Dressing for success (WWMD)

[grrrr]

I have to fly out and meet the owner of the "hypothetical" resort in MT next week. Normally, when I interview, I am meeting with city managers, etc. There is a very strict dress code: black suit, white shirt, conservative tie, wingtips.

Somehow, that just doesn't seem right for this. It is, after all, a ski resort, even if the position is managerial. and it is Montana.

So, what do you think? Should I dress down ? I was thinking pleated khakis, oxford, tie, sweater...

This is kinda new to me, I have been in local government for 15 years.

[Stikki]

It's Montana, wear chaps. And only chaps.

[OldLarry]

Be sure to carry a side arm and say things like "darn tootin'" and "yeehaw"..

[frozenwater]

Never underdress. An interview, especially for a management position will never go badly just because you are "overdressed" BUT it could go badly if they percieve that you are underdressed.

[Red Baron]

I agree with the idea of still dressing up. I mean, maybe not a full suit, but Frozen's right, it's better to be overdressed than underdressed...

I don't think asking the person you're interviewing with would be a bad idea, say something like "should I wear my usual suit, or are we going to be up on the (hypothetical) mountain?" and you may have your answer right there...

[tonghands]

What he said. Losing a job because you're overdressed will never happen. Not getting a job because you're underdressed happens all the time.

[KQ]

What's the venue? Will you be going to a site or willl it be in an office?

The only time I see men in my office wear a tie any more is if they are going to court - times have def. changed for my industry.

Edit: Well......I have to admit everyone that comes in for interviews, be they summer clerks or practicing lawyers, always wears a suit BUT....if you're going to a resort site I would think you would at least want proper footwear. Wouldn't it be better to look like you were prepared and thinking ahead for the conditions? Ah Hell - wear a suit with some boots, you'll be fine.

[Grange]

I once went into an interview for a professional job wearing shorts, t-shirt and sandals. I obviously did not get the job.

I was driving across the state in the summer and my pick-up had partially plugged radiator so I had to drive with the heater turned all the way up. I was just out of college and didn't have any money to fix it before the interview. Well I decided to bring my suit with me and just change in a park before the interview. As I was changing I realized I didn't have a dress shirt.

Considering the suit is double breasted and pinstriped I didn't think I could get away with just wearing the t-shirt. I didn't know the City I was in and ran out of time driving around to find another dress shirt. I tried to explain my situation and the interviewers said they understood, but I was so flustered I had a horrible interview. Lucky for me I got a much better job with the Department six months later.

Lessons learned. Never underdress for an interview. Also never get into an argument with an interviewer. I learned that lesson a few years later.

[Honc]

Sounds to me like pin-striped chaps is the compromise.

[The Reverend Floater]

Hey Grrrrrr,

I work in a professional work place in a very similiar town to that in MT. While I sit here in my RSN hoody and Scott USA hat, I'll definitively state that you'd be better off overdressed than the alternative. If someone interviews here in a suit, we mock them when they leave but take them seriously. If someone wears slacks and a polo shirt or something, then there's no comment. But the ones that don't bother shaving and wear their beanies to interviews are generally discounted.

Better safe than sorry. They may laugh at you, but you won't lose any points.

[Keoni]

Originally posted by Honc
Sounds to me like pin-striped chaps is the compromise.

It's Montana...pin-striped sheep costume, with a tie of course.

[watersnowdirt]

Can you wear something more like a sport jacket (is that the right term?). While I agree that it's better to be overdressed, I also see KQ's point that maybe showing them that you at least understand the environment you'd be working in is good. So, though I'm not a guy, I'd go with something a notch down from a full suit, but above the polo shirt and pants.

One of these days I have to tell you guys about my website idea ... it will solve all these fashion problems. Maybe it'll be up by the summit!

[fez]

It's montana fer christ sake.

Khaki's, sweater and tie is pretty damn dressed up. Hell, anything that isnt jeans is dressed up.

I this hypothetical resort is the one i think it is, I know Tim, know most of the managers there in the foodservice side, and they are all pretty down to earth people.

Go with what makes you comfortable, if you are nervous that you would be underdressed in the khaki's, go with the suit, you don't need that kind of tension in a job interview

[road trip]

My $.02 - wear a suit, but not like you described... not black, not pin striped (perhaps "charcoal").. don't wear a white shirt.. maybe a dark blue... show some color.

Basically, wear a more fashionable suit as opposed to a conservative suit... it'll be sorta like dressing down, but not really. Nobody will accuse you of under dressing and at the same time you don't seem as overdressed.

[Foggy_Goggles]

When you say "meet with the owner" that means suit to me. Skip the Italian shit and the banker get up. Go for a plain grey or navy wool suit, colored or stripped shirt with a patterned tie. No loafers, shoes with laces. Or, if you want to bring a little Western substitue cowboy boots, seriously. Some type of rhinestone belt might work.

edit: If your riding your horse, a differnet outfit is needed.

[Dingleberry]

Call the administrative assistant and ask.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Originally posted by Dingleberry
Call the administrative assistant and ask.

Dice roll. He/she may or may not know what the fuck they are talking about. Most AA didn't get the position due to their business acumen.

[Viva]

Dress slacks, shirt w/ tie, nice shoes, jacket. Any color shirt works provided you know how to wear it and you match accordingly. There are some nice casual dress shoes with Vibram hiking style soles- those puppies rock!

Also, they can see from your Cirriculum vitae that you've fought on fire lines, so you clearly know how to dress up for outdoor site conditions. You may inquire in advance whether or not you'll be touring outside. Do some homework on that.

Got ta go-fukin meetings

[altagirl]

You said it yourself - there's a strict dress code.

You've got to look the part or you're not going to cut it.

[KQ]

Originally posted by altagirl
You said it yourself - there's a strict dress code.

You've got to look the part or you're not going to cut it.

I think he was talking about interviews with City Managers not the particular interview he's going to.

So Grrrrrr - are you any closer to making a decision or have we just made it harder to decide?

[grrrr]

Gee, all these options....most of which invlove buying more clothes. I usually wear a tie two times a year unless someone dies.

The guy who would be my immediate boss will be picking me up at the airport on Thursday. I think going with decent casual (including a tie) and carrying a suit, and a sport coat in my luggage. I can't expect that he'd expect me to show up in a suit after travelling by boat, car and airplane to get there.

I can play it by ear then for Friday with the owner. It wouldn't be too much trouble to pack a few options.

Chaps: sorry, don't own.
Cowboy boots: ditto
Cowboy hat: Could manage that one.

Shoes with vibram soles: a very good idea no matter which way I go. I might look stupid in a suit, but I'd look even more stoopid falling in the parking lot in my slick wingtips.

[Viva]

Originally posted by grrrr

The guy who would be my immediate boss will be picking me up at the airport on Thursday. I think going with decent casual (including a tie) and carrying a suit, and a sport coat in my luggage. I can't expect that he'd expect me to show up in a suit after travelling by boat, car and airplane to get there.

I can play it by ear then for Friday with the owner. It wouldn't be too much trouble to pack a few options.

Shoes with vibram soles: a very good idea no matter which way I go. I might look stupid in a suit, but I'd look even more stoopid falling in the parking lot in my slick wingtips.

I'm sure if you ask really nice, Crinkle's dog would let you borrow his killer tie.

The vibram-soled dress shoes actually look pretty good with a business suit. Allen-Edmonds makes some nice ones. They're pricey, but last a long time and A-E will rebuild them for the third of the cost of a new pair. [IMG]
http://www.shoeshistory.com/images/a...onds_shoes.jpg[/IMG]

YES! Have options and know that you're ready for most any situation- confidence to so sexy...

[The AD]

I'm getting a kick out of the posts telling grrr what kind of suit to wear. If he's like me he's got pretty much one choice: the single suit he owns!

[grrrr]

Bingo! But I do have two ties.

[Benny Profane]

This will show if you did the proper research about the company, which is all important in the initial interview. You CAN overdress. Talking to a secretary without giving your name, or lying, will probably help. Turn on the charm.