New Job Assessment - What to wear?

mcast said:
I've worked for a variety of fund managers, hedge funds and associated IT companies, turning up in a suit would be somewhat laughed upon. The only people I've met that wear suits are cheap car salesmen and recruitment consultants.
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If it helps, in my job I go to a lot of different offices, industries and locations, London and otherwise. The majority wear suits. And only one of them operate in the car industry, and even then the cars aren't cheap.
 
mcast said:
I've worked for a variety of fund managers, hedge funds and associated IT companies, turning up in a suit would be somewhat laughed upon. The only people I've met that wear suits are cheap car salesmen and recruitment consultants.
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you're full of it.

Let's see:

Lawyers
Estate Agents
Lettings Agents
Doctors
Bankers
Salesmen
News Reporters
Politicians
Detectives
Funeral Directors
Teachers


and loads of other jobs which people usually wear suits to do.

Which financial companies did you work for btw that people didn't wear suits?
 
mcast said:
I've worked for a variety of fund managers, hedge funds and associated IT companies, turning up in a suit would be somewhat laughed upon. The only people I've met that wear suits are cheap car salesmen and recruitment consultants.
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You're wrong.

I'm soon to be a trainee solicitor and would be laughed upon not turning up to work in a suit.
 
You NEED a suit in this current climate. Anyone who says otherwise either hasn't got a job, or has been in theirs for a while. Take it from someone who in this year alone has had five job offers (ie Me)

You really need to get your look 'right' for your job interviews/assessments/informal chats. Doing this beforehand gives you a larger advantage over other candidates. First impression is EVERYTHING!!!!! you go into someone's bedroom and it smells of toilet business - you will forever label that person as having no house training.

First off, get yourself the whitest of white shirts. Don't skimp here, some cheaper shirts will deteriorate quite easily and won't have that 'gleam' when sunlight shines onto it. I recommend grabbing a shirt which requires cufflinks too, it just 'looks better' - even if its for a P/T filing clerk job, they will remember this and see you are taking the opportunity very seriously.

Tie, go for something neutral ie i'd stick with gray with perhaps a colored stripe pattern. don't go for something too colorful and definately don't go for anything humerous - they will just see it as immature. Don't go for just a plain color either, it just looks too plain/ordinary.

Suit, you need to get a decent one that's going to keep you sorted for interviews - I recommend black or some sort of charcoal grey that looks almost black. Don't go for navy blue with pinstripes, you'll just look like an ex salesperson. You may want to consider grabbing a machine washable one. They look just as good and less £££ goes on dry cleaning. Plus you can clean it in an emergency.

When you've chosen and purchased your suit, the pockets will most likely be sewn shut (Your supposed to tear the stiching to open them up) Dont! I find if you refrain from opening them, the suit looks neat & tidy with no sagging pockets. This will also prevent you leaving packs of mints in there etc.

Sizing is important too. Do not get trousers too long or too short, they noticed this on one of the contestants for dragons den and took the pee. This applies to everything, if everything is too baggy, you'll just feel stupid. Too small and it just isn't comfortable and may tear. Make sure to try things on in store, take as long as you need and ask the sales assistant for their opinion or take a friend/relative who has more experience with tailoring.

Shoes are also important. Black leather is a must. Consider grabbing ones without laces - they are easier to polish and just look modern. Something with style I would say also. I always wear my italian style 'curl-ups' as I like to call them and chances are the interviewer will engage with you on the subject of them which gives you some high ground from the start.
Off Topic, but are we allowed to post links to sites which sell clothes/stuff unrelated to computing etc???
 
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mcast said:
I've worked for a variety of fund managers, hedge funds and associated IT companies, turning up in a suit would be somewhat laughed upon. The only people I've met that wear suits are cheap car salesmen and recruitment consultants.
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well a suit is hardly appropriate wear for the cleaner now is it?... im sorry, "hygiene technician"



wear a suit, or a suit minus the jacket, or ignore advice and go in fancy dress
 
mcast said:
I've worked for a variety of fund managers, hedge funds and associated IT companies, turning up in a suit would be somewhat laughed upon. The only people I've met that wear suits are cheap car salesmen and recruitment consultants.
Click to expand...

I have no idea what companies you've worked for. But I've worked for companies in the same sectors and have always worn a suit for interview. And it's only recently (last 3-4 years or so) that I haven't worn a suit into the office.
 
FallshirmjAEger sumed it up nicely.

I know I haven't had any job interviews yet (actually waiting on one) but I don't understand why you wouldn't wear a suit to anything job related - first impression is everything as stated.
 
Had a similar sort of thing about a month or so ago.

Was a mixed bunch of people wearing a mix of stuff, most went decently smart and only a few full interview gear (it was a Sunday afternoon at a local college for the test stuff after all) though you did get a few in jeans etc, one guy who got through to the next stage was dressed in his bar uniform as he could only get out of work during his lunch break.

Just went in smart trousers, shoes and shirt (no jacket or tie) myself though it wouldn't have made a difference as they didnt much care or speak with you 1 to 1 for any amount of time.

Of course I wore full suit for the proper interview though.

Good luck.
 
Shirt, tie, smart black trousers. If you do get invited to an interview wear a suit. (I've been to a few assesments, never wore a full suit/seen anyone wearing one)
 
I think a lot of people in the thread are confusing wearing a suit for work and wearing one to an interview, 2 very different things.

None of my jobs have ever required me to wear a suit day to day, but I would always wear one for an interview/assessment day or whatever.

Depending on which job I take in the next few weeks I might have to start wearing one for work though.
 
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Why anyone needs to ask what to wear for any meeting when applying for a job (be that assessment centre or interview etc) is beyond me.... It's a total non-question as there is only one answer and, contrary to what he seems to believe, is not what mcast states.
 
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