DO YOU REALLY NEED TO WEAR A SUIT FOR TECH INTERVIEWS?
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DO YOU REALLY NEED TO WEAR A SUIT FOR TECH INTERVIEWS?

Dress codes have been moving towards a more relaxed feel in all industries, but especially in IT, for a long time. Tech employers have had jeans and t-shirt dress codes for years. There’s just one problem with this trend: Technical recruiters find that often, candidates will assume they can come to interviews in jeans.  Even for the most casual of workplaces, 99% of IT staffing firms agree: It’s important to go to your job interview in a suit.

Why do you need to wear a suit when everyone around you will be wearing jeans? There are three reasons. Firstly, wearing a suit indicates that you understand basic professional norms. Interviewing has required a suit for decades and it will likely continue that way. When IT staffing agencies tell you to wear a suit to your interview, they’re helping you send a message about more than just your closet. They want you to show employers that you know how to be a professional—right as you walk in the door. If you show up wearing jeans and t-shirt, employers have a moment to wonder what else you’ll do in a job. Do you come in late? Do you leave early? Do you swear or tell inappropriate jokes? So wear that suit and iron it. Have a strong handshake, and set the stage for employers to assume you’re a seasoned professional who knows how to act in an office.

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Thomas McCourt

vCISO & Principal Consultant. Wizard.

6y

i mean, I typically wear a suit for the interview. But, honestly- I feel I shouldn't have to. I personally feel it doesn't matter what you wear as long as you can backup your skills and knowledge

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Mark J. Tyrrell

Finding the Right people

6y

99% of firms agree? I doubt it, so let's not make up statistics.

At some places wearing jeans can be seen as questionable (or worse) as detailed in the article. However, in other companies wearing the full interview suit will be seen as not being a cultural fit. Honestly, these days I just flat out ask before I come in for an interview.

James Swonger

Owner / President / Chief Everything Officer at UltraSemi LLC

6y

Don't take general advice is my general advice. It depends on the company and the role. If you're gunning for a public facing CxO role, no matter how small the company, you need to look the part in the eyes of the public. Whoever's signing off would have to know this or they wouldn't be hiring a CxO. But if you're a woolly code monkey interviewing with the monkey one branch higher, just comb your fur and go for it. Also matters whether this is a cold open or you know the folks you're "interviewing" with. Last employee gig I had, I was pulled to and had known the principals for years. How often do you get to say "Bite the pillow, b!tch!" to the CEO and get both a chuckle and a job offer? Of course we were talking about our plans for a mutual competitor, but still. I don't recall now whether I had a tie on, or not. But I'm pretty sure it didn't matter. This time.

Jared Davis

Senior Designer at Microsoft

6y

You know, when I started interviewing at creative firms, I asked the admins/executive assistants at very company I talked to in Seattle if they had a recommendation on dress code and they all said NOT to come in a suit and tie...this was 6-7 years ago, but it really surprised me and has rung true for me...

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