Going for an interview without a suit

Suit is ideal.

At the very least, dress smart: shoes, trousers, shirt, tie and nice v-neck jumper. If you've been out of work a while, sometimes a suit isn't feasible.

If you're employing for a good job having just left a similar one, you have no excuse, wear a suit.

If you can, get a suit. If you can't, dress as smart as you can. You can get away without a blazer if you have a smart coat you take off when you get there for example.
 
As much as I hate suits (never wore one while I was at work) and that I think a person should be based on their interview responses, knowledge, qualifications and not some outdated elitist snobbery regarding the clothes you wear.............


Wear a suit.
 
The Craig said:
Challenge accepted :p. I won't be able to get a tailored suit now within the time of the interview. ;D. I figure it's better to wear smart well fitting clothes I'm comfortable in than an iller fitting suit.

(engineering consultancy role)
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What a load of crap. Walk into a Charles Tyrwhitt/TM Lewin/Suit seller of your choice. Grab one off the rack that fits you somewhat reasonably well. Take it to a highstreet tailor, have it sorted in a few hours, max 2-3 days.
 
FL630 said:
Wear a suit.

Preferably 3 piece, cuff-linked shirt, tie clip, double windsor knot, new black socks, shoes so shiny you can see your face, plus a fresh hair cut and a shave. Or at least that's what worked recently for me.

First impression is the most important!
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I agree wholeheartedly with your post. However....... Tie clip with a 3 piece? I've always thought that was a faux pas. The tie clip is there to hold your tie back, if a waistcoat is already doing that job why do you need a tie clip?
 
Malevolence said:
I've never owned a suit (or a tie and 'proper' shoes for that matter) and have been to many interviews, and seeing as how I've worked all my life I don't think my not wearing a suit and tie combo had any bearing on whether I got the job or not.
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Unless you've been to 'many' interviews because you rarely get offered the job :D.
 
If you are going for a job in a company that is meeting you for the first time, no matter how good, experienced or how well you think you fit the role, they will form their opinion of you during the interview, starting when you arrive and how you present yourself. If you are confronted by people just as experienced, as clever and dressed smarter, you will probably be disadvantaged. Interviews are about making sure you impress and at 24 years old you are a baby in business terms. What you wear should have little impact on your ability, but no matter how much you might not understand it or think it should not matter, it virtually always does and it's not for the reasons you seem to think.

Suit up is always the answer to this question, always unless you have specifically been told to dress casual or in a specific way (site job, safety wear etc for example).
 
josh_sheffield said:
I agree wholeheartedly with your post. However....... Tie clip with a 3 piece? I've always thought that was a faux pas. The tie clip is there to hold your tie back, if a waistcoat is already doing that job why do you need a tie clip?
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Depends where you're interviewing. If it's for a role with too much bravado and testosterone flying around, the more obnoxious you dress, the better. :p

Don't forget the trouser braces. :D
 
FrenchTart said:
Agreed. It annoys me every time.

Part of why I work in a university. Though even then the way things are now I'll possibly have to wear a suit for my next interview.
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Crazy isn't it. Need a posh suit that costs £100s, to wear for a couple hours, and then sit in a wardrobe until the moths are done eating it.

Then buy another for your next interview in four years time...

I have never worn a suit outside of a job interview, and it's bloody annoying have to spend all that money on them.

None of my jobs required the wearing of a suit for the job itself. Only the interview. And suits are hot, heavy, impossible to clean and otherwise totally impractical.

Hate them.
 
The Craig said:
Personally I dont think it (should) make a difference, and better than wearing my old ill fitting suit jacket.
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Buy a suit that fits.

For info it's for a graduate role which I have strong experience for (however I will be asking for a higher salary than the standard interviewee)
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Definitely wear a suit. Smart, but not wearing a suit, makes you look like you couldn't quite be bothered. Sure, the chances are it won't cost you a job you would get otherwise but if there's another good candidate it might swing things one way or another.

The only exception I know of to the Always Wear A Suit rule is if you're going to an interview in the Computer Games industry.
 
FoxEye said:
Crazy isn't it. Need a posh suit that costs £100s, to wear for a couple hours, and then sit in a wardrobe until the moths are done eating it.

Then buy another for your next interview in four years time...

I have never worn a suit outside of a job interview, and it's bloody annoying have to spend all that money on them.

None of my jobs required the wearing of a suit for the job itself. Only the interview. And suits are hot, heavy, impossible to clean and otherwise totally impractical.

Hate them.
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Absolutely. In previous years I've cheaped out and then just chucked the suit. Doesn't help that my weight was particularly highly variable in my 20s.

I've worked at the uni for 8 years now (across three different jobs) and until recently I'd have been happy going to interviews with black jeans and a smart casual shirt. Sadly IT has become much more corporate of late so I'll probably have to dress up for my next attempt to move up the ladder...and then go back to working with essentially the same people wearing jeans and a tshirt every day. Utterly pointless.

Mr Jack said:
Weddings and funerals?
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Definitely useful for those occasions though for me personally I've again just got a new cheap one each time. These days as my weight is slightly more stable and I have more money it probably makes sense to get something decent though.
 
Soundood said:
you could walk into M&S tomorrow, and mix and match a suit for under £130, that will give a tailored fit, fling a nice shirt and tie in to complement,

once worn, stick it straight back into the wardrobe for next time, then don't eat too many pies until then (this happens with me, then trousers are tight lol)

and good luck with your interview, that fact you are taking the time to research this means your serious about getting it. :cool:
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I've walked into M&S before and not a single suit fits that isn't far too wide (I go to the gym a lot so need 44+ shoulder and then tapered in).

I'm in current employment and going to my current work the half day after this interview, so kind of have an excuse :p.

FYI I won't be buying a new suit prior to this interview, but I appreciate ocuk concern :p
 
Lol. Wants more than they're offering, as a graduate and doesn't even want to bother to wear a suit for a job.
Can safely say from this alone if I was interviewing you you'd start at the top of my ****-list and would have to be bloody good to pull yourself off the bottom.
 
Nix said:
Suit is ideal.

At the very least, dress smart: shoes, trousers, shirt, tie and nice v-neck jumper. If you've been out of work a while, sometimes a suit isn't feasible.

If you're employing for a good job having just left a similar one, you have no excuse, wear a suit.

If you can, get a suit. If you can't, dress as smart as you can. You can get away without a blazer if you have a smart coat you take off when you get there for example.
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This. Dress to impress :) look respectable.

I would say formal trousers, proper shoes, shirt and tie as a minimum. If you have a full suit great. If not then a V-neck jumper and/or a blazer.

First impressions can be crucial.
 
Dis86 said:
Lol. Wants more than they're offering, as a graduate and doesn't even want to bother to wear a suit for a job.
Can safely say from this alone if I was interviewing you you'd start at the top of my ****-list and would have to be bloody good to pull yourself off the bottom.
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For what it's worth I'm more experienced than a graduate, and salary depends on the offer. (I don't need to change job unless I'm offered a good alternative, I like my current position)

The interview will be a learning experience at least.
 
Personally I've never worn a suit to an interview, smart shirt and trousers only. Only once I was not offered a job and to be honest I'm glad I didn't get that job as I got much better position about 2 weeks later.
 
I don't mind wearing suits, but I do find the whole ritual rather preposterous. I get the impression that the majority of people that are replying in this thread aren't responding to your actual question of "My suit jacket doesn't fit, should I just wear what is essentially a suit but without the jacket?", and are instead answering "Can I wear jeans and a t-shirt to a job interview?".
 
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