Job Interview.....tie or no tie?

jim72911t · 01-11-2007, 06:03 PM

Thought I'd ask the Pelican brain trust here: I've got a job interview and was wondering if I should wear a tie. Before you say yes, what a stupid question, the job in question is a manufacturing engineering position at a medium sized (30-40 employees) machine shop/manufacturing facility. FWIW, the dress standard for those in my field tends to be jeans/Dockers and a golf type or button down shirt, as we spend time on the shop floor and tend to get our hands dirty on occasion.

This is my first interview in about seven years and I'm a bit unfamiliar with the protocol.

Thanks,
Jim

dtw · 01-11-2007, 06:06 PM

Yes - though the daily wear is more casual, you are interviewing for a professional position and should dress accordingly.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

Wear the tie!

This is the interview, you're not showing up to work...yet. This is the time you're selling yourself. Yep, wear the tie.

Randy

Jim Richards · 01-11-2007, 06:07 PM

yes, tie.

legion · 01-11-2007, 06:07 PM

Full suit on all first interviews. Do Dockers/Polo Shirt only if "business casual" is explicitly specified in the invitation for a second or later interview. Write down the names of each person you speak to during the interview, send each a "thank you" letter for the interview the next day.

The way I look at is: I would rather be overdressed than underdressed.

holtjv · 01-11-2007, 06:22 PM

I'll offer an opinion, but it's probably unqualified as I work in Austin and at a software company.

Although this description is sure to roll eyes to you all, I find that confidence is what sells you. So wear whatever you will feel most confident in, because if you're not, if will most definitely show.

My # 1 advice is this: ask a freaking ton of questions. Probe deeply into what the work climate is like, who you'll be working with, and what the landscape of the owners is (if there's more than one). A smart interviewer will respect the hell out of you if you ask intelligent questions.

WHATEVER you do, don't fill in empty air with needless blabbering. Ask the person about him/herself--people love to talk about themselves and they'll leave with a positive impression of you.

Finally, ask what happens next. And remember that if you take the job, it will be a major part of your life for many years--go into the interview with this attitude and you'll get the truth, which may or may not be what you want to hear.

Btw, I am the owner of a 30-person firm and have been through the ropes with hiring people.

Good luck and please keep us informed. Jack

HardDrive · 01-11-2007, 07:17 PM

Seattle: Dirty Sonic Youth tee shirt and jeans.

The rest of the planet: Wear the tie.

mikester · 01-11-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
Seattle: Dirty Sonic Youth tee shirt and jeans.

The rest of the planet: Wear the tie.

Masterful response - correct too.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Not only do I wear a nice suit to the interview, I also wear one (and not the same one!) on the first day of work.

island911 · 01-11-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
Seattle: Dirty Sonic Youth tee shirt and jeans.

The rest of the planet: Wear the tie.

Yep.

Tho' note . . he is in Chico CA.

I say no tie.

jim72911t · 01-11-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HardDrive
Seattle: Dirty Sonic Youth tee shirt and jeans.

The rest of the planet: Wear the tie.

I was thinking of wearing my Sonic Youth t-shirt, but I just pulled it out of the laundry, so that's a no-go.

Tie it is. While I still think that a full suit might be overkill for this position and this area, I'm thinking of going with nice slacks and shirt, tie, and jacket. The research I've been doing seems to suggest that this will be appropriate.

Hope I'm not making a mistake here.

Thanks again,
Jim

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Unless you are George Clooney, or look like him...you'd better put a tie on.

Evans, Marv · 01-11-2007, 08:12 PM

I think you have the right idea with the slacks, shirt, tie & jacket. A formal looking suit might be overkill & what you have planned might be a good compromise between formal & casual.

Flatbutt1 · 01-11-2007, 08:21 PM

want the job? wear the tie. I like seeing my applicants in a suit. But if they are very well qualified, I'll let them slide with a tie and sport coat.

M.D. Holloway · 01-11-2007, 09:09 PM

Wear the tie - go rep, tie a four-in-hand - provides a nice tight knot and if you have a good silk you can get a nice power dimple going. Stay away from dots and crazy designs. Navy suit, white shirt with a T under. Polished black shoes - wingtips for an engineer is a must.

Keep eye contact during questions, before answering look donw and pause then look at them in the eye. Don't forget to blink. Sometimes when people get eye contact they never blink and thats just plain freaky when a guy doesn't blink. Don't smile tto much but don't be sour either.

Get a good night sleep, wake up an extra hour early. Call your folks after the interview. No matter how old you are your folks love to hear about your new opportunities.

Make us proud!

Moneyguy1 · 01-11-2007, 09:14 PM

You do not get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Scooter · 01-11-2007, 09:33 PM

Tie. (that is, Tie period). Good luck!

island911 · 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jim72911t
. . ..Before you say yes, what a stupid question, the job in question is a manufacturing engineering position at a . . machine shop/manufacturing facility. . . .

So, the question is, does the "respect of the tie" trump the "look at the dweeb who thinks this is a good place to wear a tie."

You do not get a second chance to not look like a out of place dweeb.

One can certainly dress well w/o a tie. Mfg/egr environments generally aren't fashoin centers, if ya know what I mean.

In general, it's good if you can dress just a bit nicer than those you will be interviewing with. The goal is to make a comfortable (good fit) impression. YMMV

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Never ever.

I've not worn one in years - including to my last several interviews. In the last six months I interviewed with eight firms, was made offers by six of them and ultimately settled on one. Ties are worthless IMHO.

The way I look at it - if you can help the prospective employer visualize you as part of their team, you're better off. Looking like a stuffy "wanna-be" is like (from their perspective) trying to cram a square peg into a round hole. If/when everyone in the office works casual most of the time and you show up dressed to the nines, it's a detriment more than an asset. IMO anyway.

Look at it this way (I do): If a place would expect you to wear a tie every day just to "fit in", is this REALLY the kind of place you want to be working for? A place that values stuffiness and poseur-dom over performance and getting the job done?

Sorry, but maybe I'm biased. I consider myself pretty down-to-earth but won't even wear such archaic pieces of clothing to weddings or funerals anymore. It's quite possible to be well-dressed and respectful without resorting to fashion cliches that have been dead for decades.

Dantilla · 01-11-2007, 10:26 PM

I've never had an interview, but occasionally I meet with a couple of different bankers to finance real estate projects. The first banker always wears a tie, and so do I when I see him. The other banker (the president, so he can wear what he wants) wears nice slacks and a nice shirt, but usually with an open collar. I've never seen him wear a tie, so when I meet with him I also wear a nice, open collar shirt.

Neither one of them has ever told me "no", so I must be doing something right.