[ale] Since we're on the subject of jobs lately

[Warren Myers]

I'd argue that the company is trying to sell itself to you - and that if you
show up all decked-out that you're over doing it, and they'll know they
don't have to try hard to get you.

If you're competent - and you don't show up looking like a total slob -
they'll want you.

I never show up in anything more interesting than pants and a polo or
short-sleeve button-up shirt. If they're that stuffy, I don't want to work
there.

Course, if you *like* suits and ties (I haven't worn either in over 10
years), then go for it.

WMM

On Wed, Jul 16, 2008 at 8:24 AM, Jeff Lightner <jlightner at water.com> wrote:

> I disagree with the tie comments.
>
> There's an old saying:
> You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
>
> I've been employed in the IT field since 1991 and it was sometime before
> 1996 that everyone went casual - despite that as I noted above I've
> always worn a suit and tie to interviews.  Once the job starts it's
> casual all the way.
>
> You're there trying to sell yourself to the potential employer.   Often
> you're interviewing with a recruiter or HR person who knows little to
> nothing of the technical end of the business and may not pass you on to
> hiring manager based on perceptions.  You then often are interviewing
> with management types who might well interpret casual dress (especially
> if it isn't "neat") as a sign that you're not "serious" about the job.
> While you will also interview with technical people usually this comes
> AFTER the first two things.  The technical people are going to judge you
> on what you say about technical questions and aren't going to hold a tie
> against you the way some on this list have implied if your answers are
> correct.
>
> By the way there are still some jobs where suit and tie is required not
> because its IT but because of the business.  I was even once asked to
> shave my beard for an interview by a recruiter.  I didn't do it but am
> just using it to illustrate the point that sometimes appearances as well
> as technical ability do matter.
>
> Of course you could always ask when arranging the interview whether they
> would like you to wear a suit and tie.  Often enough they'll tell you it
> is casual and you won't lose any points for coming in casual.  Just
> remember casual in a business setting seldom means cutoffs and a
> t-shirt.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of
> William Bagwell
> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 5:23 AM
> To: Mike Harrison; ale at ale.org
> Subject: Re: [ale] Since we're on the subject of jobs lately
>
> On Tuesday 15 July 2008, Mike Harrison wrote:
> > I recently (two days ago) interviewed a guy I'd like to hire,
> > who wore a tie. Badly. It was new, shiney and like his new blue
> > shirt, just didn't fit.
>
> You should have rung a cowbell and cut his tie off with a pair of
> scissors.
>
> Hey, it happend to me! Not a job interview, this was about 20 years ago
> in
> a steakhouse somewhere out west... Think it was this one.
> http://www.pppatio.com/OldFiles/history/index.html
>
> Garish green with white polka dot clown tie that hung down to my waist,
> so
> I even got an extra insult ad-libbed into the script:) Can't recall ever
>
> wearing a tie since.
> --
> William
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
> ----------------------------------
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail may contain privileged or confidential
> information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If you are
> not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of
> the contents of this information is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you
> have received this electronic transmission in error, please reply
> immediately to the sender that you have received the message in error, and
> delete it. Thank you.
> ----------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Ale mailing list
> Ale at ale.org
> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale
>



-- 

Warren Myers
http://warrenmyers.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mail.ale.org/pipermail/ale/attachments/20080716/33990df0/attachment-0001.html