Job Interview on Friday: Wardrobe?

[Gui A]

Hey Guys,
I have a job interview with HR tomorrow. It's an entry-level Marketing Analyst position, with the same company I'm with right now.
Our department (A/R) allows for casual Friday, and I think it's company wide.

What is the recommended attire?
A more formal style: Dress Shirt/Tie/Slacks,
or a relaxed, not too casual style? I'm thinking dk grey Turtleneck/black Pleated Khakis (w.cuffs)?

Thanks for the advice

 

[Andrew W]

Do a recon mission to that dept today and see what is the standard. Then wear the nicest stuff that they wear during the week even though it's casual Friday.

 

[Jason Charlton]

I remember hearing that a good rule of thumb is to dress one "notch" higher than what the employees usually wear:

If they wear jeans and casual clothes, you should wear nice khaki's and a button down shirt, probably OK with no tie.

If they wear khaki's and nice shirts, you should wear nice pants/slacks, a button down shirt AND a tie.

If they wear ties regularly, you're stuck wearing a suit.

You don't want to overdress, and you certainly don't want to underdress. A recon mission is a great idea.

-Jason

 

[Colin Davidson]

I hate to sound like a "Mens Warehouse" ad but you can never go wrong with a suit. It shows that you are professional and serious about the interview/job.

After I was hired at my current employer I was told that there were 3 other people they were considering for the position but those others were dressed casually and did not look very professional. I wore a suit and they said that clinched it for me to be hired.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Wear a suit or at least a sport coat and tie. Anything less would just allow an interviewer who cares about that stuff to knock off points, so why give them that opportunity? Dress in a suit and they can't subtract any points, at least I've never heard of a guy who lost a job for dressing too nice!

 

[Philip_G]

black suit, white shirt, plain tie, I like dark red.
I wouldn't wear anything else...

 

[Nathan*W]

Truer words were never written.

 

[Cameron Yee]

In any post-college job interview I've never gone without a tie, slacks and buttoned down shirt, even though in some cases it was dressing more than a notch over the office standard. In one case I was interviewing for a new position with the same employer, so co-workers were impressed with how well I "cleaned up." Of course when I showed up for my regular work day in my usual jeans and tee-shirt they thought I was a slob

I've heard some stories about a suit being a turn off for some progressive places, so recon is always a good idea too. That's why if I am able I go in person to pick up a job application packet.

 

[Philip_G]

I think as Cameron pointed out it does depend on the industry. In mine anything less than I mentioned is unheard of... but in say IT, I could wear slacks and a nice shirt and still get hired.
oddly enough I have an interview in uh, 3.5 hours.

Still, if you have a nice suit, wear it. Making an impression is critical.

 

[Kirk Gunn]

The last IT guy I interviewed had black pants, white shirt and tie, nice shoes.... and white socks !

He got the job considering I figured he had no social life and could be worked like a dog.... he starts next Monday.

 

[Philip_G]

hey, my dog eats all my nice dress socks.. so sometimes it's hard to match

 

[Lew Crippen]

Dark suit, white shirt and a conservative tie. I don't think you ever lose with this outfit, regardless of the job.

 

[Tom Meyer]

but he already works at the company ... I'd just go w/ what you wear on days other than Friday.

 

[Jeff Gatie]

Nope, you cannot go wrong by overdressing. It is for another department and it is an interview. I would show respect for the interview process and wear a suit.

 

[Zen Butler]

Have you thought of crossdressing for the interview?

"Let me see that thong"

 

[Gui A]

^^haha!

The recon mission was not possible, security is tight in that department, and my pass does not allow me in marketing.
I wore a tie/shirt/dress pants. It was a bit over dressed for that department. I saw guys in jeans and spider-man shirts. But it wasn't bad. It boosted my confidence all day long. I think the interview went well.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Zen Butler]

Right on bro. I told you the lace thong would win them over.
Good luck!

 

[Keith Mickunas]

Well I'm a little late to the party, but what the heck, I'll add my $0.02.

I'm a programmer and have always worked in casual environments, but I've always worn a suit unless I had an excuse. Typically the excuse is that if I'm coming from work, I can't wear a suit because everybody will assume I'm interviewing. However if I have time to get the suit on, I wear it.

In my last round of interviews a few weeks ago I wore the suit because I was out of work, and even though I knew some of the places would be pretty casual, I sure wasn't going to risk blowing the interview over such a little thing. However I did wear my favorite tie. It is dark red with a square pattern on it, and inside the squares are Looney Toon characters. You kind of have to look closely to catch it. I figure if someone is bothered by the tie, I don't want to work for them. I did get complements on it at two of my interviews this time.

My second job out of college I dressed casual for the interview. I had decided to stay at my first job after I had searched for a bit. A headhunter I had talked to called me up and asked me if I wanted to interview with this one company. Since they were a block away from my current employer, and would see me in the evening, I figured what the heck I'd go, but I didn't dress up because my coworkers would be suspicious. No mention of it was made and I landed the job. Man I miss that place...

 

[Phil_L]

In the legal world, even when interviewing for a job at a firm with casual friday, you always dress in a suit and tie. It is likely your interviewers will be dressed up to interview you even on a casual friday. I'd go all out with suit and tie.