Ties and suits in England

RIMAX · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:12

Hello,

I am new here, and new to England. I moved here about 2 months ago because back home it's hell on earth. I'm not detailing that, just consider that if you cry about a UK problem, in my country it's 100 times worse. That would quickly sum it up. For instance, a GOOD salary is about £250-£300 per month. And yes, that is just as bad as it sounds.

Anyway, I am currently looking for a job and I've been to many interviews, and I just can't help but notice how some interviewers are absolutely shocked that I don't wear a suit and a tie.

I literally had to sell everything that I had back home just to afford the trip to come here. I just came with a couple of bags of clothes, and there was no suit or tie in there because... I just don't use them.

I don't go to interviews in saggy pants or printed t-shirts, from my point of view it's a fairly decent office outfit: white sneakers, jeans, a very nice checkered shirt. Hell, this is even what company owners wear all the time back home... can't remember when I last saw one of my bosses in a suit.

Is it such a freaking big deal here to have a suit & tie? I even explained to one of them that I'm in a very difficult financial situation at the moment. There are times when 20 or 30 pounds is all I have for a week or even more. I just CAN'T afford a proper suit until I get a job.

What do you recommend? I'm looking for a job in IT (helpdesk support, web programming, that kind of stuff).

wez130 · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:15

As an employer, it shouts out that if you can't make an effort to dress smartly for an interview, then you can't be that interested, or will do a half hearted job for them. It's more about making the effort than just dressing smart.

edit, looking at your signature contradicts what you're saying

John40 · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:18

You can get a suit from Tesco for about 60 quid, wear it to interview then take it back.

RIMAX · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:20

Moses said:
Trolling?

I'm very serious about this. Not trolling.

wez130 said:
As an employer, it shouts out that if you can't make an effort to dress smartly for an interview, then you can't be that interested, or will do a half hearted job for them. It's more about making the effort than just dressing smart.

edit, looking at your signature contradicts what you're saying

I'm not sure which part of "I don't have money" you didn't understand. When just a pair of trousers is a week's worth of food... you kinda choose to eat food, not trousers.

John40 said:
You can get a suit from Tesco for about 60 quid, wear it to interview then take it back.

I guess that's fun when 60 quid is not all you have for 3 weeks. Trust me, it's not fun for me.

wez130 · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:22

You could get a 2nd hand suit from Oxfam or something for £10. surely you're not that destitute, if you are, you're a very stupid man travelling over here without the means to fund yourself.

Skeeter · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:23

If I were an interviewer I would turn away anyone who didn't arrive in business smart dress for an office based job.

Yes it's an expectation you wear a suit. No, you probably won't ever wear one while doing the job, but that's not the point.

Nobody ever gets marked down in an interview for being too smart.

You obviously own a device that allows you access to the Internet to post this thread. Sell that and buy a suit.

Nitefly · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:23

OP's signature said:
"If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing."

Ah a Savile Row man, I see!

I would suggest trying Primark or a charity shop.

Nismo · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:24

Just get the cheapest jacket, shirt/tie set and trousers from a supermarket that you can.

Unless you are exceptionally above other candidates on talent, personality and ability, going into an interview looking a scruff will get you nowhere.

dacads · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:24

Save up for a suit

RIMAX · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:26

wez130 said:
You could get a 2nd hand suit from Oxfam or something for £10. surely you're not that destitute, if you are, you're a very stupid man travelling over here without the means to fund yourself.

The problem with that is that my proportions are all messed up. No 2nd hand suit fits me.

I would be more careful about calling people you don't know stupid. Living on the streets or coming here were the only 2 options that I had. Which one would you chose?

Life isn't so easy sometimes, mate.

RIMAX · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:27

Skeeter said:
If I were an interviewer I would turn away anyone You obviously own a device that allows you access to the Internet to post this thread. Sell that and buy a suit.

It's not mine.

Hades · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:30

For interviews in most industries yes it is a big deal in this country. While I appreciate the financial position you are in, from the employers point of view they have no way of knowing that it is indeed your situation rather than lack of interest in the role (even if you tell them). In your situation I would be trying to get some non-jean trousers, a dress shirt and tie as cheaply as I could (charity shops, cheaper end chops, etc) even if a suit isn't attainable. At least that way you'll look like you're making an effort.

Jeans, informal checked shirt and white sneakers? Nope.

dowie · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:31

wez130 said:
You could get a 2nd hand suit from Oxfam or something for £10.

do this, seriously you only need to use it for interviews after all

unfortunately lots of hiring managers do expect it even if day to day dress code in the office is much more casual

you shouldn't have to spend much on a suit in a charity shop and once you've got your first job you can always give it back to the charity shop and go buy a new one yourself

you'll probably be able to find quite a reasonable one too

RIMAX · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:32

Hades said:
Jeans, informal checked shirt and white sneakers? Nope.

Heh... and these are the BEST clothes I ever had at any interview.

dowie · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:34

RIMAX said:
The problem with that is that my proportions are all messed up. No 2nd hand suit fits me.

then no new suits will either unless you go to a proper tailor and spend a small fortune

just get a second hand one and get it adjusted, or maybe discretely use some safety pins yourself... (tis only for wearing on one off occasions where you'll be sat in a chair)

a second hand one that doesn't quite fit is a better option than your white sneakers approach

if you really can't get a suit that fits then get some proper shoes and trousers from a charity shop... get a tie and try to find a blazer or jacket of some sort that fits.. that would be a reasonable alternative to a suit

ReltonBFD · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:34

How did you get here ?

wez130 · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:34

RIMAX said:
The problem with that is that my proportions are all messed up. No 2nd hand suit fits me.

I would be more careful about calling people you don't know stupid. Living on the streets or coming here were the only 2 options that I had. Which one would you chose?

Life isn't so easy sometimes, mate.

Ahhh, so you've come to England to take advantage of the generous handouts that we offer.

I would call anybody stupid who travels to another country with no means to support themselves. Are you homeless here? if not, how have you managed to secure somewhere to live?

I was once homeless here. The only options i had were to either go down the drug / alcoholism route, or sort myself out. i sorted myself out.

I smell trolling. Your English is perfect. That's assuming you came from somewhere as a refugee or something. (which i assume given your only options were to come here or be homeless?)

Antipasti · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:35

Where are you from?

Josh · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:37

I'm sturggling to understand the direction of the thread.

You sold everything to come to the UK because your own country is not as nice? But then you are suprised that a country with an average salary grossly higher than that of your own looks down on your interview attire because you don't dress in what we "deem" professional.

So what you want a suit? You want the whole country to accept how you dress? You want to highlight how much better off we are? Guilt trip?

Accept the fact that "white sneakers, jeans and a checked shirt" won't get you an IT job in a professional company in the UK or think of the alternative, returning to a "£200-£300" per month salary in a country you left for a reason.

IMO

RIMAX · 11 Jul 2015 at 15:43

ReltonBFD said:
How did you get here ?

By coach.

wez130 said:
Ahhh, so you've come to England to take advantage of the generous handouts that we offer.

Nope. I am not interested in those and I don't care about them.

wez130 said:
Are you homeless here? if not, how have you managed to secure somewhere to live?

I had a friend here and I'm living with him until I can get a job. Problem?

wez130 said:
That's assuming you came from somewhere as a refugee or something.

Wrong. Kicked out of the house by my mother. She didn't like that I was struggling to start up my own web design business, so she kicked me out.

Also, I'll tell you a little secret, English is also spoken in other places on this planet other than the UK. Especially if you work in IT, it is expected that you have perfect English.

reevsy said:
Where are you from?

Doesn't matter.