IT Interviews

[RJman]

Originally Posted by whiteslashasian

That might work in Cali in 1999.

FTFY

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by binge

Yes, except that she's not in IT.

Yes. She CAN'T be in IT...

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by hendrix

Actually i'd love to be able to meet a whole new bunch of people and have them think that i dress well from the start. That way I wouldn't have to think twice about wearing nice clothes for fear of being ostracised.

I have the same problem.

 

[Keroberos]

Originally Posted by hendrix

To be honest I would have thought it's better off dressing well from the start. As long as it's well and not flashy, they either won't notice or they will notice and just simply think "o he's just that guy who dresses well" after a while.

This. I'm not certain I'd want to work somewhere that deducted points for wearing a suit to the interview.

 

[davewe]

Originally Posted by Keroberos

This. I'm not certain I'd want to work somewhere that deducted points for wearing a suit to the interview.
I don't know if it's accurate to say that points are deducted but it's just a statement that you may not know the environment of the company you're applying to. I have the dual background of working for many years assisting clients in interviewing and for the past 7 years I have worked in a software engineering environment (I'm a tech writer). While no one in my current job (a Fortune 500 company) wears a jacket or tie, let alone a suit, I think it's appropriate to dress nicely but modestly for the interview. A shirt and tie without a jacket as someone suggested, a jacket without the tie. IMHO a suit is too much. I rarely see our CEO in a suit. Bottom line - try to know a bit about the environment you're apply for and then show that you can easily fit into that environment.

 

[Agnacious]

Wearing a suit is pretty standard. The advice to not outdress your employer is laughable. Of course you are going to, that is the nature of IT.

The people that posted they deduct points for wearing a suit were being ITGs, it doesn't happen and it is doubtful they even have much say in the process.

There is a 0% chance someone will pick up on the value of your suit. Worst case, if you were to wear a bespoke, they would think you were wearing a sut that was too small. (Every one else wears baggy suits)

I have never interviewed someone not wearing a suit, even for entry level engineering. Things used to be different in CA, but I don't think so anymore. Who knows, they are practaically savages anyway.

 

[whiteslashasian]

Originally Posted by Agnacious

Wearing a suit is pretty standard. The advice to not outdress your employer is laughable. Of course you are going to, that is the nature of IT.

+1 for the most part.

If the company you're interviewing with is widely known to be a very casual place then it would be ill advised to wear a suit.

Otherwise I think a suit is perfectly fine for an interview in IT; hell, an interview is one of the few times some people even put on a suit.

 

[robin]

Funny/Horror story?

One of my first interview experiences was also one of the weirdest (this was at a well known game dev company in the Seattle area). Everything went well until the third guy, who apparently lived in the offices and was wearing only underwear and a tshirt.

 

[whiteslashasian]

Originally Posted by robin

Funny/Horror story?

One of my first interview experiences was also one of the weirdest (this was at a well known game dev company in the Seattle area). Everything went well until the third guy, who apparently lived in the offices and was wearing only underwear and a tshirt.

OMG lol, I just spit out some of my food onto my keyboard....ewwww

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by robin

Everything went well until the third guy, who apparently lived in the offices and was wearing only underwear and a tshirt.

Burberry or D&G underwear?

 

[calcio]

Originally Posted by robin

Funny/Horror story?

One of my first interview experiences was also one of the weirdest (this was at a well known game dev company in the Seattle area). Everything went well until the third guy, who apparently lived in the offices and was wearing only underwear and a tshirt.
Valve? I'm going to call shenanigans on this story.

If you are interviewing in the tech industry you should call the recruiter and ask them what the appropriate dress attire is for the interview.

Showing up in a suit for a technical position to a company like Google and Microsoft will be uncomfortable for you and the interviewer. When the developer interviewing you is wearing a t-shirt or polo and shorts or jeans you don't want to be in a suit. However you don't dress down to their level because you want to show a certain level of professionalism.

It really depends on the company and their culture. If you can't find out I'd suggest a nice dress shirt with no tie and slacks with dress shoes. But I'm on the engineering side of things so IT might be a different animal.

 

[JDL]

Originally Posted by whiteslashasian

+1 for the most part.

If the company you're interviewing with is widely known to be a very casual place then it would be ill advised to wear a suit.

Otherwise I think a suit is perfectly fine for an interview in IT; hell, an interview is one of the few times some people even put on a suit.

I agree, I have been in IT (but not the IT industry) full time for over 35 years and a senior manager. director or CIO since the mid 80's, at anything above entry level (the only ones I would see) I would not be impressed with someone presenting themselves sloppily dressed. I does not show respect for the process and therefore poor judgement so they would be unlikely to get the job.

At the same time and for the same reason I would not dream of meeting a candidate without wearing a tie, even when it's 90F and 95% humidity outside and I have travelled for a day to get to the interview - which I have had to do on a number of occasions.

May be different in the US but whenever I have interviewed for IT management jobs over there candidates have (normally) turned up, as in Europe and Asia, at least with a jacket, tie and clean shoes which is fine with me as it's not meant to be a fashion parade.

 

[sho'nuff]

i went to my last IT interview (for the company i am currently working at) last year in my Mani navy blue suit that was tucked away in my closet of my old apartment for the longest time.

as i went into the elevator (had reflective doors) i realized i had two huge mothholes eaten into the rear shoulder of my jacket. i still got the job though.
i immediately trashed the suit upon coming home.

not a notable or funny story. but something.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Originally Posted by edmorel

whats wrong with the old IT standby's of Teva sandals, white socks, ratty pants and a tee shirt with an imprint of either an internet meme or a video game that was popular before you were born.
FFY....no charge. There is alot of IT where i work, and I've also networked among IT people. My brother is in IT as well. Might want to wear a suit, leave off the jacket if the office is casual. If the office is really casual, then remove the tie, you're best bet is to call ahead and ask the secretary what people are expected to wear for an interview. Dressing for IT is like a man interact with animals in the wild. You need to know how they act in their natural environment before you step foot inside since the office cultures vary wildly.