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Job interview attire advice (tech company)

rockzilla

rockzilla

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 19, 2006
Messages
1,286
Hey everyone,

I have a job interview coming up in January that I am really excited about. It is a strategy role within a tech company in the Bay Area, and I am wondering what to wear...

I actually interned at this company over the summer (but my interviews were over the phone) and it is VERY casual, though dress varies by group. People in marketing/finance would wear jeans with nicer shoes and tops, other parts of the company like engineering it was t-shirts and flip-flops.

While generally I would err on the side of caution and bust out the old suit, something is telling me that I might seem really out of place and not in touch with the culture if I come in looking like an investment banker when everyone else is in jeans.

To complicate things, I asked two folks I've been talking to at the company, and one said suit and the other said "dressy business casual"! The second person is in the department I'd be working in, so maybe I should defer to her judgement? Ask a few more people?

I'm probably overthinking this, but I just want to make sure I don't stand out in a bad way. Any thoughts?
 
rockzilla|1292288351|2796062 said:
Hey everyone,

I have a job interview coming up in January that I am really excited about. It is a strategy role within a tech company in the Bay Area, and I am wondering what to wear...

I actually interned at this company over the summer (but my interviews were over the phone) and it is VERY casual, though dress varies by group. People in marketing/finance would wear jeans with nicer shoes and tops, other parts of the company like engineering it was t-shirts and flip-flops.

While generally I would err on the side of caution and bust out the old suit, something is telling me that I might seem really out of place and not in touch with the culture if I come in looking like an investment banker when everyone else is in jeans.

To complicate things, I asked two folks I've been talking to at the company, and one said suit and the other said "dressy business casual"! The second person is in the department I'd be working in, so maybe I should defer to her judgement? Ask a few more people?

I'm probably overthinking this, but I just want to make sure I don't stand out in a bad way. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...


did the tech company interviewing in the bay area recently enough too.. would wear the suit pants and a nice button-down or blouse, and carry the jacket. That way you're prepared for everything. January is cold enough that it wouldn't look out of place to be carrying a jacket.
 
Hmmm....all my suits are skirts, which makes them dressier (i am hard to fit in pants)...would it look weird with a skirt suit to carry the jacket?
 
rockzilla, I am in tech and my company sounds like a lot like yours, dress wise. Sales and marketing are always the best dressed (jeans and clean shirt) and engineering is a total lost cause...some days they don't even wear shoes.

I would still wear a suit, but I'm old school. What if you get an interview with someone who actually cares about stuff like that, even though they are still casual themselves? My boss nixed an interviewee for not bringing in his notepad into an interview. And if other candidates DO wear a suit, you'll stand out for the wrong reasons.

You can make it less conservative looking depending on how you dress it. IMHO, dress for an interview isn't to show you understand their corporate culture - it's to show you'll go the extra mile to look as professional as possible and are putting your best foot forward to impress. But that's just me. In this day and age, I'm sure many would disagree.

In our organization, most of the regular staff would tell you it's casual and no one cares like that. But I know firsthand how the executive team thinks, and no one would ever get a job if they didn't show up in a suit, period. Again, we're as laid back tech as you come, and the execs wouldn't admit to it, but I know they'll even check out the color of your nail polish. It's nuts.
 
Being in Silicon Valley for years I rarely see dresses or skirts (they are almost too sexy looking). Dressy slacks, heals, paired with a jacket is about as dressed up as I ever see. Good luck with your interview.
 
If you opt for a dress, which you can, sleeves are a must, even if they are just capped sleeves. Sleevless is too much of a gamble even in the middle of summer, let alone in January.

I would do a suit, but dress it with a feminine shirt underneath, or even a fancy T-shirt. And some fun shoes. Something that says "I have a personality".
 
I think wearing your best business attire gives the impression that you are putting your best self forward. It's not an indication of not understanding the culture. And if in doubt, there's nothing that says you can't talk about your understanding of the culture during the interview and how you believe you would be the perfect fit.
 
In the Silicon Valley there are companies that DO use the job attire as a test to see if you will fit with their quirky culture.

Google for one. My job interview invite said no suit. And I wore a dress (long sleeve) and heels while everyone showed up in ratty T-shirts and old jeans. My after interview feedback was that I was overdressed.

The Tech industry in Nor Cal. can be challenging in that way. I think swingirl is right on the money. A pants suit, or slacks and a jacket with a nice shirt and low heels. But if pants are challenging I think a dress with sleeves might be a good fit as well.
 
How à propos. I have an interview myself next Monday and I really hope I can fit in my suit... Personally, I wouldn't go to an interview not wearing a suit. Since you say you interned there, is there someone on the inside who can tell you if they could not hire someone based on your attire alone?

Good luck!
 
Yep, always overdress for an interview, regardless of the position you're applying for or what type of company it is.
 
Gypsy|1292291085|2796122 said:
In the Silicon Valley there are companies that DO use the job attire as a test to see if you will fit with their quirky culture.

Google for one. My job interview invite said no suit. And I wore a dress (long sleeve) and heels while everyone showed up in ratty T-shirts and old jeans. My after interview feedback was that I was overdressed.

The Tech industry in Nor Cal. can be challenging in that way. I think swingirl is right on the money. A pants suit, or slacks and a jacket with a nice shirt and low heels. But if pants are challenging I think a dress with sleeves might be a good fit as well.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I would not hire ANYONE, no matter how casual I was, who showed up in ratty t-shirts in old jeans. If you're not trying to impress me SOMEWHAT in an interview, I would conclude you are not going to try to impress me ever. Nor would I want to work for someone who at least didn't think that dressing like that in an interview was weird. Like I said, old school.

I've always gone to interview in slacks, shirt and jacket. If it's a really casual company, I wear a nice shirt underneath that isn't collared, but is still professional.

In the 90's, everyone was a renegade and old timers thought they might have to adopt to all the ways of all these crazy "kids" who were geniuses and getting rich overnight. Seems brains without business experience didn't get most of them very far...it's called a business plan baby! Since then, I've found than in tech companies, even young hip companies have polished up a lot, at least know HOW to do so when called.
 
Gypsy|1292291085|2796122 said:
In the Silicon Valley there are companies that DO use the job attire as a test to see if you will fit with their quirky culture.

Google for one. My job interview invite said no suit. And I wore a dress (long sleeve) and heels while everyone showed up in ratty T-shirts and old jeans. My after interview feedback was that I was overdressed.

The Tech industry in Nor Cal. can be challenging in that way. I think swingirl is right on the money. A pants suit, or slacks and a jacket with a nice shirt and low heels. But if pants are challenging I think a dress with sleeves might be a good fit as well.
Click to expand...

See, this is what I am scared of! I am not interviewing at Google, but I did do an interview at another tech co (in Seattle..cough...cough) and they have this whole building where recruits wait before they are sent off to interviews, with a big lounge. I was one of maybe 2-3 people in a suit, with 15-20 more in anything from uber casual to dresspants-buttondown-sweater. I don't know if it was the suit that did me in or there was just a better candidate, but it really made me rethink my attire. I don't want my suit to scream, well, "SUIT!"

Also, its not that I don't have pants, but I don't own any pant-suits (I'm 5'10" with..."generous" hips and so pant suits always look kind of weird...like I'm bottomheavy, the jacket is too short, pants aren't long enough. I can seriously wear a 4 or 6 in a jacket but need an 8 or a 10 in the matching pants, can you say pear shape?) BUT I could do nice pants with maybe a non-matching jacket? Maybe something along these lines w/nice black pants: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3114029?origin=PredictiveSearch&resultback=383 ?? I'm thinking a jacket like that would take attention off my lower half, while still being professional?

Ugh...just tried on a bunch of stuff, and the few pounds I have gained have gone straight to my hips and butt, making previously modest pants somehow less appropriate for an interview :(

Why does this have to be so complicated? I would much rather spend the time prepping for the interview than worrying about what I am going to wear.
 
TravelingGal|1292294460|2796195 said:
Gypsy|1292291085|2796122 said:
In the Silicon Valley there are companies that DO use the job attire as a test to see if you will fit with their quirky culture.

Google for one. My job interview invite said no suit. And I wore a dress (long sleeve) and heels while everyone showed up in ratty T-shirts and old jeans. My after interview feedback was that I was overdressed.

The Tech industry in Nor Cal. can be challenging in that way. I think swingirl is right on the money. A pants suit, or slacks and a jacket with a nice shirt and low heels. But if pants are challenging I think a dress with sleeves might be a good fit as well.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I would not hire ANYONE, no matter how casual I was, who showed up in ratty t-shirts in old jeans. If you're not trying to impress me SOMEWHAT in an interview, I would conclude you are not going to try to impress me ever. Nor would I want to work for someone who at least didn't think that dressing like that in an interview was weird. Like I said, old school.
Click to expand...

I'm also old school. I would either think the above or think the person was so arrogant they didn't feel the need to impress me. I even wore a suit jacket when I interviewed within my company for a new position.

But it's really what will make you more comfortable. Being uncomfortable can sometimes show through in interviews. I'm working with a recruiter who set up an interview for me today. In her email she underlined wear your best and most comfortable business attire.
 
I work in the semiconductor industry (though not on the west coast) and many people wear jeans every day of the week (in the summer, some wear ratty shorts with white sneakers :o ) I knew this going in, but I still wore a suit for the interview. I felt extremely out of place the whole day because nobody was dressed even remotely like me, but I don't regret it for a second. I think suits are still very much the norm in most industries, even if the actual employees only wear jeans. Your interviewer might wonder why you're not wearing a suit.

I would make the suit a little more casual by wearing shoes with a pattern (nothing too crazy, but maybe break out from the brown and black) along with a shirt that isn't a button down with a collar. I think the button down will make you extremely formal, but a cute fun blouse with a suit looks much more casual.

eta: I totally agree with TGal. I think you can dress down a suit, but I wouldn't go with anything else. I also wouldn't go with a dress like that - way too sexy. Tech industry (as you know) is dominated by very awkward guys - you don't want to show up in something that brands you as a female. I think pants would be better (still with a cute blouse). You just don't want to stand out as the hottest person there (which just wearing a skirt can do for you), because I think you'll be taken less seriously.

eta2: I have a friend who works at a ::cough:: tech company in Seattle ::cough:: (though he actually works in Boston doing programming). He interviewed in a suit.
 
I was in a similar position a few months ago. I asked for advice here and a suit was the unanimous choice. I found one that was on the casual side, so it was the best of both worlds.

I think that wearing unmatched jacket/pants is a great way to dress a suit down, plus you can always take the jacket off if you feel too formal when you get there. I know what you mean about obsessing over this rather than preparing for the interview. I did the same thing.

In my case, my interview unexpectedly began with a meeting with a senior executive. I was happy to be wearing a suit -- I felt that anything else would have been inappropriate. The next part of my interview was conducted by someone wearing jeans and flip flops, but the suit was fine there, too. As I was being given a tour of the office, I clearly stood out as the person on a job interview. But I did get a job offer, so I'd say that the suit didn't hurt.

Good luck!
 
I'm very familiar with the tech world in Seattle, (although I'm more connected with art/design) and I completely understand not wanting to be a suit. Check out JCrew for some great looks with a pencil skirt. I am also a pear shape and always seem less comfortable in pants. A black pencil skirt, funky top, unmatched suit jacket, killer shoes, and great jewelry are what I would wear. Also, wear colored tights/hose if you are planning on covering your legs, skintone hose looks way too formal.

For tGal and others who are surprised at the jeans and tee shirt for an interview - it's not because they don't care or think they are geniuses, it's a cultural thing. Espicially in the tech industry, looks are seen as artificial and silly to pay attention to. This thinking has led to a wariness of people in suits; assuming that they don't actually have the skills and are trying to over compensate by dressing up. So it can actually be hurtful to over dress in this culture. I'm not familiar with the Bay area but I assume it's the same idea: I'm very skilled at what i do, my skills are reason enough for me to be desired, I don't need to impress you with my looks.

I'm not in agreement with this idea at all, but I thought you might like to know it has nothing to do with being old and everything to do with the west coast :)
 
tropiqalkiwi|1292300507|2796295 said:
I'm very familiar with the tech world in Seattle, (although I'm more connected with art/design) and I completely understand not wanting to be a suit. Check out JCrew for some great looks with a pencil skirt. I am also a pear shape and always seem less comfortable in pants. A black pencil skirt, funky top, unmatched suit jacket, killer shoes, and great jewelry are what I would wear. Also, wear colored tights/hose if you are planning on covering your legs, skintone hose looks way too formal.

For tGal and others who are surprised at the jeans and tee shirt for an interview - it's not because they don't care or think they are geniuses, it's a cultural thing. Espicially in the tech industry, looks are seen as artificial and silly to pay attention to. This thinking has led to a wariness of people in suits; assuming that they don't actually have the skills and are trying to over compensate by dressing up. So it can actually be hurtful to over dress in this culture. I'm not familiar with the Bay area but I assume it's the same idea: I'm very skilled at what i do, my skills are reason enough for me to be desired, I don't need to impress you with my looks.

I'm not in agreement with this idea at all, but I thought you might like to know it has nothing to do with being old and everything to do with the west coast :)
Click to expand...

I am west coast. I work with the tech companies in Silicon Valley and Seattle. I AM in the tech industry and have been for 14 years, and I assure you, looks are not always seen as artificial. From the posts on this thread, you can see there are differing opinions on this. An interviewee might run into you, or run into someone like my boss. If they run into you and are overdressed, most likely you can assume they did err on the side of caution and will listen to what they have to say because you are progressive. If they run into someone like my boss, they won't get to meet anyone else beyond his office because he's nixed you.

It's not that I don't think the mentality that you are talking about doesn't exist...it most definitely does - especially among working people in their 20's-early 30's. But the one I'm talking about exists too. You have to find what is right and comfortable for you. What works in art and design is also very different from sales/marketing (the field I'm from) vs public relations, engineering, or whatever. If I were in art and design and someone walked in an interview in a dark suit, white shirt and loafers, I'd go, whoa! Boring and no imagination! But if *I* were doing the interview for a sales or strategic marketing position in my tech company and someone was dumb enough to show up in RATTY jeans and a T-Shirt, I would show her the door.
 
tropiqalkiwi|1292300507|2796295 said:
I'm not familiar with the Bay area but I assume it's the same idea: I'm very skilled at what i do, my skills are reason enough for me to be desired, I don't need to impress you with my looks.
Click to expand...

btw, with all due respect, this is an attitude difference I'm seeing these days in a lot of younger people. Yes, you have skills...that's great for you. So do a LOT of other people who are competing for the same position as you. Skills (I'm talking about the ones for the technicalities for the job) aren't enough. Are you professional? Polished? Will you be personable to work with and know how to make your boss' life easier by going the extra mile to impress him/her?

It's not that your trying to IMPRESS someone with your looks. It's that you want to show some respect by dressing up for an interview (I agree with what you were saying about skirt, top, jacket, etc, so obviously you know how to dress for one). It's that you don't want to be counted OUT because you didn't do ENOUGH. You don't want it to be a massive distraction. For some people dress is NOT a distraction. For others, it just IS.

I was at a meeting last week at a huge Texas tech company. A woman came in for a meeting (I was early for mine and so I was people watching). She was gorgeous...great body. She looked awesome except that her sweater was a little too tight AND a little too short for her slacks. There was about an inch of two of midriff that kept showing anytime her hands were raised over waist level. The guy she was meeting kept glancing down to her bare midriff. I'm sure he wasn't 100% focused in what she was saying...and it's too bad she didn't think to check herself in the mirror before leaving the house that day because I wouldn't want my belly button because the focus of attention in a meeting...even IF it might get me what I wanted. :cheeky:
 
TravelingGal|1292302403|2796316 said:
tropiqalkiwi|1292300507|2796295 said:
I'm not familiar with the Bay area but I assume it's the same idea: I'm very skilled at what i do, my skills are reason enough for me to be desired, I don't need to impress you with my looks.
Click to expand...

btw, with all due respect, this is an attitude difference I'm seeing these days in a lot of younger people. Yes, you have skills...that's great for you. So do a LOT of other people who are competing for the same position as you. Skills (I'm talking about the ones for the technicalities for the job) aren't enough. Are you professional? Polished? Will you be personable to work with and know how to make your boss' life easier by going the extra mile to impress him/her?

It's not that your trying to IMPRESS someone with your looks. It's that you want to show some respect by dressing up for an interview (I agree with what you were saying about skirt, top, jacket, etc, so obviously you know how to dress for one). It's that you don't want to be counted OUT because you didn't do ENOUGH. You don't want it to be a massive distraction. For some people dress is NOT a distraction. For others, it just IS.

I was at a meeting last week at a huge Texas tech company. A woman came in for a meeting (I was early for mine and so I was people watching). She was gorgeous...great body. She looked awesome except that her sweater was a little too tight AND a little too short for her slacks. There was about an inch of two of midriff that kept showing anytime her hands were raised over waist level. The guy she was meeting kept glancing down to her bare midriff. I'm sure he wasn't 100% focused in what she was saying...and it's too bad she didn't think to check herself in the mirror before leaving the house that day because I wouldn't want my belly button because the focus of attention in a meeting...even IF it might get me what I wanted. :cheeky:
Click to expand...

I think the issue here is that it is more subtle than ratty jeans vs. suit. Unfortunately, there is a lot of stuff in between!

I think in my case, a black skirt suit is probably too formal, but a nice pant suit dressed down is probably the best bet. I guess that means I will be shopping next week, great timing with christmas! :P

AHA! Inspiration photo found! (though I will avoid the popped collar)

pantsuit.jpg
 
TGal, I didn't know you are part of the tech industry there, my apologies for assuming you weren't familiar with it :p

I just moved to DC and keep being amazed at how different things like office culture are between the two cities. My comment comes from meeting many people who are not familiar with the culture differences and I thought it might be helpful to put the idea out there.

I understand needing to put the best image you can forward, I work mainly with branding and identity so I'm all about it! I am really enjoying being in a place where everyone dresses up, although many times it seems like there is less in the way of personal style. Your interview in texas sounds very distracting, I'm a big believer in wearing clothing that fits and flatters at all times. I'm continually amazed at how many people wear I'll fitting clothes: too short, tight, and even baggy - maybe jeans and tees are easy to fit so people resort to that? Hopefully tailoring becomes more mainstream!
 
rockzilla posted a good compromise type outfit for interviewing at what i'm going to assume is the microsoft mountain view campus. still a tad dressy but it does say i'm serious about working for you and i do know how to dress up and or down. not everyone wears ratty t-shirts. however, in my husband's case, he wears tie-dye. however, the women....especially those originally from other countries....do dress better. if in fact you are interviewing at the mountain view campus of microsoft [phone interviews first really are the norm], realize you will probably be interviewing with as many as 5 different people....not together in a same room but sequentially which means you will be meeting with people from various backgrounds and various work dress styles.

good luck.

MoZo
 
rockzilla|1292303022|2796323 said:
I think in my case, a black skirt suit is probably too formal, but a nice pant suit dressed down is probably the best bet. I guess that means I will be shopping next week, great timing with christmas! :P

AHA! Inspiration photo found! (though I will avoid the popped collar)
Click to expand...

i think that's a great inspiration for the type of interview you described!! good luck!!
 
I'd wear nice black pants, a button down shirt, and nice shoes. Even though some people at the company wear flip flops and jeans, I'd still wear something that's one or two steps above that for an interview. I'd adhere to the "business casual" description that one of the women mentioned. You can't go wrong with that.

ETA: I agree with TGal -- you want to present yourself as a professional, regardless of the what employees wear. If someone came in for an interview wearing very casual clothes, it would be a mark against them in my book.
 
When I want to look polished, dressy, and pulled-together but know a suit would be overkill, my outfit consists of:

-nice slacks (or suit pants) in black or dark gray
-colored blouse (something fun like purple or green)
-black cardigan
-low-heeled black boots

This way you're not in a suit, but still look professional and like you care.

Good luck! I live in Silicon Valley (though don't work in the industry), and the wardrobes you see here can definitely be very eclectic!
 
AHA! Inspiration photo found! (though I will avoid the popped collar)
Click to expand...

I am a hiring manager for a technology company in Texas- and your inspiration photo is perfection! Don't forget to research them a bit and quiz your friend over the nuances of what makes their company unique, then throw those details out during your interview :) And ask questions! It's nice when the candidate holds their own and asks a few questions themselves. Best of luck to you!
 
I interviewed with tech co.s (incl. the one in Seattle) in a (formal) suit and got offers.

I would wear a pant suit with a non-button down top underneath or a dress with sleeves. That way you'll take it down just a notch or two, conform to the feedback you've gotten from both insiders, and still be able to stand up to whatever attitude your interviewers might take on clothes.
 
So I stopped in to Ann Taylor yesterday (they were having a 30% everything sale, which I thought was good, then it got bumped up to 40% off today!) and found this suit.

It isn't black like the inspiration suit, but it is a lighter brown/grey color which I think makes it more casual. Showing it both with and w/o the jacket in case I take the jacket off inside.

What do you guys think? Ignore the piles of stuff in the background, please =)

suitwithjacket.jpg

suitnojacket.jpg
 
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