What is the proper male interview attire?

[SandrA9810]

I'm trying to make my bf understand the importance of first impression, which also includes appearance, for a job interview.

Please state the good, the bad, the ugly about each selection. I guess I'm just not coming up with the right way to put it, that wearing jeans and a t-shirt will automatically get your application in the trash can. BTW, this is for an entry level position possibly in retail or warehouse type job. That's the kind of job he's been applying to.

Shirt:
Button down dress shirt - short sleeve
Button down dress shirt - long sleeve
Polo shirt
T-shirt

Pants:
Suit slacks
Khaki pants
Jeans

Shoes:
Black dress shoes
Sneakers

A couple occasions, I've had to go out and buy a new interview outfit because I gained some weight and no longer fit into my interview attire. I did manage to convince him to get a pair of dress shoes, without waiting till the last minute. Since he's a size 14, it's a bit harder to find his size without going to a specialty store and spending $200. JCP had one pair of size 14, with a sale/coupon he got them for $40.

 

[Magic Mom]

It partly depends on what kind of job he's applying for.

 

[MissUndastood]

I'm trying to make my bf understand the importance of first impression, which also includes appearance, for a job interview.

Please state the good, the bad, the ugly about each selection. I guess I'm just not coming up with the right way to put it, that wearing jeans and a t-shirt will automatically get your application in the trash can.

Shirt:
Button down dress shirt - short sleeve--Too hall monitor(ish)
Button down dress shirt - long sleeve--Only with a tie
Polo shirt--Can be appropriate depending on the job
T-shirt--Not appropriate for interviews

Pants:
Suit slacks--if paired with dress shirt & tie
Khaki pants--if paired with collared polo depending on the job
Jeans--Not appropriate

Shoes:
Black dress shoes---If dressed accordingly
Sneakers--Not appropriate

A couple occasions, I've had to go out and buy a new interview outfit because I gained some weight and no longer fit into my interview attire. I did manage to convince him to get a pair of dress shoes, without waiting till the last minute. Since he's a size 14, it's a bit harder to find his size without going to a specialty store and spending $200. JCP had one pair of size 14, with a sale/coupon he got them for $40.

Mine are bolded and JMHO

 

[DebbieB]

For a retail job, I would not wear jeans and a t-shirt. I would go with the dress shirt and nice pants. For a warehouse job, I would go with a polo shirt & khaki pants. They always say to dress how you would expect to dress in the job.

 

[Swan4Me]

BTW, this is for an entry level position possibly in retail or warehouse type job. That's the kind of job he's been applying to.

Shirt:
Button down dress shirt - short sleeve
Button down dress shirt - long sleeve
Polo shirtT-shirt

Pants:
Suit slacks
Khaki pants
Jeans
Shoes:
Black dress shoes
Sneakers

.

If its a warehouse Man at a Big Box store -like Home Depot-then i think jeans are ok-otherwise slacks

 

[LuvOrlando]

you are right to think it matters, even in regular day to day life people make assumptions about people based upon how they look. if he doesn't think it matters he should stop outside a local coffee shop at rush hour tomorrow morning and make snap judgements about the people he is looking at, I bet he'll be surprised at his own response. even if the job isn't high profile looking nice indicate he cares. being well kept says he is attentive to detail and looking polished says he's ambitious. For men, I like dark pants not so much kakis because the color says informal and some people might not like that so a navy or black. Short sleeves mean golf or let's hang out, not professional enough to me so a nice white dress shirt with a pinstripe. a nice deep red tie says pay attention to me, a golden or yell is softer. Shoes and socks are very important on a guy because they have so few accessories, well that and a watch, never wear a sporty watch itsYs

DH has a book on advanced interview techniques and it's all about how an interviewer should present themselves to maintain the upper hand and all this was covered. it also included body language, how to sit or not sit ( don't take up too much real estate) & was a generally fascinating read. of course, his book was geared towards DH doing the interviewing but I imAgine the dos & don't apply everywhere.

good luck

 

[TheColtonsMom]

For a retail job...go shopping at the store and see how the management on the floor is dressed. If all store managers are wearing Khakis and polo shirts go for it.. If management is wearing shirts & ties or jackets dress accordingly. You should always dress above the position you are currently going for. If he wants to be a cashier do not dress like a cashier... when it comes time to look for a "cashier supervisor" sometime down the road they will go through his file and "remember" his respect for their job.

As for shoes..never sneakers even if management on the floor wears them day to day always put your best foot forward. Ask Forrest Gump "You can tell alot about a person from their shoes..."

 

[Eljay]

You only get one chance to make a first impression.

If a man is interviewing him, I'd like to see him dress the same as the interviewer.

If it's a woman doing the interview, dress similar to male management in the company.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Double

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Definitely take cues from how the management at the store dresses. You never want to be less dressed up than the person interviewing you! If a male manager is wearing a shirt and a tie and dress slacks, then that would be appropriate to wear to the interview. If the interviewer wears a polo and khakis, then that would be appropriate, etc.

My DH works for a large computer company and wears a t-shirt and jeans to work everyday. He does a lot of interviewing and he has joked about the fact that the phrase "wore a suit" will be noted in the interviewing feedback - it doesn't really count against the person, but it does show a bit of lack of knowledge about the corporate climate. My DH had an interview at another large computer company a few months ago... and he wore jeans and a nice polo shirt to the interview. I was totally dumbfounded and kept insisting that he should dress more professionally for the interview... what do you know, but he was offered the job... Shows what I know about the industry. Of course, they ended up wanting him to relocate to California so we ended up turning it down, but that's not the point of the story.

 

[shortbun]

When I applied for a job as a school bus driver, I wore a very nice dress, hose and heels. I wore makeup, put my hair up in a more formal style and carried a small, inobtrusive handbag. Men should wear, at the least, a sportshirt, tie and sports jacket with pressed dress pants and nice shoes. Their hair should be clean, nails clean and clipped, fresh shave or clipped beard and showered. Some people might get hired with less but the first impression carries forward and presenting like this will always help in the future with raises, promotions and possible conflict resolution.

I disagree with the PP who thinks dressing up is an indication of lack of knowledge about a job. If you can do a little research about your interviewer prior to planning your outfit, then and only then MAYBE casual wear is appropriate.

 

[Disney Doll]

Long sleeve shirt, dress slacks or khakis, nice shoes, not sneakers.
If he goes in jeans and a t-shirt, he will not be getting hired.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I disagree with the PP who thinks dressing up is an indication of lack of knowledge about a job. If you can do a little research about your interviewer prior to planning your outfit, then and only then MAYBE casual wear is appropriate.

I agree with you. It's always best to be overdressed than underdressed. However, in the corporate climate of some specific companies (I've ONLY encountered this in the tech field, FTR), casual wear is considered a uniform. My DH wore a suit to his interview at his current company (where he wears casual wear every day) and he probably did get ribbed a bit when the interviewers discussed him... but he still got the job because he was dressed professionally. My point is to do your research and show up appropriately.

 

[Witch Mountain]

Jeans aren't appropriate, even for going to fill out an application. A nice pair of slacks is the minimum I'd recommend for making a good impression.

That said, I interviewed with Ikea for management and they mailed out a letter (it was a group management interview) and instructed candidates to wear jeans because they're a casual work environment. I had a very hard time with the instructions, but I did wear jeans.

In almost 30 years in the workforce, that is the ONLY time I've ever worn jeans to an interview.

 

[bumbershoot]

Warehouse job, yeah, I'd probably think khakis and polo (though I personally LIKE the look of button up long or short sleeves). Just gotta go with the culture of the company!

My DH works for a large computer company and wears a t-shirt and jeans to work everyday. He does a lot of interviewing and he has joked about the fact that the phrase "wore a suit" will be noted in the interviewing feedback - it doesn't really count against the person, but it does show a bit of lack of knowledge about the corporate climate. My DH had an interview at another large computer company a few months ago... and he wore jeans and a nice polo shirt to the interview. I was totally dumbfounded and kept insisting that he should dress more professionally for the interview... what do you know, but he was offered the job... Shows what I know about the industry. Of course, they ended up wanting him to relocate to California so we ended up turning it down, but that's not the point of the story.

Similar story but I messed it up for DH b/c he made the mistake of listening to me! He was trying to get back to the company where we had met (where even the CEO tends to dress in a "blockbuster"-type uniform of khakis and blue shirt), and I was nervous and MADE him wear a suit. Oh such a mistake! He was told later by someone who would know that he had indeed lost the job b/c of the suit. It was for the best...he had more learning to do that caused him to be perfectly suited for the job he got the next time he applied there, but it still hurt at the time!

Then he applied at a BIG company up here and was going to wear a suit but part of it was at the cleaners, so he dressed down a bit...got that job.


If he were applying for the same type of jobs but out on the east coast, there's NO chance that khakis and a shirt would be appropriate, but out here it is.

So you have to pay attention to the specific corporate culture.

And if they send you an email with suggestions on what to wear for the interview...follow them.

 

[SandrA9810]

If its a warehouse Man at a Big Box store -like Home Depot-then i think jeans are ok-otherwise slacks

As a former Home Depot associate, I know for a fact your app will get tossed in the trash for wearing jeans. He thought I was nuts for making him wear a polo shirt tucked in and a belt for walking into coca-cola for an application. Unfortunately all the job openings required a class a or cdl license. But there were about 4 others that walked in Jean shorts and t-shirts. Whether they were qualified or not, it didn't look like they cared.

 

[Swan4Me]

As a former Home Depot associate, I know for a fact your app will get tossed in the trash for wearing jeans..

Just depends where you live

Here in Texas everyone lives in jeans-now I am talking dark blue neat jeans-not faded, bleached or torn.

Where I work-attire for interview is unimportant-its your skills to do the job that is #1-but I work for a VERY casual company and everyone-including the boss wears jeans daily. Just depends

 

[Micca]

I don't think you can go wrong wearing slacks/jacket and a tie. Even if the work environment is very casual, the applicant looks as though he cared enough to try to make a good impression. I wore a suit to interview for the part-time job I have now, there were probably only 2 or3 other guys in the whole building wearing suits(i.e. the big bosses). I got the job and now ALWAYS wear jeans or shorts and t-shirts(this is the attire for 95% of the people who work there).

 

[MoonFaerie]

For a retail job...go shopping at the store and see how the management on the floor is dressed. If all store managers are wearing Khakis and polo shirts go for it.. If management is wearing shirts & ties or jackets dress accordingly. You should always dress above the position you are currently going for. If he wants to be a cashier do not dress like a cashier... when it comes time to look for a "cashier supervisor" sometime down the road they will go through his file and "remember" his respect for their job.

As for shoes..never sneakers even if management on the floor wears them day to day always put your best foot forward. Ask Forrest Gump "You can tell alot about a person from their shoes..."

Yup.

That said, my dh went to his interview for his new management job wearing khaki shorts, his company polo from his then current job and sneakers. The new job wanted to get him interviewed and hired asap, so they met him near his work & did the interview on his break.

 

[XYSRUS]

Management already has a job. You need one. Dress in a suit and tie or dress slacks, dress shirt and tie. No jeans. No t-shirts. Period. Dress for the job you want, not the one you're interviewing for!