How dressed down for an Engineering interview?

dxrham · Sep 23, 2012

I have always worn a navy suit with conservative tie to all my interviews for Electrical Engineering positions. At a local job club meeting, I heard laments from a hiring manager that engineers are always wearing polo shirts and how he wished for them to at least wear a dress shirt to the interview. Am I overdressing for my interviews and shooting myself in the foot for wearing a suit?

-Christopher

granularus · Sep 23, 2012

It depends on the company. Many of the companies that I deal with in the Huntsville area would expect a suit on an interview.

phyrpowr · Sep 23, 2012

I doubt it. After seeing a number of candidates who are underdressed, even a style-clueless manager probably thinks "this guy takes it seriously".

JBierly · Sep 23, 2012

Probably not - but you live in Alabama - probably close to my home. This is the south so navy blazer and grey or tan slacks is always going to be pretty safe. Just keep the tie solid or discreet pattern. Probably a white shirt. You just want to look innocuous. The weather has changed so a jacket makes more sense than it would have in July when you might have got the are you crazy look.....

Dovid · Sep 23, 2012

Although you may find this unhelpful, I remember going to an interview with a company dressed how would I usually dress for work at the time (suit, white shirt, muted tie, good dress shoes), and was told later that they didn't think that I would fit in because I came across as a finance guy rather than a techie. In this case, I would have been better off wearing a dress shirt with grey pants, and ditching the tie and, depending on the weather, the jacket. Unfortunately, people latch onto minor externals when deciding who to consider for the next round of interviews. I agree with JBierly: your purpose is to win them over by what you can bring to the table. The problem is that you don't know in advance where on the continuum between Polo shirt and full-on interview suit they want you to be.

dxrham · Sep 24, 2012

I interviewed for one company where I felt my wearing a suit was akin to having a set of antlers on my head. The managers that were interviewing were wearing poly-blend dress shirts, with a mix of dockers and jeans. I removed my suit jacket after the first two interviews to not feel so out of place, but even the odd-trouser with white shirt look didn't work. I can understand if this was Silicon Valley, but the general dress of this particular company gave me the impression of a company on the decline and not somewhere I would like to work for.

-Christopher

Canadian · Sep 24, 2012

I frequently have people come in off the street at my dad's factory looking for business. Most people who look like (and probably did) they came from the nearby homeless shelter get told politely, we aren't looking for unskilled labour. But people who at least wear a tie, Dockers and Dressports (and on occasion we get people in their Sunday suit) tend to be treated decently. If you were to walk into our factory wearing a suit, you'd probably get to talk to the CEO (my dad) without hesitation and you'd probably walk out with a job. Remember, you can always take off a jacket and tie, but do so only if you don't want to get past the initial cattle call.

Tom

blairrob · Sep 24, 2012

Canadian said:
I frequently have people come in off the street at my dad's factory looking for business. Most people who look like (and probably did) they came from the nearby homeless shelter get told politely, we aren't looking for unskilled labour. But people who at least wear a tie, Dockers and Dressports (and on occasion we get people in their Sunday suit) tend to be treated decently. If you were to walk into our factory wearing a suit, you'd probably get to talk to the CEO (my dad) without hesitation and you'd probably walk out with a job. Remember, you can always take off a jacket and tie, but do so only if you don't want to get past the initial cattle call.

Tom

You are, no doubt, turning away some very good engineers. I wouldn't suggest anyone treat a prospective employee on the basis of their footwear, particularly for a factory job. If you are indeed making the remark I have highlighted above to those dressed poorly you are intimating an insult a gentlemen would not. In my experience of managing upwards of 130 staff the best dressed are seldom the best workers, and very often the best dressed rank near the bottom in that category. My self as an exception, of course!

On the other hand, if you were interviewing for a position with me I would expect you to have done your homework; if not, it would seem that your initiative or decision making skills are lacking, or worse, that you are not truly interested in the position.

To the OP and others who have previously posted on this thread: a rudimentary job search skill is reconnoitering the hiring office either by a surreptitious visit/flyby or an anonymous phone call to the front office. You would want to know that the culture of the place suits you just as much as the reverse. Or so I would hope. If you're interviewing for a private banking position on the mezzanine I would expect you to be dressed quite differently from someone interviewing to drive a forklift on the factory floor.

mrp · Sep 24, 2012

dxrham said:
I have always worn a navy suit with conservative tie to all my interviews for Electrical Engineering positions. At a local job club meeting, I heard laments from a hiring manager that engineers are always wearing polo shirts and how he wished for them to at least wear a dress shirt to the interview. Am I overdressing for my interviews and shooting myself in the foot for wearing a suit?

-Christopher

Based on the recruiters statement I'd say you are dressed correctly. He stated "at least wear a dress shirt" this implies the bare minimum. I don't suggest think that you shoot for the minimum, if you are looking for new job.

godan · Sep 24, 2012

blairrob said:
On the other hand, if you were interviewing for a position with me I would expect you to have done your homework; if not, it would seem that your initiative or decision making skills are lacking, or worse, that you are not truly interested in the position. To the OP and others who have previously posted on this thread: a rudimentary job search skill is reconnoitering the hiring office either by a surreptitious visit/flyby or an anonymous phone call to the front office. You would want to know that the culture of the place suits you just as much as the reverse. Or so I would hope.

This is true, and the advice is essential. Prospective employees should learn the style and culture of any place they want to work. Distance and other considerations might make that difficult, and overcoming those difficulties is a good indication that a potential new hire is prepared to work hard. During many years advising university graduates about employment, I found that some of them were very reluctant to grasp this idea. It is a competitive world. If you want a job, do what it takes.

Snow Hill Pond · Sep 24, 2012

If you're wearing a jacket and tie and don't get the job, I sincerely doubt it was because of your attire. In the end with all other things being equal, your attitude and personality will win the day. If you project ease, confidence, and humility (admittedly a difficult thing to pull off), a lot of doors open up.

riyadh552 · Sep 26, 2012

Snow Hill Pond said:
If you're wearing a jacket and tie and don't get the job, I sincerely doubt it was because of your attire. In the end with all other things being equal, your attitude and personality will win the day. If you project ease, confidence, and humility (admittedly a difficult thing to pull off), a lot of doors open up.

Very well put.

As an engineering recruiter of eight years, here is my take on interview attire:

1. Stick to the basics: You can rarely go wrong with charcoal/navy suit, paired with white/light blue shirt, black oxfords, and dark, solid tie. If in doubt, ask the recruiter before you go on your onsite interview.
2. Perfectly acceptable alternative: Navy blazer, grey trousers, black/dark brown oxfords, navy/red/black solid tie.
3. If you are meeting with a C, D, VP, and/or President level executive, wear a suit. This is a sign of respect both to the person and his/her executive office, that is granting you their time and opportunity.
4. If you are visiting a plant or shop floor as part of the interview, ask the hiring manager or recruiter about suggested attire when they contact you to schedule that in-person visit. You may have to wear protective gear, and will most likely be asked to wear comfortable clothing. In such cases, chinos, button down shirt, and semi-casual shoes/boots might work best.

As Snow Hill Pond stated, your skills, personality, and attitude are what will ultimately get you the job.

Good luck.

JohnRov · Sep 28, 2012

I was an engineer for 10 years, I can only remember one person interviewing with us not wearing a suit or sportscoat. He wore a polo and khakis and stood out like a sore thumb. It was a topic of conversation during the interview debrief. He didn't get the job for other reasons though. I think that if you are a great engineer, knock the interview out of the park, and are don't wear a suit or coat, you may be fine, but why take the chance? If you are interviewing at a large corporation that has engineers, I would consider it essential. This may not be the case at a smaller firm or startup, I know a friend of mine wore Vans and a t-shirt to an interview and got it, but it was a very techie company.

How dressed down for an Engineering interview?

dxrham

granularus

phyrpowr

JBierly

Dovid

dxrham

Canadian

blairrob

mrp

godan

Snow Hill Pond

riyadh552

JohnRov

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