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Short Notice Interview--Caught With My Pants Down

post #1 of 18
3/8/13 at 6:45pm
Thread Starter 
Gents,

I'm in a bit of a bind, here. I applied for an accounting externship (2-day summer program) at a Big 4 firm this Summer, and the interview dates weren't listed. I just got the acceptance notification for the interview today, and it's Wednesday the 13th.

Here are my options:
1) Charcoal Indochino suit. Great fit, BUT: slanted pockets, and a ticket pocket.

2) Dark navy / pinstripe beater suit from low-end department store--OTR fit, looks OK fit-wise, but doesn't fit or look as well as the Indochino suit. Standard pockets / all that jazz, but pinstriped and doesn't fit as well.

3) Navy BB blazer w/ gold buttons, and khakis or gray slacks?? Obviously not my first choice, but I think I could make it work in a pinch (far from ideal)

I have other applications in and have interview windows later in April, and I have a more conservative Indochino suit on order--but it won't be here for a few more weeks.


I also have a white shirt w/ french cuffs, but picking up a white shirt w/ barrel cuffs between now and then is not an issue.

Tie will be this one, I think .

Should I just go for it with the Indochino suit, and bet that the interviewer won't notice / care about the pockets? Or should I go for one of the other options?

Thoughts?
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post #2 of 18
3/8/13 at 6:52pm
Tuck in the flaps and you should be fine.
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post #3 of 18
3/9/13 at 2:33am
Either suit and stop worrying about barrel versus French cuffs, the latter are fine and it is a fixation of certain web boards that they are not.

The person interviewing will neither notice nor care about your suit, it is not being interviewed. One of the problems of web boards is that while they can help the unknowing they also set people worrying about conforming to certain spurious standards that do not matter in most areas of life. What was the 'norm' fifty years ago has not become a 'rule' today.
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post #4 of 18
3/9/13 at 2:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GBR View Post

Either suit and stop worrying about barrel versus French cuffs, the latter are fine and it is a fixation of certain web boards that they are not.

The person interviewing will neither notice nor care about your suit, it is not being interviewed. One of the problems of web boards is that while they can help the unknowing they also set people worrying about conforming to certain spurious standards that do not matter in most areas of life. What was the 'norm' fifty years ago has not become a 'rule' today.

+1

Though there's much to be said about conscious vs subconscious cues.
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post #5 of 18
3/9/13 at 10:33am

Wear the Indochino suit. Slanted pockets aren't a dealbreaker, but why the fxck did you add customizations that you're ashamed of? Let's think things through next time OP.

 

So long as your suit fits reasonably well and isn't an inappropriate color, no one outside of style forums will give a crap about your suit. Focus on preparing for the interview.

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post #6 of 18
3/9/13 at 11:00am
It's unlikely anyone will notice your pockets but it's almost certain they'll notice the cuffs, which are wholly inappropriate for any entry-level interview but particularly so for an accounting/audit position.

You might as well wear a contrast collar and platinum Rolex.
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post #7 of 18
3/9/13 at 11:20am

Most people would not notice that either, and if they noticed, they would not care... 

 

Just go with the Indochino suit. 

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post #8 of 18
3/9/13 at 11:53am
On a 21 year old kid? At E&Y or PwC they will. These are some of the most conservative and detail-oriented anal-retentives in the world.
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post #9 of 18
3/9/13 at 12:59pm
Honestly, interviewers notice shirt cuffs in an interview?

If I were doing an interview, I'd be more focused on his credentials and assessing his suitability. I couldn't care less if he were wearing a gold rolex (not that he should, of course).
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post #10 of 18
3/9/13 at 1:11pm

I don't think he (or anyone else) is genuinely worried that the suit or cuffs will speak louder than his CV and his conversation, but that in his particular field, at his particular point of entry, someone *might* notice (consciously or not) and that notice *might* negatively influence subjective perceptions or evaluations of him, rather the same way that salad in his teeth or the odd, casual profanity from his mouth might.  My very limited impression is that accounting firms are not especially interested in hiring riverboat gamblers, or anyone who may harbour the even faintly perceptible urge to dice and drift.

 

My advice repeats others': tuck the flaps, pick up the barrel-cuff shirt, and prick up your confidence.

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post #11 of 18
3/9/13 at 1:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suit of Nettles View Post

I don't think he (or anyone else) is genuinely worried that the suit or cuffs will speak louder than his CV and his conversation, but that in his particular field, at his particular point of entry, someone *might* notice (consciously or not) and that notice *might* negatively influence their subjective perception or evaluation of him, rather the same way that salad in his teeth or the odd, casual profanity from his mouth might.  My very limited impression is that accounting firms are not especially interested in hiring riverboat gamblers, or anyone who may harbour the even faintly perceptible urge to dice and drift.

My advice repeats others': tuck the flaps, pick up the barrel-cuff shirt, and prick up your confidence.

Makes sense.
Edited by bboysdontcryy - 3/9/13 at 2:35pm
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post #12 of 18
3/9/13 at 1:45pm
I work for a big 4 accounting firm in NYC, and 95% of people dress like crap, including the senior managers and partners who will being conducting your interview.

Wear the suit with slanted pockets, wear a dress shirt with cuffs, no one will notice or remotely care.
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post #13 of 18
3/9/13 at 2:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suit of Nettles View Post

I don't think he (or anyone else) is genuinely worried that the suit or cuffs will speak louder than his CV and his conversation, but that in his particular field, at his particular point of entry, someone *might* notice (consciously or not) and that notice *might* negatively influence subjective perceptions or evaluations of him, rather the same way that salad in his teeth or the odd, casual profanity from his mouth might.  My very limited impression is that accounting firms are not especially interested in hiring riverboat gamblers, or anyone who may harbour the even faintly perceptible urge to dice and drift.

My advice repeats others': tuck the flaps, pick up the barrel-cuff shirt, and prick up your confidence.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts. Chances are nobody will notice our care but most young men (in the US) won't be wearing french cuffs and the only things you want to stand out are your qualifications and personality. Plus it's an easy change, why take the chance?
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post #14 of 18
3/9/13 at 2:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bostongeorge1 View Post

It's unlikely anyone will notice your pockets but it's almost certain they'll notice the cuffs, which are wholly inappropriate for any entry-level interview but particularly so for an accounting/audit position.

You might as well wear a contrast collar and platinum Rolex.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bostongeorge1 View Post

On a 21 year old kid? At E&Y or PwC they will. These are some of the most conservative and detail-oriented anal-retentives in the world.

nonsense.

french cuffs with conservative cufflinks will be perfectly fine. Might someone notice? maybe. will they care? no.
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post #15 of 18
3/9/13 at 2:38pm
Quad are you British? Cuff links are significantly more common in the UK than in the US IME.
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