Interview Attire?

[HLAuburn]

I'm looking for some opinions on what to wear for an interview...actually for my husband. He's interviewing for a job in a manufacturing facility, similar to where he works now. Although he's "professional", they get really dirty, so they generally wear Dickies work clothes with hardhats and steel-toe boots, which are required. Ties are a no-no b/c of the safety issue.

So what should he wear to the interview? We don't really agree, and he'd laugh if he knew I was posting here, but I think you can still be "safe" (boots, no tie, hardhat) and still look professional for the interview, especially since the first part of the interview is offsite. I thought maybe a suit without a tie, but he thinks that's overkill. I'm not sure you can be overdressed for an interview (at least for a guy), and I know this is a little different than most interviews, but I still think a suit is appropriate.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

I'm thinking safety isn't an issue during an interview??

Cannot go wrong with a suit and tie for an interview. Any interview. It shows you care.

 

[SC Minnie]

If the first interview is offsite then I say a suit and tie. If the second part is onsite then he can remove the tie if he will be going out into the plant. Better to stand out.

 

[puffkin]

What I would do is wear a suit with tie to the offsite interview. I am assuming this is first. After walking in and shaking hands/introductions, I would casually take off the suit jacket and rest it on the chair next to me or across my lap. If the interviewers have suits on I would leave the jacket on.

At the site I would remove my tie in the car or in the office before heading out to the site. Therefore be wearing a dress shirt and dress pants. I think the boots would be ok unless they are really beat up. I would go with a darker colored shirt.

I think it is always better to dress up a step or two for the interview, even if you know it is a more casual environment.

This is JMHO though.

 

[mjkacmom]

Suit and tie. Edited to add, I used to hire security guards. Most applicants (who didn't go through an interview process) wore jeans and tshirts. Every now and then, someone would come in dressed nicely. Guess who usually got the job.

 

[ccgirl]

Absolutely suit! My Aunt is a VP and very used to hiring new staff. She gave me the best piece of advice - always dress for your bosses job (or the person hiring you). That way they know you care and have pride. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Dh works in a manufacturing enviornment. He has ALWAYS interviewed in suit and tie (and always been offered the job). He has safety dress shoes which he wears to interviews and now he does in house consulting so he wears those into some plants where the culture is more formal. So he would wear those shoes with the suit. He takes the tie and jacket off to tour the plant and brings his own better quality safety glasses which he wear on the shop floor as well. One manager told him that was the tipping point when he started to take DH seriously in spite of his age (this was when DH was still almsot fresh out of college). Now DH is often on the hiring end. The team just had a round of interviews and hired one person. It was a very good oppurtunity and they were inundated with resumes. Of the 16 they chose to interview 10 did not show up in ties/ nice business clothing for ladies and were immediately dropped from consderation.

 

[dislaney]

I think it is always better to be over dressed then under dressed. I say go for the suit.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Suit and tie, if he has a nice suit and tie. If not, something that he looks good in. I would rather have a candidate come in looking good and feeling confident than rolling into my office in a suit purchased 25 lbs ago...

 

[SandrA9810]

If he wants to wear safety boots, go to walmart and buy the bramah "gus" boots. It's black leather look. And with pants on, they won't see their full size boots. They also have the "gussie" which are low cut around the ankle. Both are steel toed.

 

[amyy]

I would agree with a suit but will he be comfortable? If for some reason he won't and it will take away from the interview I would take that into consideration.

 

[denisem]

I may be offbase in this arena, but rather than suit/tie - I'd go with classic impeccable khaki's/navy blazer with shirt/tie and proper shoes/eyeware.

That way, if the interview segues to "on the floor" he can easily shed the coat & tie, roll up his sleeves and show his versatility in quickly morphing from corporate look to someone comfortable with "hand-on" work.

Kinda a male version of the "little black dress" that can be dressed up or down. JMHO.

 

[HLAuburn]

Thank you ALL for the help! I think he's convinced that a suit (or at least a sports coat/slacks) is the best way to go. I think especially since there will be a "transition" time before going to the facility, so he will have a chance to take off the jacket and tie.

He just bought some nice steel toe boots, so that helps.

I really, really hope this one goes well! It's a great location and we're super excited about it!

Thanks again for the replies!

 

[disneybound2010]

Rule of thumb,ALWAYS dress ABOVE what the job is for. First impressions are everything and if you show that you are willing to go above in an interview, that says to them that you are willing to go that extra mile for the company. Let them see how professional you can and are willing to be! Good Luck!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Rule of thumb,ALWAYS dress ABOVE what the job is for. First impressions are everything and if you show that you are willing to go above in an interview, that says to them that you are willing to go that extra mile for the company. Let them see how professional you can and are willing to be! Good Luck!

So what do you do if the job calls for wearing a suit and tie? Do you wear a tux to the interview?

I've always worn a suit and tie to my interviews (and always a plain white shirt), but I've always worked in an office. I don't have a clue how I'd dress for a non-office job interview. I'd be tempted to call the assistant of the person I was going to interview with and ask what would be appropriate.

 

[disneybound2010]

So what do you do if the job calls for wearing a suit and tie? Do you wear a tux to the interview?

If that makes you happy, then go for it

The point is,that it doesn't matter if the job is slinging burgers in a fast food joint, you walk in looking professionally dressed. DH used to work in a printing factory. Between the ink,oils and many other grimey substances, you got pretty messy. They all had coveralls that they wore. The company didn't even look twice at the person walking in that didn't wear a suit or at the very least a pair of khakis and a blazer. Why? Because they wanted someone who took pride in themselves. DH now works for our regional airport. When he went in, he was dressed in a very nice suit and tie...the job was for fueling airplanes. In three weeks time,he was made a supervisor. They liked the way he "dressed as if he was running the company"(their words) These are just small personal experiences,but I could go on and on with many examples. First impressions are everything and the person who is willing to take that extra step in looking the part of the professional is going to come out ahead of the one who threw on something casual and didn't take that extra time to look well put together.

 

[Micca]

Just to chime-in & agree with the suit concept...

I work in a field where dress is extemely casual--we're talking t-shirts, jeans, shorts in the summer, flip flops, crocs, etc. If someone wants to really get fancy, they might wear slacks and a golf shirt.

When I went job hunting a few years ago, I bit the bullet and went out to buy a new suit for interviews. I wore the suit and a tie to every interview.
Sure I got some "got a court appearance?" looks, but nobody said anything.

I actually got the job I wanted most, and I must say I was treated well by all those who interviewed me. Never wore the suit to work again, just jeans, t-shirts, and my Mickey Crocs. No problem