Advice: interview - YouLookFab Forum

OK, ladies, I need opinions to get my juices flowing about what to wear for an interview. I will be interviewing with six people. All men. For a tech job working with manufacturing engineers and "a global coffee company" (can you guess? LOL). Needs to fit the "business casual" box.

My thoughts: Probably sticking to conventional clothing silhouettes, neutral or non-brights, and probably pants (I have only cropped flares)? Maybe on the more casual side of dressy (for me...I run "dressy"). possibly a cardigan instead of a jacket?

The last interview I had, at the beginning of the month (still waiting to hear back...) I wore a tweed collarless jacket, white blouse, black cropped flare and black booties. I wasn't told outright I was overdressed, but I was warned by one of the interviewers (whom I knew, actually, from a previous job) that "everyone can tell you are here for an interview because no one would ever wear something this dressy to work".

I've always considered that what you would wear to work plus 1 level of dressiness is the right thing for an interview (in Seattle and in tech, things get VERY casual). I interviewed at another well-known firm a few years back and felt perfect in a simple pull-over and trousers with heels. I'm thinking along those lines here as well...what do you think? I'm more nervous leaving off the jacket at a company that isn't purely "tech".

(anecdotally, my dad worked at MS in the 90's and it was the era where if you showed up for the interview in a suit they would immediately show you the door because they considered it highly inappropriate!)

8 years ago

jill58

Veteran

I would wear a blazer rather than a cardigan. I don't think a blazer is so formal that you would really seem overdressed. In any case, for an interview I would always rather be a bit over rather than underdressed.

Jenava

(website)

Because my current wardrobe is so limited I may be backed in to only one option - one I wore for a previous interview. Black cropped flare trousers, cream blouse, cream tweed moto-style blazer and black shoes. Just debating if I should wear booties or pumps. I have photos but they're not uploading atm for some reason.

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rachylou

I have a non-suit suit from Target for just this sort of occasion. It's cotton navy with white stitching. The first engineer I interviewed with said 'oh, you didn't have to get dressed up,' but I was hired. I think it shows the right amount of respect without being fancy or too fashion forward (but still fun) or stiff, and people feel that (whatever words come out of their mouth, lol). It's my lucky suit.

UmmLila (Lisa)

The pieces themselves are not too formal, but I think the combination of black and white is.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

(Actually, for a MS interview loop, they warn you ahead of time NOT to dress up).

I think your instincts are dead right, Jenava. Take a jacket that you can remove at the interview.

Nadya

Definitely booties instead of pumps. They need to imagine that you'd be comfortable on a factory floor. You could probably do nice jeans and a blazer, because I'm guessing that's what the men do to "dress up." Definitely pants, if not jeans. (I've worked in tech my whole career, FWIW.)

OK, good tip on the booties instead of pumps. These are my sensible, wedge, almond-toe, 2 inch wedges, but nonetheless...pumps = female and that's not a point I want to over-emphasize in this particular interview.

I tried on a pullover in a pale cream that looks really nice sans jacket (a tiny bit short, but OK; it has a stepped hem and is longer) so I think I'll wear that because it's more comfy over the boobs than the button-front blouse.

I hear you, UmmaLila on the color pallet. I think the pullover rather than the blouse will also help counter the dressy vibe (although still in the same pallet).

It seems my blazer collection is missing basic items, since I never wear basic blazers. I have only leather jackets (black moto, white moto, pink moto, mushroom dressier moto), tweed jackets (blue, cream), and a purple slouchy velvet blazer. yeah. So. I think the leather are out except for the dressier one. Maybe if I need a round two I can build something around that. I don't want to buy something since I'd truly never wear it again.

And, my dress trousers are limited to this cropped style; I have one pair of dressy cream trousers which just feel tooooo dressy (like, could be formal). Again, not wanting to buy anything since I won't wear it. If I wear booties that will close the gap and they'll read more like regular trousers to the unatuned observer

Diana

I agree with ummlila that the black and white color palette is making this read very formal. I think either a colored jacket or a color or even print blouse would go a long way toward softening the overall look. I'd go with the booties too. Or oxfords maybe.

unfrumped

I think that's a lively outfit but the cream jacket plus cream blouse reads more elegantly dressy than some dark blazers would- like a dark jacket or cardigan with scrunched sleeves over a dressy T ( more like your idea of the pullover). I think it's because all that lovely cream fabric reads " don't get messy".

But really, I am just clueless about interviews where one intentionally has to dress way down or get snubbed. For Pete's sake, it's an interview outfit, not the work uniform.

Jen W

Active Member

Tech interview wear is tough! My DH is a data scientist in San Jose and it is always challenging to figure out the interview dress code. If it were me, I'd wear boots with the cropped pants, with either the pullover since it's a less formal fabrication, or something is a color or pattern. Do you have a scarf you could add to the pullover for a little color?

I wish you luck on your interview!

Anonymous

Interviewing the tech world is so different from my world. Any advice I might offer would skew you in the wrong direction.

Best wishes on the interview.

anchie

I like when people dress up for the interview, it gives impression that they care for the job and that they are showing the respect. So better overdressed then under-dressed in my opinion.
I am in the opposite position than you, next week I am sitting in the panel for senior technical position. And I am also worrying what will I wear. So if it is any consolation to you, people who are interviewing you are maybe also in the same boat as you

Sal

I think you are almost there Jenava. I think the pants with booties (or loafers or brogues, rather than pumps - whatever you have). I like both the shirt and the jacket but maybe not both together for this situation.

I think a sweater under the jacket would be a perfect look. I would be tempted to go for black to match the pants but I always do. Cream or off white would also be terrific.

For my last interview I wore a black dress with black ankle boots and opaque tights. I tend to feel more comfortable in pants for interviews than dresses in general though.

Good luck!!

Jenni NZ

You look amazing to me in the outfit pictured, it does look really dressy to me though so I agree about trying booties instead. I don't understand the tech world sorry. Just use it!

texstyle

I think with the pullover you mentioned and the booties you are going in the right direction. Best wishes on your interview!

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