.
> At the GV company I mentioned, daily attire was jeans and a T-shirt. But I
> still expected candidates to show up wearing their best.
>
> It's not unheard of, for example, for technical writers to be a part of a
> trade show contingent. And I've been in positions, as a technical writer,
> where I also delivered seminars to hundreds of IT pros over the course of
> one day (and on multiple occasions).
>
> On yet another occasion, I ran a bi-annual software users conference. That
> upper management had faith in my ability to rep the company in this way, in
> addition to being their sole technical writer, is what got me the job.
>
> The person who can switch-hit like this has it over other candidates.
>
> > Chris
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