Interviews

[jedimaster91]

I was always taught that the way you dress for things like interviews shows the amount of respect you have for your potential employer. Looking nice does go a long way. Although the shirt perfectly pressed and shoes meticulously shined can be a bit much. As long as the interviewer can't see the wrinkles and the shoes don't look like you dug them out of the trash bin, it should be enough.

[guywithashovel]

I can understand getting irritated at the psychological tests that employers sometimes give candidates. When I was interviewing at Wal-Mart years ago, they gave us a test that asked us to explain how we'd respond to a bunch of hypothetical scenarios, and then we were quizzed on our answers to a few of the questions (not all of them, though). Here is one of these hypothetical situations I can remember.

1. Joe balances his checkbook and finds an error of 15 cents. After working on the matter for six hours, Joe finds the error. Was this worth Joe's time spent on the task?

I honestly didn't know how to respond to this one. If I answered "yes, his time was wasted," then they could accuse me of not paying enough attention to detail. If I answered "no, it was good that he took the time to find the error," then they could accuse me of being too focused on trivial details and neglecting more important issues.

However, I have to admit, I don't understand why dressing up is such a chore for some people. And I hate to admit it, but it's usually my gender that gripes the loudest about this (though there are quite a few females who grumble about having to put on nice clothes). Seriously, why is putting on a nice pair of slacks, a dress shirt, and a tie (or even a full suit) such torture? I have yet to see a person of either sex whose appearance wasn't enhanced by putting on nice dress clothes.

Then again, maybe I'm biased, because I wear a dress shirt and tie to work every day (except for Fridays). Honestly, I'm perfectly comfortable in it.

[Rageaholic]

Wow kind of an old thread.

Anyway, I wouldn't say dressing up is torture, but it is kind of annoying. I think it's stupid that people judge you on superficial crap. Really, it's only a minor annoyance (though I hate having to get it perfect since I'm laid back). I don't see why I had so many responses acting like I was complaining about dressing up alone when there are so many more annoying and stressful things with regards to interviews.

[Ninja_Sushi]

Heh, yeah the dressing up thing does kinda suck. Im currently job hunting myself. Problem is Im broke. To get nice clothes, you need money. To get money you need a job. But I cant get the job without something nice to wear. And round and round it goes.

And my nicer shirts are an old black button up, and an old black polo. Both barely fit me anymore. My nice shoes are scuffed to hell. My pants always have dog hair on them. Haha, one big mess.

I too hate the psych tests. I mean, wtf? To stock at walmart? Pshh, please. I know youre supposed to answer the tests the way you think the employer wants you to, but that isnt me. Im not one to bend over and take it from a manager. Yes Ill follow directions, but I wont be Mr. Yes sir, yes sir, of course sir, sorry sir, ill get right on that sir. Guess they dont like employees being too independent

[Greenday]

The only reason I hate dressing up is because of the long sleeves. I hate long sleeve shirts. They the sleeves past the elbows are uncomfortable. I do look good dressed up but I prefer to dress for comfort.

[Ginger Tea]

I was suited up heading to an agency for the first time, just to make a good impression, looking for anything really and told them it would probably be temporary as I was saving money to learn how to drive so I could then go to onsite where all the jobs were going in my then old field.
I got sent to a cake factory that day, so aside from my jacket being in my locker, I spent the first day almost ontop of an oven that was pretty long in my finest atire (under a boiler suit). Job ended up paying more than alot of the jobs I was looking at entry level wise so I stuck with it and spent my driving money in the clubs.
Brother had a similar thing althouh his was direct with the company not an agency, he got a provisional job on the spot after an interview making coin mechanisms, again doing it in his best clothes.

Now, if the job deemed it, I would dress up (have to buy a suit first) but my last few jobs started off as just casual agency things I just showed up one day and was given shit to do and my current one I just wore a clean shirt my going out black trousers and my dad's older than me leather jacket, which I hung up on arival.
But ...
My hair is matted and I don't intend to shave or cut it at the moment (someone donates enough to charity we'll talk) I like having a long goatie and I still havn't gone back to the dentists to get measured for my dentures over a year after I had most of my teeth extracted, so even in a suit I would look like a tramp.

[guywithashovel]

Wow kind of an old thread.

Anyway, I wouldn't say dressing up is torture, but it is kind of annoying. I think it's stupid that people judge you on superficial crap. Really, it's only a minor annoyance (though I hate having to get it perfect since I'm laid back). I don't see why I had so many responses acting like I was complaining about dressing up alone when there are so many more annoying and stressful things with regards to interviews.

I came upon this thread while I was looking for another one. I didn't realize at the time how old it was.

I didn't mean to bust your chops over the dressing up thing, and I wasn't even responding to just you. I know that dressing up can feel strange if you're not used to it, but think of it this way. When you're interviewing for a job, your potential employer is probably interviewing at least one other person (in this job market, probably at least two or three other people) for the same position. You have a chance at getting a leg up on the competition by just making sure your clothes are immaculate (e.g. putting on cuff links, making sure your suit is pressed, shining your shoes).

Yes, it's superficial, but realize that when you walk into a job interview, the person interviewing you doesn't know you from Adam, and he or she only has a designated amount of time to size you up enough to decide whether or not you're suited for the position. This person pretty much has to look at superficial things like how you're dressed, how well done your resume is, etc.

I didn't mean to unnecessarily focus on the clothes issue, though I did also talk about the psychological questions and tests they sometimes present in interviews, which do really suck. It's just that in threads like this, many of the people I see complaining about dressing up are also in college or planning on going there. If you get a job that requires a degree, then chances are, you're going to have to dress up a little. You may not have to, but chances are will probably have to dress business casual at the least, even if it is a very casual form of business casual.

[BlaqueKatt]

"the easiest way to retain one's current employees, is the tacit agreement all companies have to make the interview process only slightly less uncomfortable than trying to comb your hair with a feral cat."-Dilbert, way of the weasel

[Rageaholic]

guywithashovel: That's cool. I wasn't talking about your response, but the older responses from six months ago which made me out to be some whiner for merely mentioning cloths (though I new realizes it may have been directed at the OP). And nothing wrong with digging up an old thread.

About the psych questions, I agree, those questions can go straight to hell, especially the ones that are poorly worded or the ones where you wouldn't know how to answer it unless you actually had the job. Those are by far the worst part of the interview. Dressing up may be stupid and annoying (to me at least), but I'd take that over the dumbass questions any day.