So I have this job interview. It's for an VoIP engineer in a small company, and I think I'm well qualified. Provided I don't totally freeze up I should do well. I'm feeling pretty good about it.

However, my dilemma is "what to wear"!

I'll be working from the office, but spending a lot of time on site with customers. I'll be the "techy" that comes to fix stuff, fit new stuff, program stuff and offer technical advice about stuff. It's a small company, so I'll be the guy on site for pretty much any reason.

Now, when a techy comes to program a box I kinda expect a long haired youth with ripped jeans and a Megadeth T-shirt. If I see a 35+ bloke with a suit, I tend to think "Oh heckity it's the consultant. I'm not gonna get anywhere today."

Now, there are some excellent consultants who are worth every penny. Unfortunately, most of the ones I meet tend to be failed techies who put on a suit and basically do "sales". Hence the suit. People in suits, especially cheap ones, tend to be liars and frauds. That's sales men, estate agents, "the defendant"... basically, people you can't trust.

Baring in mind I'm a balding 38 year old and not a long haired youth, what do I wear to make the right impression!?

Thank you for your advise. The poll closes tomorrow at lunch time.

i personally i;d go in jeans and t-shirt if i thought i could get away with it... jeans/trousers and a shirt if not...

that said I've only had a sum-total 2 interviews... neither of which went well...

Presentable should be the word you're looking for - presentable & smart for every and any interview in my opinion. You can shurg off the formal clothes once you have the job - there's simply no point in not going that little extra in the first place...

But you raise a good point about cheap suits - they don't guarantee a good look - and you could be just as presentable in smart trousers and a shirt (no tie).

I'd go with the suit without doubt JJ. After all it is an interview and if you wear a suit it cannot be a mark against you. However, if you dress down slightly it might not either, but you never know.

Go with the safe bet.

What's the company called, and what's on the photos on their website?

Personally, I'd go with a suit. My job at the moment requires no customer relations whatsoever, and I'm scrapping around on a dusty lab floor most days. But I still get comments about the suit I wore to my interview from my boss, because not a lot of others bothered.

I doubt you're going to be interviewed by a long haired youth, and everything I've been told about interviews has been to subtly mimic the interviewer (breathing rate, etc, but not consciously...).

Failing that, I would suggest your best pair of trousers, a shirt and a tie if you're going to wear a jacket, otherwise I wouldn't...

Only going from what I've been told, and one techie interview.

I'd tend to agree with Snowy here - if you think your suit looks any good, then go with it, if not, smart trousers and shirt.

When I've been conducting interviews in the past, the 'jeans and t-shirt' people have been automatically crossed off the list, just on general principle.

I'd always wear a suit to an interview myself, but I'm more of an office guy, so suits are normal and expected.



That generalisation makes me want to cry.

Do not wear jeans.

Black trousers, nice business shirt, no blazer no tie. IMO.

Don't wanna say what they're called on hear, but on their website it all looks like stock images. The women are wearing trouser suits with a tie, and the blokes are too except they've half undressed. Tie half-way down and no jacket.

Huge cheesy grins all round, and there's absolutely no way that gorgeous woman works there



I'll be facing the two founding director type people. I expect them to be wearing suits, but then Richard Branston doesn't and he does all right!



I'm sorry. I should have added "or accountants"

Know this, they have no class.

I'm not a suit person, so I'd probably go with some decent trousers and a collared shirt, but no tie. Which would probably be what I'd wear to work anyway.
I'm personally of the opinion that anyone who arbitrarily decides upon some aspect of my aptitude for the task, or my attitude to the employment, based on my outfit is someone I don't want to work for anyway.

Alas I am 100% in total agreement with you. Unfortunately, experience has shown me that some of the best jobs involve working for prejudiced idiots. Plus, I need the damned job because it's the best one going!

They even incisted on my CV in "Word" format and also the application was a "Word" form. However... Need Job!

TBH, there's not that much difference.

And don't be surprised if the interviewees aren't wearing suits - they own the company so can dress up like playboy bunnies if they want (feel free to imagine that image at the interview, it'll help put you at ease! ). But of course, the same rules won't apply to you.

wear a suit. Look smart and presentable and know your stuff.
In todays climate they will have plenty of applicants and they will discriminate on the slightest thing (all legal stuff of course) like..
didnt wear a suit.
Therefore cant of been bobbvered about the job.
Therefore we wont hire him!!

Remember if you dont have a beard, shave!!!!

Hmmm,

You in a suit, not Saville Row but having clearly 'suited up' = "I want to work for your company andI respect you enough to have made the effort to make a good impression, now let me wow you with my personality and skills"

You in smart trousers and shirt no tie = "I am practising for the job I really want and am saving my suit for that interview"

Which of you would you hire?

In all seriousness, I always wear a suit at least to the first interview, it's all about impression you don't want there to be any risk of the very important people who are interviewing you (even if they are dressed as playboy bunnies) to get the idea that you're not taking this interview seriously.

If the suit is new, it shouldn't be at the "shiny elbows" stage that my Misters is (are) and will carry you through. Always go smarter than you think because if you don't and it's not right, it's already too late. Besides, even if you're wearing a suit, if you are as comfortable-looking as you would be in your pjs, don't fidget or play with your collar then in the end it won't make a difference to anything but your first impression on them.