Is it ok to wear a sweater and tie instead of a suit coat and tie to interview?

senior network engineers who wear a full suit and tie to an interview indicates inexperience or ex-finance. neither of which are pluses.

a good shirt with dress pants and shoes should suffice. friendly demeanor, nice personality, clear thoughts are far more important.

if you are interviewing for finance-related industries, wear a suit.

Suit and tie period.

If you go in overdressed that's OK. They will remember you as being the best dressed guy...a good thing.

I just started a new job this week. I work with engineers and wore a nice suit and tie. My interviewers told me several times that they don't wear suits and that I really looked great and professional.

Do whales actually have scrotums?

I always look at these clothing threads, more for the comedy than anything else. Glad I work in an industry where I can wear jeans, a button down, and cowboy boots everyday no matter what. Need to dress it up? - just add a sports coat. Most I've ever needed, even when dealing with investment houses and Asian financiers. I hate dress pants/khakis with a passion, and I only wear ties when I'm standing up at a wedding.


And one thing for the OP to consider....... Confidence transcends clothing. It is a crutch to those that feel they need something extra to ensure their place or open the door.

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Originally Posted by iceman

Do whales actually have scrotums?

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You saying whales got no balls? Them's fighting words.

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Originally Posted by iceman

Do whales actually have scrotums?

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dunno. they do have penises, that's what Ari made his bar stools out of

I always read these threads and wonder how middling people can be so picky over meaningless shit in the hiring process. I guess it's because they don't have any content to evaluate on?

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Originally Posted by GeoMatt

Glad I work in an industry where I can where jeans, a button down, and cowboy boots everyday no matter what.

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You're the 43rd president of the United States?

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Originally Posted by PNWbrit

You're the 43rd president of the United States?

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Nah, I'm better looking and haven't fried my brain.

The last time I had to go outside the company for a hire I did a series of phone interviews to weed out the apps. my last question was something like, 'is there anything else you'd like to share with us or a special quality that you could bring to the company?' This women says, 'well, I don't drive, but my husband will bring me to work most of the time.' My HR guy fell out of his chair laughing.

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Originally Posted by GeoMatt

I always look at these clothing threads, more for the comedy than anything else. Glad I work in an industry where I can wear jeans, a button down, and cowboy boots everyday no matter what. Need to dress it up? - just add a sports coat. Most I've ever needed, even when dealing with investment houses and Asian financiers. I hate dress pants/khakis with a passion, and I only wear ties when I'm standing up at a wedding.


And one thing for the OP to consider....... Confidence transcends clothing. It is a crutch to those that feel they need something extra to ensure their place or open the door.

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This is a job interview, not day-to-day. He can probably get away with almost anything day-to-day as a network engy. The suit is so you can be introduced to the more business types DURING the interview, not for the network people. If you're a good candidate, wearing a suit and people have a free moment, it's almost like an instant hire approval. I seriously don't get why people are arguing about this. Also, 90% of EC industries in that area that are looking for peeps are defense, insurance, finance etc.
This isn't CA where people don't give a fuck about working.

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Originally Posted by schuss

This is a job interview, not day-to-day. He can probably get away with almost anything day-to-day as a network engy. The suit is so you can be introduced to the more business types DURING the interview, not for the network people. If you're a good candidate, wearing a suit and people have a free moment, it's almost like an instant hire approval. I seriously don't get why people are arguing about this. Also, 90% of EC industries in that area that are looking for peeps are defense, insurance, finance etc.
This isn't CA where people don't give a fuck about working.

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.....and I have dressed the same for interviews as well. I've gotten every job I've wanted along the way. My point is that you can present as polished and professional without a suit.

not outside of mining

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Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

not outside of mining

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Used to consult within the DOE and NNSA complex before moving over to mining. If anything I was more casual there.

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Originally Posted by GeoMatt

Used to consult within the DOE and NNSA complex before moving over to mining. If anything I was more casual there.

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Not in my experience.

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Originally Posted by iceman

Do whales actually have scrotums?

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No..........

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Originally Posted by iceman

Do whales actually have scrotums?

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Do you know how to circumsize a whale? Send down the four skin divers.

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Originally Posted by MMP

except you aren't on the team until you get the job. dressing properly lets your potential employer that you know the difference between what is professional and what is not professional. Putting on a tie, no matter what the position shows your prospective employer that you cared enough to take time to dress to impress. Chances are your competition will take the lazy way out, and you may make a better first impression, and all things being equal, that could be the difference.

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I am speaking from the perspective of someone who hires network engineers and runs a team of 23 of them...and I thought I did say tie and sweater? Maybe I just thought it and didn't type it.

I stand by my statement that a suit and tie to an interview for any Engineering position in IT is overkill and actually can be construed as a negative in some IT circles. I have no employees off-shored and all are making very respectable wages and are all extremely qualified.

I believe only one of them wore a suit and tie to their interview and it actually took me by surprise...wasn't a negative, but he was forced to by his grandma who he lived with as he was 4 days out of college, ;)

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Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

It's "team dynamics" not discrimination root. now go back to keeping daskunt out of jail

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Can't believe I am agreeing with Hugh again :)

This is a fact...if you have equally qualified individuals and one fits the team dynamic and one doesn't, you go with the one that "fits". That is not discrimination. I mentioned the 20's to 40's age group because that is my current team's dynamic, and the OP is in this age group...I said nothing about refusing to hire someone older.

In fact, the last hire I did during Q4 was a gentlemen in his late 50's...who acts like a responsible, active 28 year old.

I'm not sure if anyone said this but this is got to be as much as fact for an IT job.

If you're UGLY --> Wear a suit and tie.
If you're FAT --> Wear a suit and tie.
If you're NOT UGLY & NOT FAT --> Just wear slacks, nice shoes, matching belt, clean pressed shirt and tie.

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Originally Posted by irul&ublo

No..........

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rulr dreams of 1100 pounds of testicle

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Originally Posted by Hott Butt Mud

I'm not sure if anyone said this but this is got to be as much as fact for an IT job.

If you're UGLY --> Wear a suit and tie.
If you're FAT --> Wear a suit and tie.
If you're NOT UGLY & NOT FAT --> Just wear slacks, nice shoes, matching belt, clean pressed shirt and tie.

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shirt + tie and no jacket = morman missionary

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Originally Posted by chatton18

shirt + tie and no jacket = morman missionary

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don't forget your backpack / helmet.

Are you the kind of person that looks really awkward in a suit? Being awkward in a suit isn't going to score any points in an interview.

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Originally Posted by PowTron

I am speaking from the perspective of someone who hires network engineers and runs a team of 23 of them...and I thought I did say tie and sweater? Maybe I just thought it and didn't type it.

I stand by my statement that a suit and tie to an interview for any Engineering position in IT is overkill and actually can be construed as a negative in some IT circles. I have no employees off-shored and all are making very respectable wages and are all extremely qualified.

I believe only one of them wore a suit and tie to their interview and it actually took me by surprise...wasn't a negative, but he was forced to by his grandma who he lived with as he was 4 days out of college, ;)

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I'm old school. like grandma. I guess my perspective is about more than the OP's question about a specific interview for a specific position. It's about whether people have any interest or feel any obligation to carry forth some simple standards of respectability in specific situations. One example I was thinking about is a wake. Lots of people go to wakes after work and dress every way you can imagine. It seems normal to me. It's strikes me as odd to see someone at the church, synagogue, or a funeral home service without a jacket and tie. Like they couldn't be bothered.

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Originally Posted by PowTron

I am speaking from the perspective of someone who hires network engineers and runs a team of 23 of them...and I thought I did say tie and sweater? Maybe I just thought it and didn't type it.

I stand by my statement that a suit and tie to an interview for any Engineering position in IT is overkill and actually can be construed as a negative in some IT circles. I have no employees off-shored and all are making very respectable wages and are all extremely qualified.

I believe only one of them wore a suit and tie to their interview and it actually took me by surprise...wasn't a negative, but he was forced to by his grandma who he lived with as he was 4 days out of college, ;)

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Yes, but where do you live? You're CO, right? That area is a lot more relaxed vs. the offices where he's going. Most of the management in that area is the Republican base for NH, so you have to cover the bases. That said, if you're the right candidate, you'll be fine as long as you're at least nice business casual.

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Originally Posted by chatton18

shirt + tie and no jacket = morman missionary

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that's a short sleeve shirt and a tie. Oh, those are mormon missionaries. More man missionaries are usually in chap looking for 1100lbs of testicle. PM rulr.