What to wear to an engineering job interview?

[tom66]

In light of the recent discussion of dress standards for engineers, I've got a year placement interview coming up soon. Any idea on what the best clothes to wear to such an interview would be, for the best impression?

Personally I would think smart casual, e.g. polo shirt and trousers. No suit and tie. I am being interviewed for a standard engineering placement. I will be interviewed by an HR officer, the "support engineering manager" and the "digital project lead manager".

[free_electron]

see image below. but on your head only. anywhere else would be ridiculous

[Excavatoree]

Before my last interview, the recruiter strongly suggested I wear a suit and tie.  I explained that I didn't think that was appropriate, as it is a causal office.   I wore just a shirt and tie, with my regular work pants - not fancy "suit pants" if there is a difference.

The guy interviewing me was wearing shorts.  I was glad I didn't wear the suit. 

[jpb]

I work in research in a university where generally dress code is very casual, but for a job interview I would probably err on the side of formal and dig out my suit - last time I did this I found I was too fat for it and had to buy another one!

If you're over-dressed I think you get away with it because you're obviously dressing up for an interview and you can apologise and make a bit of a joke about it.

On the other hand if you under-dress, even if your hosts are informally dressed, it may give the message that you're not willing to make an effort for the interview.

It is similar to meeting with customers, when I ran a small company with a few others we dressed informally for work but if visiting customers we wore suits to try and give the message that we thought they were important enough to make an effort for.

[Phaedrus]

My last interview I wore khakis, a nice blue dress shirt, brown dress shoes. I debated a tie, and decided against it. Fresh haircut and such, of course. The only person dressed as well as I was was the General Manager; everyone else was in jeans and polos. I aced the interview and got an offer three days later.

This is Los Angeles area though. If you're on the east coast, I would probably recommend a suit and tie. In general do your research and try to get a feel for the corporate culture before-hand. You want to be as well dressed, or slightly better, than your interviewer.

[AG6QR]

If possible, "stake out" the office before the interview, sit in the parking lot and watch people coming and going, and see how they're dressed.  For an interview, you want to be dressed better than most employees on an average day.  You definitely don't want to be dressed more casually than the typical employee.

Dress standards vary widely.  My current company is very casual.  The hiring manager I first interviewed with told me he preferred, but wouldn't absolutely insist, that his employees wear a shirt and shoes to work.  He wanted us to be dressed well enough that we wouldn't get kicked out of a fast food restaurant.  I interviewed in a suit and tie, and got the job.  But I don't think the suit helped.

I've seen candidates come through here in sharp business suits, or in jeans, and I don't think it has ever made much difference either way in our office.  But even in a casual office, it doesn't hurt to be a little bit dressed up for an interview.  In a formal office, it may hurt a lot to be dressed too casually.

[AndyC_772]

Suit and tie. Seriously, it's expected - and at the very least, acceptable - for engineering interviews.

[jancumps]

Yes, suit and tie is always right over here when applying for a job.

[8086]

You're in the UK, me too. Suit and tie, always.

[Dave Turner]

Suit and tie is the norm, but how about asking the recruiter what the expected dress code is? This could go two ways - kudos for the research or criticism for asking. I'd prefer to work for a company that gives the kudos.

[dr.diesel]

Suit and tie is the norm

Here in the states I've not seen an interviewee in a suit and tie in years. 

I got my last two jobs in jeans/t-shirt.

[AndyC_772]

Tom's not in the states, though. Here in the UK I don't recall seeing an interview candidate in anything other than a suit and tie - and certainly not a successful one.

[CaptnYellowShirt]

Orange for summer/fall, blue for winter/spring.

[Dave Turner]

Suit and tie is the norm

Here in the states I've not seen an interviewee in a suit and tie in years. 

I got my last two jobs in jeans/t-shirt.

Dr Diesel - I'm truly happy that that is true for you in the US - I suspect however that your experience is in the minority compared to the rest of the world. Hence my previous posts on this matter.

[Tinkerer]

I have always worn dress clothing(tie, etc). In some cases they dont care, but its better to ere on the safe side. Especially when many hiring managers are looking for practically any reason to not hire someone when there is no shortage of people.

[poorchava]

Suit and tie. I do not know what is expected but you cannot go wrong with that. It simply expresses your respect for potential employer.

[skipjackrc4]

I always wear a suit, even to an interview at a company where the CFO wears gym shorts to work.

[ablacon64]

Too hot here for wearing a suit. We wear lighter clothes like polo t-shirts and micro fiber pants (sometimes jeans), but never shorts or slippers.

I imagine going to the interview:

And after some weeks on the job, working overnight:

 

[KJDS]

I don't think I've ever interviewed anyone that wasn't at least wearing a jacket and tie. Tweed is acceptable if you're over 40, or have an obvious country background, otherwise invest a few pennies in one of George's finest suits.

[peter.mitchell]

anything not black and yellow is sufficient, don't want fluke coming after you for "trade dress"

[Hypernova]

Suit, of the birthday kind.

[expitaxial]

After numerous failed attempts I watched Dave Jones eevblog on what to wear, do & say at a interview. At the next one I rode my bike and wore my 30 y/o leather jacket, belstaff pants with a hi vis shirt and safety boots. My wife gave me a number No 2 clipper job on my head and trimmed my beard for the Bob Pease look.
I got the job too !