I would call and ask.

 

I am an engineer, so everywhere I have applied is a business casual environment. I have always worn a suit, and I have never felt uncomfortable for doing so. Some has said "we have a pretty casual environment around here."

 

I have always gone in for interviews in a suit. I can't imagine many places where a suit would be held against you in an interview. If the suit feels like too much, just take off the jacket.

 

Dress up . . .

. . . but not too much. A sport coat over an open shirt should do. It is, however, always safest to call and ask. Then no one can fault you for dressing accordingly.

 

Since this comment about being business casual was put in the notice to you about the interview, I think they are just giving you a heads up that a suit and tie isn't expected. In other words, wearing a suit and tie to the interview won't hurt you but likely won't help you either. If it were me I would probably wear a navy blazer and a tie, sort of splitting the difference you might say.

Cruiser

 

In other words, wearing a suit and tie to the interview won't hurt you but likely won't help you either. Cruiser

I disagree. I certainly think that it could hurt to overdress. They are business casual for a reason. They want to hire someone who will fit in with their particular business culture. If you live near the company, grab a cup of coffee, park near (in) the parking lot and be Magnum P.I. for a few hours in the morning. Or look for pictures of people in the company on the Internet. If the interview is business casual because it's on a Casual Friday, then a suit is ok because it isn't something that is normally out of place for that work environment.

Since you already have interviewed there and seen how some people dress (tee shirts), then you know what they wear. That they would wear such an outfit to interview you says something. The fact that they include "business casual" in the email to you when you have already interviewed twice says even more. I would think that a suit is overkill and business casual is the way to go. Tailored blazer and button-down sans tie comes to mind.

disclaimer;
When listening to, or ignoring, my advice, please keep in mind that my wardrobe consists of suits and jeans. I don't have the budget for a new business casual wardrobe, so I never learned what it actually consists of.

 

"Business casual" is a pretty wide range in the industry. Coming from a Sales side, it could include button up shirt with tie, and slacks; Sports coat, no tie; and even simple suit.

As someone else mentioned, scout the place. Give a call, on the pretense of confirming the appointment and directions and ask the receptionist what they actually mean by "business casual" and then step it up a hair just to be safe. Or slide by the place to check travel times, and see what everyone else is wearing. As the old adage goes, you have 20 seconds to make a good first impression.

 

I am a senior recruiter myself, and could offer you some professional insight.

I know a lot of forum members have adviced you to scout the place to get an idea of what the employees there wear. What you should consider is this: you are not an employee there yet, and cannot go dressed the way they normally do. This means that you have a fine line to walk.

What I would recommend in this scenario are: wool slacks (charcoal/khaki), blazer (navy/charcoal), dress shirt with a maybe a striped or textured tie, and oxford shoes.

Your attire speaks volumes about you as part of the first impression. You should show your interviewers that you have enough respect for their time and positions to dress "up" appropriately, but without over-doing it. It seems that a full-blown suit, given the very relaxed atmosphere you described there, would be over-doing it, IMO.

Be sure to wear well-polished (not mirror-shined) shoes. Brown shoes, IMO, should be fine. Black shoes are inherrently more formal, and should be reserved for when you know you must wear a dark suit for an interview.

Good luck.

 

+1 on MRR's and riyadh552's comments. It's crazy to think that a suit can't possibly hurt you, since the very interview notice received by the OP basically says it can. But it's also obvious that you don't want to dress as casually as if you already worked there.

 

Since you already interviewed in the company, you already have a feel for the place. That is a huge plus. I agree with the comment that you do not want top dress like an employee, since you are not one - yet. My advice is to keep the suit since you received positive feedback. But dress it down with a colour or stripped shirt, and a conservative sharp tie.
Remember to smile, and be positive and energized. That is what will be remembered. Go for it!
Best wishes.

 

I always feel that I should dress for an interview a step or so above the corporate dress code. When I interviewed for Fidelity Investments I wore a suit. When I interviewed for NY Life I wore a suit, and when I interviewed for my current job they specifically said we are a very casual home office and to not wear a suit and tie. As I had the NY Life interview the same day, I just took off the coat and tie and wore my dress shirt and slacks. So you can't go wrong with a sportcoat and a conservative tie, or even sans tie.

 

Tricky situation, the type of thing I really love about "business casual": it's totally confusing!

I don't care about the "business casual" note. It may not pertain to the interview itself, but rather describes the culture once you're working there. Unless someone instructed you otherwise, wear a suit and tie. That's what people do in interviews. I doubt anyone will "ding" you for it. It shows respect for the organization and for the interview event itself.

"Hey did you see that freak show in the suit? What a doof!" -- not gonna happen. More likely would be your showing up in a sport coat and feeling a bit uncomfortable.

My vote is for a light or medium grey suit rather than a dark one.

 

"Hey did you see that freak show in the suit? What a doof!" -- not gonna happen.

Sorry, this isn't correct. In many organizations, you will be perceived as a bad fit if you seem too corporate and stiff, and especially if it appears that you cannot follow explicit directions on a card.

 

...Part of the interview-scheduling e-mail reads: "We are business casual here." ...

Jeddy, "explicit directions on a card" would be "do not wear a suit to the interview." (And they would be on a card.)

So, context matters. If the comment is located next to another one that says "we're a nonsmoking environment", then you can be sure they're not talking about the interview per se.

The only time I've not worn a suit to a corporate interview was when I was specifically asked not to.

 

Everyone who posts to this forum is more fastidious about clothes than the average guy. A lot of us rationalize it by some combo of "I'm going to dress properly regardless of what others do" and "People like to see someone looking sharp." Such a mix of defiance and hopeful thinking is fine most of the time. But an interview is a good occasion to throw in a bit of realism and recognize that one question on the interviewers' mind is "How well will this guy fit in around here?"

Thinking that a comment on how well-dressed you are, coming from a guy in a wrinkled T-shirt, automatically counts as positive feedback would in my book be a case of hopeful thinking.

Joe B is right that it's contextual--but in more ways than one. If you're good with people and can project an air of easy confidence while maintaining the decorum called for in an interview, by all means wear a suit. However, if you're naturally a bit stiff and introverted, then I think it's not at all bizarre to worry that wearing a suit will hinder, rather than help, your efforts to make the right impression at a place where the environment is stated to be business casual.

Also, the OP didn't get that job he interviewed for in a suit. Doesn't mean it was the suit or any other one thing, of course. But it's a data point. I once wore a dark suit to an interview where one of the interviewers showed up in a Hawaiian-print shirt. I didn't get the job, and while I don't blame the suit I would dress differently if I had a do-over.

 

Jeddy, "explicit directions on a card" would be "do not wear a suit to the interview." (And they would be on a card.)

So, context matters. If the comment is located next to another one that says "we're a nonsmoking environment", then you can be sure they're not talking about the interview per se.

The only time I've not worn a suit to a corporate interview was when I was specifically asked not to.

I'd call your contact over there and simply ask. If you're not comfortable calling and asking, then I think the above is the right answer -- wear a suit. (Exception: if you're interviewing for a programmer job in Silicon Valley or the like.) If you're over-dressed in a suit, make a joke about it and ditch the jacket and tie. On balance, it's a safer bet to over dress than under dress.

 

Our office is business casual. But when people interview, they always wear suits.

 

I don't think I'd ever want a job where I was disqualifed because I chose to wear a suit to an interview. That's like a girl who says: "You are too good looking, smart, funny and stylish for me...I want the guy behind you in shorts and flip flops picking his nose." That's her perogative. And I would be thankful for her self-knowledge.

 

So, context matters. If the comment is located next to another one that says "we're a nonsmoking environment", then you can be sure they're not talking about the interview per se.

I'm a former senior corporate VP, though I left to start my own business. I've given my perspective. On this thread, we've also had feedback from a professional corporate recruiter. The two of us agree--no suit.

Reality check: If I say, in writing, that we don't wear suits, and you show up in a suit, you're not getting hired.

The OP is most welcome to decide whether to take advice from the kind of people who will decide whether to hire him. Or from others.

 

So, context matters. If the comment is located next to another one that says "we're a nonsmoking environment", then you can be sure they're not talking about the interview per se.

I'm a former senior corporate VP, though I left to start my own business. I've given my perspective. On this thread, we've also had feedback from a professional corporate recruiter. The two of us agree--no suit.

Reality check: If I say, in writing, that we don't wear suits, and you show up in a suit, you're not getting hired.

The OP is most welcome to decide whether to take advice from the kind of people who will decide whether to hire him. Or from others.

You're exactly the kind of person representing the kind of firm I personally would shun. The last time I checked people are just as smart taking a shower as they are fully clothed. Thank you for being so transparent.

 

...and yet, the best advice offered at this point in this thread remains that which was offered in the first responding post)..."call the man!" If you are confused or troubled by the clothing guidance offered, just ask and eliminate any lingering doubts.

 

I don't know how to put this but I'm kind of a big deal.

I'm a former senior corporate VP, though I left to start my own business. I've given my perspective. On this thread, we've also had feedback from a professional corporate recruiter. The two of us agree--no suit.

Reality check: If I say, in writing, that we don't wear suits, and you show up in a suit, you're not getting hired.

The OP is most welcome to decide whether to take advice from the kind of people who will decide whether to hire him. Or from others.

 

I don't think I'd ever want a job where I was disqualifed because I chose to wear a suit to an interview. That's like a girl who says: "You are too good looking, smart, funny and stylish for me...I want the guy behind you in shorts and flip flops picking his nose." That's her perogative. And I would be thankful for her self-knowledge.

That's good if you can afford to be that way in an interview. I would wear a suit, but if I was told specifically not to wear a suit to the interview (as opposed to being informed that an office is "business casual." I would follow the instruction. Jobs are not always that easy to get.

 

I would wear a plain grey suit, dress shirt, and no tie. I wouldn't want to differentiate myself from the interviewer through what I was wearing. I hear interviewers love hiring people just like themselves.

 

I am a senior recruiter myself, and could offer you some professional insight.

I know a lot of forum members have adviced you to scout the place to get an idea of what the employees there wear. What you should consider is this: you are not an employee there yet, and cannot go dressed the way they normally do. This means that you have a fine line to walk.

What I would recommend in this scenario are: wool slacks (charcoal/khaki), blazer (navy/charcoal), dress shirt with a maybe a striped or textured tie, and oxford shoes.

Your attire speaks volumes about you as part of the first impression. You should show your interviewers that you have enough respect for their time and positions to dress "up" appropriately, but without over-doing it. It seems that a full-blown suit, given the very relaxed atmosphere you described there, would be over-doing it, IMO.

Be sure to wear well-polished (not mirror-shined) shoes. Brown shoes, IMO, should be fine. Black shoes are inherrently more formal, and should be reserved for when you know you must wear a dark suit for an interview.

Good luck.

I'm a Headhunter myself, I deal with this type of situation a lot. Always were a suit on your first interview no matter what. Put your best foot forward. You might look out of place but you know what, it doesn't matter. Unless you have been told not to wear a suit this is the way to go.

KM