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What to wear to a "business casual" job interview

southbound35

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I currently work in banking and wear a suit/tie Monday-Thursday and dress pants/company-logo shirt on Friday.

Tomorrow, I have an interview for a company whose dress code is "business casual". Since the interview is on Friday, I assume the staff there will be dressed down somewhat.

Any suggestions on what to wear?
 

hughjoen

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Full business attire (Dark suit, tie, clean shirt, polished shoe, etc.). Even though, company might be business casual, you should dress up for interview.
Good Luck.
 

globetrotter

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ditto - business casual is a trap on a job interview.
 

Matt

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Originally Posted by hughjoen
Full business attire (Dark suit, tie, clean shirt, polished shoe, etc.). Even though, company might be business casual, you should dress up for interview.
Good Luck.

yup seconded or thirded or whatever we are up to motion carried.
 

Teacher

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Originally Posted by hughjoen
Full business attire (Dark suit, tie, clean shirt, polished shoe, etc.). Even though, company might be business casual, you should dress up for interview.
Good Luck.


Fourthed!
 

topcatny

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If this is an interview at another firm in the banking industry, then I agree with everyone else and wear the suit and tie.

If you are interviewing out of the industry you might have some more freedom. For example, I work in sales in the fashion industry. I am currently negotiating with a new company for a sales management position. I did not wear a suit and tie to any of my interviews and it obviously hasn't been an issue. In fact if I had worn a suit and tie I actually think it would have hurt my chances.

So I guess what I am saying is, if you know what appropriate business casual attire is for the company you are interviewing with then I think you can wear it on the interview, if you don't (and by asking the question you've addmitted you do not) then stick with the suit and tie.
 

teddieriley

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I agree with wearing the suit/tie for the interview as well - need to look professional (assuming you're lateralling over into a similar industry). Even though the employees at the office you're interviewing at are dressed business casual, they have the job there, you don't. I don't think it matters if you're dressed up more than they are. They understand you're interviewing, and if you dressed up business casual to be more inline with them, they could always think, "Who does he think he is?"

Besides, doesn't being in a suit make you feel more confident and more yourself considering you wear it a majority of the time anyway?
 

neal9099

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Wear a solid-colored, conservative suit, a long-sleeved shirt that matches well with the suit and a professional tie.Your hair should be professional and well-groomed.
 

wEstSidE

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i have an informal meeting with a recruiter from a consulting firm (booz&co, if it matters) and the dress is "business casual." it's a lunch meeting and there will be other prospects.

i'm in college.

what the **** does that mean?

counselor suggest i wear a a suit with no tie, but tbh i dont think that sounds good.
 

Staggerlee

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I haven't been on a real job interview in almost 10 years. My job switches have all been as part of a team, so no interviews were required. Do people still carry their resumes in those leather portfolios? I heard some 20-somethings recently talking about taking thumb drives on interviews and laughing about someone they saw with a portfolio. I thought maybe the interviewing environment has changed.
 

wEstSidE

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IME the padfolio is still popular.
 

Edgar Allan Pwn

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The answer is always "a suit". It doesn't matter if it's Casual Friday or Hawaiin Shirt Monday or Birthday-Suit Wednesday; a professional-looking suit.
 

doublemazaa

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Suit sounds good if that's what you think those people wear the rest of the week. If the industry is more informal, you might skip the suit and go a little more relaxed. I work in advertising so a lot of my interviews are nice jeans, polished shoes, and a dress shirt.

Also depends on where you live. NY/DC will be more formal across the board. Here in Seattle wearing a suit would be overkill in many business situations.
 

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