Interviews in High Temp (103+): Suit, No Suit, Cotton, Wool, Tie,...? SF

deveandepot1 · Jul 11, 2011

What would you wear to an interview during extreme heat? I have only had interviews during fall/winter/spring and just went with my solid navy wool suit/white shirt/black AE PAs/striped tie/.. combo.

Here is my situation:
Interview for Administrative Assistant
Time: 1PM
Location: Starbucks/SoCal
Expected Temperature: 103F

Should I wear a suit? If I wear a suit should it be cotton? If I don't wear a suit, should I do a tie/shirt/dress pants combo?

pharmaboy · Jul 11, 2011

put yourself in the interviewers shoes. If interviewer has a suit and tie on, what will he think of the interviewee who doesnt? and if he has a collared shirt, open, and no jacket what is he going to think of the interviewee?

If he has a suit on, then when you arrive, you live with it, if he doesnt, you get to ask, if its OK to take your jacket off? The question isnt one of style, its one of politeness, and giving the best impression possible on an interpersonal basis.

I've always figured the object of an interview is to dress so you couldnt possibly cause offence, or cause judgement on yourself on the basis of clothing....??

deveandepot1 · Jul 11, 2011

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. However, if I was the interviewer, I wouldn't expect the interviewee to be in a suit in such extreme heat.

NAMOR · Jul 11, 2011

Wear a suit. If you are in LA, you are in your car, presumably with AC. Its unlike downtown Boston, Chicago, or New York where its incredibly hot and humid and are also moving around a lot on foot. Good luck!

landshark · Jul 11, 2011

Easy solution. Keep your jacket off until you arrive. Find a discreet place to put it on. Walk in, and look like you've been wearing a suit in the heat all day and haven't broken a sweat. The job is yours!

deveandepot1 · Jul 11, 2011

I guess I will wear a suit.

I only have 3 solid suits (All fit very well).
Which one?
1. Navy Wool
2. Cotton Khaki
3. Charcoal Wool/Cashmere

Originally Posted by NAMOR

Wear a suit. If you are in LA, you are in your car, presumably with AC. Its unlike downtown Boston, Chicago, or New York where its incredibly hot and humid and are also moving around a lot on foot. Good luck!

I am in San Bernardino/Victorville. Thanks

LanceW · Jul 11, 2011

It's a question of navy vs charcoal and I would guess your navy is cooler than the wool/cashmere charcoal. Get there early to give you time to cool off before putting on the jacket once you're inside. Pound some ice water when you get there?

Nicola · Jul 11, 2011

Originally Posted by landshark

Easy solution. Keep your jacket off until you arrive. Find a discreet place to put it on. Walk in, and look like you've been wearing a suit in the heat all day and haven't broken a sweat. The job is yours!

This but instead

arrive early. Carry in your jacket. Take the time to go into the bathroom and wipe the sweat off your forehead. Get a cool drink. Then put your jacket on.

JakeLA · Jul 11, 2011

where is this? Palm Springs?

ter1413 · Jul 11, 2011

Originally Posted by deveandepot1

I agree with a lot of what you are saying. However, if I was the interviewer, I wouldn't expect the interviewee to be in a suit in such extreme heat.

That's why you are the interviewee...and NOT the interviewer!

Interview=suit/tie

NAMOR · Jul 11, 2011

Assuming your interview is this week, you lucked out. Its supposed to be in the high 70s in Socal. and if you are still hot, cool off with a Jamba Juice. and bring it with you to the interview

PhiloVance · Jul 11, 2011

I dont think you have too many options here - I think you have to go with the khaki by default. I almost passed out from heatstroke just reading the words wool/charcoal/cashmere and 103 degrees in the same sentence . . . anyone who tells you to wear that should be kind enough to provide his/her name number as an emergency contact when the paramedics arrive to rehydrate you.

Bounder · Jul 11, 2011

Let me offer a slightly different take. You are interviewing for a job as an administrative assistant. In other words, you are not there to be a dynamic, take-charge kind of guy. You are there to bend to the will of your boss or bosses.

So call the interviewer and ask them how the interviewer would like you to dress. At the very least, this gives you an opportunity to demonstrate that you can follow instructions.

When interviewing you should always find out what the daily baseline is of your prospective employer and then dress one notch better than that. For example, if you are applying of an IT job someplace where everyone wears shorts and flip flops, don't show up in a three-piece suit. As you are not even meeting in an office, it isn't clear to me what normal business attire would be for this job so it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.

ter1413 · Jul 11, 2011

Originally Posted by Bounder

Let me offer a slightly different take. You are interviewing for a job as an administrative assistant. In other words, you are not there to be a dynamic, take-charge kind of guy. You are there to bend to the will of your boss or bosses.

So call the interviewer and ask them how the interviewer would like you to dress. At the very least, this gives you an opportunity to demonstrate that you can follow instructions.
When interviewing you should always find out what the daily baseline is of your prospective employer and then dress one notch better than that. For example, if you are applying of an IT job someplace where everyone wears shorts and flip flops, don't show up in a three-piece suit. As you are not even meeting in an office, it isn't clear to me what normal business attire would be for this job so it probably wouldn't hurt to ask.

If an interviewee had to CALL AND ASK how to dress for an interview, I would not hire them.

Quadcammer · Jul 11, 2011

who has an interview at a starbucks?

wear a suit, regardless. Its hot...suck it up. If necessary, get there way early without your coat on, clean yourself up in the mens room (splash water on your face, etc) and then put your coat on.

Interviews in High Temp (103+): Suit, No Suit, Cotton, Wool, Tie,...? SF

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