Is a 2 piece suit a mandatory dress code for a technical job interview ?

Okay,

Having a decent and professional look is very important when attending for an interview, as the first impression is the best impression and that happens at the first visual contact. However, I would like to know, if a 2 piece suit a required attire for a technical job interview. I'm almost positive that, in India 2 piece suit is not mandatory unless the interview is for very high management role. But the game rules may be different in different countries. So, since we have diversified people in this forum, I'm hoping to learn different protocols being followed in various countries. My personal opinion is as long as the interviewee is having a decent dress code, by grooming properly, or by not wearing loafers or some kind of loose clothes etc, he should be good enough for an interview, without a suit

Thanks

It really depends upon the region and the company. Here in Austin, for a software development job, wearing a suit to an interview would be viewed with suspicion. It would indicate that either someone is trying to over-compensate for something, or is completely out of tune with the community.

Personally, I like to dress well and I dress rather nicely for interviews -- but no suit.

When I interviewed for my first job, in 1996, it was for a company that was known for its dress code; everybody there was wearing a suit. I came in a combination (jacket and pants, but in different colors; not a suit). I got the job, but they did tell me "You're aware that you have to wear a suit, aren't you?". A few years later the company abandonded this strict dress code. It wasn't practical as with some clients it created a distance between the consultants in their suits and the employees of the client, so the company decided that it would be better to adapt your dress to the customs of the client.

Whether it's a good idea or not really depends on the company. I'd not go for an interview in jeans, but in most cases a suit and tie isn't mandatory either.

In the UK it depends a lot on the company, but even where I work (in a University) I think most people would wear a suit to an interview even though nobody except managers (and people trying too hard

) wear them the rest of the time. It wouldn't be compulsory, and I don't think it would be held against you if you didn't as long as you were smart, but it's certainly safer.

One rule of thumb that I've heard (and like all rules of thumb should be taken with a grain of salt) is to find out how the employees dress, and to dress "one notch higher" than that.

For example, if the dress code (as in most Austin software companies) is jeans and t-shirts, wear nice pants and a collared shirt. If "business causal" is the code, wear dress pants, a blazer and tie. If a suit is the code, wear a 3-peice suit, and so on.

I'd probably draw the line at white tie and tails.

Thank you for your observations and advice. I too agree that suit is not a compulsion, as long as you look professional. But I browsed through some posts on internet, heard people talking about the importance of suit in job interviews etc, so that made me curious to know about this protocol.

Remember, we're talking about software development positions. Other industries tend not to be quite so casual.

Here, in suburban Washington DC, where the internet started (DARPA is here, and AOL was here), I agree with Bear. Do not wear a suit.

Most of the time, dress khaki slacks and a short sleeve button down shirt are as dressed as we get. Even when I worked at giant pseudo-federal banking and mortgage company that caused the 2008 recession, the whole tech side did not wear suits, even the VPs. Business casual was the word.

Business casual meant no jeans, all shirts have collars, loafers or other dressy shoes. No sneakers.

I work for a bank. While nobody where's a suit to work in development (or a tie for that matter), most people do wear a suit to an interview. If I was interviewing in NY, I'd likely wear a suit. Especially to any company in the financial sector.

As an interviewer, when 99/100 candidates wear a suit (or tie/jacket) to an interview and one shows up in a collared shirt and pants, it makes you wonder.

I would go with Jeanne. Apart from the company you will be working for, it is also the 'departmental culture' that comes in. If you were to apply for management role or to some extent an HR role, a suit may be expected. The dress code in that case would differ from the one in if you were to apply for a development/technical job. Would you not be doing a pre-analysis on the company-culture and its people before you actually head for the interview?

Another vote for wearing a suit to an interview, at least here in the UK.

I hate wearing suits (I only have two because I usually only need them for interviews), and ties are a truly satanic invention that should be banned by international treaty. But a lot of places in the UK regard it as a sign of respect and "professionalism" if you wear a suit to the interview at least, even if they never wear suits to work themselves. I've never understood the "professionalism" argument - a monkey in a suit is still a monkey, and the global economy has just been "professionally" wrecked by a whole bunch of people in suits, but I guess that's another discussion...

Anyway, different organisations - and departments - will have different rules about what people wear to work on a daily basis ("business casual" is common in the UK) and what people should wear when visiting clients (usually more formal). But you are not yet part of the organisation and they may well expect you to treat them as a potential customer, because that's what they are.

Once you've got the job, you can go to work in shorts and a T-shirt like everybody else and have a good laugh at the poor interviewees in their suits next time the company is recruiting.

Bear Bibeault wrote:One rule of thumb that I've heard (and like all rules of thumb should be taken with a grain of salt) is to find out how the employees dress, and to dress "one notch higher" than that.

I've found this can be quite a useful rule sometimes when working as a contractor, because some (thankfully not all) clients reckon that if they're paying you a lot of money (briefly) for your professional skills, then you should look "professional" (yeah, right). But so long as you're dressed smarter than they are, you can probably convince them you are smarter than they are!

chris webster wrote:
I hate wearing suits (I only have two because I usually only need them for interviews)

Interviews, weddings, funerals.

I agree, though - I'd always wear a suit in the UK for an interview. They might not care if you don't - but you might get an interviewer who does care (even if only subconsciously). Why take the risk? Whereas nobody's going to think it strange to wear one.

One indicator would be "what are the interviewers wearing?". Unfortunately, by then it's too late!

I wish the companies would consider the climate before blindly enforcing these so called "dress codes", particularly Indian companies. Fortunately not all companies are like this. In the past I have (successfully) interviewed with an earring, long hair, jeans, shirt (not tucked in) and sport shoes.

I code. If you are concerned with dress code, I suggest you hire a model instead. (not that I am not handsome and debonair

)

When going on a job interview you should dress to impress, i.e. wear a suit. What you might wear everyday and what you might wear on an interview are not always the same. A programmer or developer's position is a "professional" position, even though it is not management. A candidate should show some effort in regards to their appearance. A sloppy or messy appearance typically is a sign of sloppy thoughts and possible sloppy code and work habits. If you attend an interview without a suit, you may look sloppy to some interviewers. It is best to avoid this possibility...if you want a job.

Good luck!

Maneesh Godbole wrote:I have (successfully) interviewed with an earring, long hair, jeans, shirt (not tucked in) and sport shoes.

You took an interview or gave one?

Akhilesh Trivedi wrote:
You took an interview or gave one?

Both.

Like Matthew, I wear a suit to weddings, interviews, and funerals. That's it.

I would forgo the suit if the interview was informal, but if it involves being grilled by strangers in an on-premises office, I'd wear the suit.

I wore a suit to an interview and was not taken seriously. Next time: no socks. Hired. I have felt overdressed for an interview in khakis and an Oxford cloth shirt. Be comfortable, that's the
Main thing.

Jimmy Clark wrote:A candidate should show some effort in regards to their appearance.

I agree.

If you attend an interview without a suit, you may look sloppy to some interviewers.

The important word here is "some". There will also be quite a few interviewers to whom you will look overdressed if you do wear a suit. There are entire sectors full of companies were the latter would likely be the case, like internet agencies and online startups.

Maneesh Godbole wrote:I wish the companies would consider the climate before blindly enforcing these so called "dress codes", particularly Indian companies. Fortunately not all companies are like this. In the past I have (successfully) interviewed with an earring, long hair, jeans, shirt (not tucked in) and sport shoes.

I code. If you are concerned with dress code, I suggest you hire a model instead. (not that I am not handsome and debonair )

Having earrings and some other visible ornaments on body to some extent are acceptable because of their cultural or religious backgrounds, but Jeans (not sure, if they were torned or rugged), ungroomed hair ..... hmm, I would not do that.

But keeping the fact that what really matters for a company is whether the interviewee is worth to be employed based on his skills and other factors, professionalism also plays an important role and it would be evident in the behaviour and also appearance.

As with many things, there is a significant element of "context" when considering appropriate attire for a job interview. If you are interviewing with a Fortune 500 organization, then you surely might strongly consider wearing a suite. If you are interviewing for a position managing Bill's website for his local flower shop, you might not wear a suit.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/index.html

Yes, that would really be part of following the cardinal rule "Know the company you are interviewing".