[VaSteve]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
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.

I'd rather have the interviewer focus on my answers than try and figure out if I'm too clueless to put on a tie or why I didn't wear one. I guess your approach might all depend on who you're interviewing with.

For us, first stop is a recruiter/HR. They don't see you as a part of the "team". You need to make it through them to get to the next interview. Just gotta play ball.

Last summer we did a panel interview of a guy that was going to be a sub....he showed up with a casual shirt and sunglasses on his head. He was a total ass, but we still talk about the shirt and sunglasses. We were all in suits and it set a bad tone from the get go.