What should I wear to an engineer interview for tech startup?

[Muse]

I should mention this isn't typical consumer app based startup like Snapchat, Tinder, etc that is marketed towards the young. Its an enterprise security software company and the role will require some interaction with fortune 100 companies. I'll also be meeting with the VP of Operations. I think the staff here are a bit older as well and don't hire as much fresh grads and interns.

In that case, since you are used to wearing a coat and tie, etc. I'd do just that.

 

[CountZero]

well i guess i shouldn't say it would be an automatic dismissal, i guess i jumped the gun with that. but it would definitely give me a negative vibe about the person and i'd probably have it on my mind the whole time.

"if this guy can't be bothered to wear a suit to an interview, then he probably won't want to be bothered to do X"

all things equal, if 2 people had the EXACT skillset, but one was wearing a suit vs. one wearing a button down shirt and some slacks, which one would you hire and why?

In your scenario it would come down to interaction. If the suit gave them more confidence than likely suit, if the suit made them more fidgety than likely not suit. ALL things equal including interaction suit would probably get the edge but that scenario seems highly unlikely.

Out of curiosity have you have come across two "all things equal" candidates? The only time I've come close is with two mediocre candidates and some desperation for wanting a warm body. Thankfully a good candidate was not far behind so we punted both mediocre people.

 

[yuchai]

In your scenario it would come down to interaction. If the suit gave them more confidence than likely suit, if the suit made them more fidgety than likely not suit. ALL things equal including interaction suit would probably get the edge but that scenario seems highly unlikely.

Out of curiosity have you have come across two "all things equal" candidates? The only time I've come close is with two mediocre candidates and some desperation for wanting a warm body. Thankfully a good candidate was not far behind so we punted both mediocre people.

The way I see it, the possibilities are as follows:

If the interviewers care about this kind of thing (like purbeast does), they would completely disregard the casual wear guy.

If the interviewers don't consciously care about the dress, they would still subconsiously think that the suit person did better in the interview.

If the interviewers expected casual dress, I guess they would find the suit guy a bit weird and therefore would prefer the casual dress guy.

I guess you can have certain locations/fields where most interviewers fall into the 3rd camp, so in those situations by all means make adjustments. Generally speaking I'd say that conservative dress is the way to go.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Always wear a jacket and slacks at the very least. I've gone to a few interviews without wearing a tie but usually for the first round I'll wear a suit and a tie.

For subsequent interviews I'll usually just forgo the tie.

 

[Pardus]

Suit and tie and black dress shoes. Do your homework on the company and have a list of questions written out to ask. I found most people who do the actual interviewing, really suck at it.

They either ask the wrong questions or ask questions not even relevant to the job. Then you have the person applying for the job who is clueless about what the company does, never read their mission statement and walks in not even sure who he or she is supposed to interview with.

Really hate interviewers who start talking to you like you are their friend.. had one person say the word "like" at least 10 times, knew right there and then this was not the company to work for.

"So, dude, can you like tell me why ya want to work here in your own words"

Felt like saying to him, i don't want to work here because you are a moron.

 

[purbeast0]

In your scenario it would come down to interaction. If the suit gave them more confidence than likely suit, if the suit made them more fidgety than likely not suit. ALL things equal including interaction suit would probably get the edge but that scenario seems highly unlikely.

Out of curiosity have you have come across two "all things equal" candidates? The only time I've come close is with two mediocre candidates and some desperation for wanting a warm body. Thankfully a good candidate was not far behind so we punted both mediocre people.

if their interaction were identical which one would you pick. "all things equal" means 100% of everything is equal other than the way they are dressed.

who would you pick and why?

 

[jman19]

Suit and tie

 

[sdifox]

For those who say no suit and tie, know this. Trident knows better than you.

 

[jman19]

For those who say no suit and tie, know this. Trident knows better than you.

Harsh. But fair.

 

[brianmanahan]

For those who say no suit and tie, know this. Trident knows better than you.

my value city 99$ suit can't compare to his ill-fitting bespoke suit

 

[smackababy]

If you show up to a job interview I'm doing in anything less than I tie, you're not getting the job. I wear shorts to work, but it's a job interview. Don't be a fucking idiot.

 

[brianmanahan]

man, i wear suits to interviews, but i don't think i would want to work with most of you stuffy schmucks who think that they actually matter

 

[Markbnj]

If you show up to a job interview I'm doing in anything less than I tie, you're not getting the job. I wear shorts to work, but it's a job interview. Don't be a fucking idiot.

That's good to know, I guess. I haven't worn a tie to an interview in... definitely more than ten years.

 

[Grooveriding]

Crocks, a wizard hat and a watch. Nothing else.

 

[purbeast0]

man, i wear suits to interviews, but i don't think i would want to work with most of you stuffy schmucks who think that they actually matter

it pretty much boils down to if you don't wear a suit to an interview you are telling me you lack common sense.

and i most likely wouldn't hire someone who doesn't have common sense.

 

[Ryland]

Jean and a funny engineering-related tshirt.

This...at least thats what I wore to my last engineering interview for a job Ive since held for the last 16 years.

 

[Markbnj]

it pretty much boils down to if you don't wear a suit to an interview you are telling me you lack common sense.

and i most likely wouldn't hire someone who doesn't have common sense.

 

[nakedfrog]

That's good to know, I guess. I haven't worn a tie to an interview in... definitely more than ten years.

I specifically bought a banded collar shirt for interviews, because you can't wear a tie with one

it pretty much boils down to if you don't wear a suit to an interview you are telling me you lack common sense.

and i most likely wouldn't hire someone who doesn't have common sense.

My hiring experience conflicts directly with this statement. As in, hired a guy that came to his interviews in a suit/tie, but ultimately had low levels of professionalism and common sense. My absolute best hires have been people that showed up in a dressy shirt and sometimes a tie.
The fact that we're having this discussion means that it is NOT common sense.
Common sense = just took this food out of the oven, of course it's hot
Wearing a suit and tie because... some people think you HAVE to wear a suit and tie? Not common sense. Actually, it runs counter to common sense IMO, in that there's not a valid, logical reason for it, and there isn't a universal constant for it.

 

[manly]

I specifically bought a banded collar shirt for interviews, because you can't wear a tie with one

My hiring experience conflicts directly with this statement. As in, hired a guy that came to his interviews in a suit/tie, but ultimately had low levels of professionalism and common sense. My absolute best hires have been people that showed up in a dressy shirt and sometimes a tie.
The fact that we're having this discussion means that it is NOT common sense.
Common sense = just took this food out of the oven, of course it's hot
Wearing a suit and tie because... some people think you HAVE to wear a suit and tie? Not common sense. Actually, it runs counter to common sense IMO, in that there's not a valid, logical reason for it, and there isn't a universal constant for it.

It was fairly universal to wear a suit interviewing for any white-collar jobs, so that's what these guys mean by "common sense."

However, for engineering positions at tech startups, the expectation is that you don't wear a suit & tie to an interview. Part of what Markbnj is saying is that they actually will look at you strangely in that level of attire. Sure, it's just an interview, but you'll stick out like a sore thumb walking around their offices.

 

[Alienwho]

Obviously this depends on the culture of the startup. Not all startups are created equal. I'm in a startup with a pretty casual policy. Lots of nerds in tshirts and shorts even. I personally always maintain a minimum of jeans and a polo, but our execs are in jeans and tshirts a lot.

I participate in a lot of interviews and if you show up dressing like the people who already work here I'll raise an eyebrow. You haven't earned the right to dress like that yet.

If you come in a suit and tie I'll also raise an eyebrow. Do you know nothing about our company or our culture? This just shows me you didn't do any research on us and this may actually hurt you as the whole time we're wondering 'is this guy a good cultural fit?'.

Simply just make sure you are the best dressed person in the room by one step. It's totally okay if you email your interviewer and ask them what normal dress code looks like - then just step it up a notch. For me a simple standard is nice slacks, button up shirt with a nice jacket and shoes. Frankly if I was interviewing at a place that docked me for not wearing a full blown suit it wouldn't have been a good culture fit anyway and I don't want to be there.

 

[Markbnj]

However, for engineering positions at tech startups, the expectation is that you don't wear a suit & tie to an interview. Part of what Markbnj is saying is that they actually will look at you strangely in that level of attire. Sure, it's just an interview, but you'll stick out like a sore thumb walking around their offices.

Exactly, which just boils down to what the more sensible replies on this thread are saying: know the culture of the company you're interviewing with. There are a lot of sectors where the old "company man in a suit and tie" archetype just doesn't have meaning anymore, and where you will indeed seem out of place unless you're interviewing with an internal group where the culture is different.

I have friends and relatives who miss the formalism of the last century, but I'm not sorry to see it fade. "Dressing for success" and all the stuff is so superficial, and too often it just paints a nice facade on mediocrity. I'm happy to work in a business that values what's in my head, not what's on my back, or how well I did in the genetic lottery when faces were handed out.

 

[ControlD]

it pretty much boils down to if you don't wear a suit to an interview you are telling me you lack common sense.

and i most likely wouldn't hire someone who doesn't have common sense.

All it tells me is that a person might lack a suit and tie. If the interviewee seems like the best candidate for the job I really don't care if they wear a suit and tie. Especially since that will be the last time they wear one for the job. Seems silly to me. Common sense tells me it is pointless to spend good money on an outfit that will be worn once and then put away in a closet.

 

[quikah]

well i guess i shouldn't say it would be an automatic dismissal, i guess i jumped the gun with that. but it would definitely give me a negative vibe about the person and i'd probably have it on my mind the whole time.

"if this guy can't be bothered to wear a suit to an interview, then he probably won't want to be bothered to do X"

all things equal, if 2 people had the EXACT skillset, but one was wearing a suit vs. one wearing a button down shirt and some slacks, which one would you hire and why?

Where are you located? 90%+ of people in Silicon Valley interview in khaki's and polo shirt. 90%+ of customer meetings are wearing khaki's and polo shirt. (Might be slightly exaggerating those numbers)

Only exceptions are meetings with some non-tech companies or some Asian companies.

 

[brianmanahan]

I have friends and relatives who miss the formalism of the last century, but I'm not sorry to see it fade. "Dressing for success" and all the stuff is so superficial, and too often it just paints a nice facade on mediocrity.

agreed - i don't know how anyone could actually miss it.

 

[Ruptga]

It was fairly universal to wear a suit interviewing for any white-collar jobs, so that's what these guys mean by "common sense."

Yeah, was. It's not common anymore, especially in specific markets.

What is common is people moaning about "common sense" when what they really mean is "something I think is obvious even without giving it a second's thought". It's the everyman's version of "anyone with an IQ above 100 ought to be able to see that"; they normally don't mean it literally, it's just a figure of speech that's handy for looking down on whoever they disagree with, since obviously if they weren't so stupid they would just agree with me.