Job Interview Said Don't Wear a Suit, do it Anyway?

CalvinAndHobo

So I have a job interview on Wednesday. I was obviously planning to wear a suit but the email inviting me to the interview was very specific. Would it look like I couldn't take instruction, or was stubborn, if I wore one anyway? Or should I dress down a little bit in something like khakis and a button down? Here's what that part of the email said:

"Our dress is casual so please do not feel the need to wear a suit or slacks (jeans are absolutely appropriate)!"

Now obviously I'm not going to wear jeans, but wearing a suit seems like it would be stubborn. What would you do in that situation? 

Patrickbrick

I would wear slack and a dress shirt, no jacket or tie.  How ever I would also wear what you plan on wearing while working there.  What I mean is, if you have one nice outfit then either buy more or simply wear what you would to work there every day.  Good luck.

silvermouse

If I asked you to not wear a suit and you did it anyway I wouldn't hire you.

CharlieHeis

I would not. Good luck. 

0patience

So, this is an exercise in following directions and a lot of companies/employers are starting to use this tactic as a hiring tool. 

I would wear nice clothes, but not a suit. If their instructions say don't wear a suit and you want the job, follow their instructions. Simple.

CalvinAndHobo

Pajamas it is! 

Yakster

Good luck

CalvinAndHobo

I was thinking along those lines though about it being a subtle test about following instruction. I'll go with khakis and a button down. 

IndustMech

Rhamlin

Cutoffs and a tank top and flip flops. 

Cigarsonist

You guys are missing the obvious answer here that will satisfy everyone. 

peter4jc

It doesn't say you shouldn't, it says don't feel like you need to.  

Jeans, polo, sportcoat, and of course some nice shoes.  Maybe @DZR can send you some nice socks.

dirtdude

Good luck on the interview Calvin.

Wylaff

https://gentlemansbox.com/mens-business-casual/

KenpoKnight

Pretty much just echoing what the rest said.  Slacks, button down long sleeve dress shirt, nice shoes, and shave/trim up the facial hair.

Good Luck!  🍀 

Guitarded

WILL
Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.? That's a tough one, but I'll take a shot. Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. Maybe I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army...

*Cut to Sean's office*

... in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never met, never had no problem with, get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Oh, send in the Marines to secure the area" cause they don't give a ****. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number got called, cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some kid from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass.

And he comes back to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, he realizes the only reason he was over there in the first place was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And, of course, the oil companies used the skirmish over there to scare up domestic oil prices. A cute little ancillary benefit for them, but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon.

And they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, of course, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and ****' play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So now my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the ****' job interviews, which sucks cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin', cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat, the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State.

So what did I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. I figure **** it, while I'm at it why not just shoot my buddy, take his job, give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.

jd50ae

Do a drive by
and LOOK
at what everyone going in and out is wearing.

Martel

Guitarded said:

WILL
Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.? That's a tough one, but I'll take a shot. Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. Maybe I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army...

*Cut to Sean's office*

... in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never met, never had no problem with, get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Oh, send in the Marines to secure the area" cause they don't give a ****. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number got called, cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some kid from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass.

And he comes back to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, he realizes the only reason he was over there in the first place was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And, of course, the oil companies used the skirmish over there to scare up domestic oil prices. A cute little ancillary benefit for them, but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon.

And they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, of course, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and ****' play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So now my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the ****' job interviews, which sucks cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin', cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat, the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State.

So what did I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. I figure **** it, while I'm at it why not just shoot my buddy, take his job, give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president.

Look, I didn't read all this, but I have two friends who may or may not work for some place that you may or may not be alluding to.  They both like their jobs to a great extent.  I have no idea what they do!  But they like their jobs.

Thanatos0320

Wear a suit without a tie. If you still prefer to be business professional, then wear a tie. It's better to be overdressed than underdressed. It's' preferable that you wear a navy blue or a charcoal gray (if you have either of those). 

Thanatos0320

CalvinAndHobo said:

I was thinking along those lines though about it being a subtle test about following instruction. I'll go with khakis and a button down. 

I just saw this. Consider wearing a blazer with your khakis...If you don't mind me asking, in which industry will the job be?

CalvinAndHobo

Thanatos0320 said:

CalvinAndHobo said:

I was thinking along those lines though about it being a subtle test about following instruction. I'll go with khakis and a button down. 

I just saw this. Consider wearing a blazer with your khakis...If you don't mind me asking, in which industry will the job be?

It's a third party logistics company. I've delivered there many times and they truly don't have a dress code. I've seen employees wearing sweat pants and t shirts a few different times. I have a decent pea coat that I was going to wear since it's still cold here.

ForMud

Dress like you could start working right after the interview.


That, and don't over do the make up..................... 

Amos_Umwhat

ForMud said:

Dress like you could start working right after the interview.


That, and don't over do the make up..................... 

Definitely.  Glitter in the eye-shadow could seem to indicate that you're there more for your "business" than for business, makes them fear a "mee tooo" kind of environment.  




(Seriously:  Best of luck!  Rootin' for you.)

silvermouse

so, Calvin took all you guy's advice, here he is ready for the interview:

Bigshizza

Good luck!!

Sleddog46

Hope you get the job. Best of luck.

peter4jc

Take a 5'er for the person interviewing you - bribes always get you in the door.

CalvinAndHobo

silvermouse said:

so, Calvin took all you guy's advice, here he is ready for the interview:

0patience

I only interviewed for one job in my life and one of the questions was, "If I came to your house, would it be neat and kept up or messy and cluttered."

My response was, I have kids. Of course it's a mess. 
Anyone who has kids and their house isn't a mess, probably doesn't work.

I got the job, the one I'm at now, but I walked away from that interview perplexed by the question.

Wylaff

CalvinAndHobo said:

Thanatos0320 said:

CalvinAndHobo said:

I was thinking along those lines though about it being a subtle test about following instruction. I'll go with khakis and a button down. 

I just saw this. Consider wearing a blazer with your khakis...If you don't mind me asking, in which industry will the job be?

It's a third party logistics company. I've delivered there many times and they truly don't have a dress code. I've seen employees wearing sweat pants and t shirts a few different times. I have a decent pea coat that I was going to wear since it's still cold here.

I actually do interviews at a 3PL. I can tell you that I am more comfortable with someone wearing clean jeans, a nice shirt, and clean shoes for an interview. Anything more shows me that they will not do the work needed. Anything less shows me they don't care.

Can I ask which company?

Stubble

Well, how'd it go?