Interview this Saturday...
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Discussion

Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Monday 7th January 2013
quotequote all
I have a job interview at a car dealership on Saturday and I'm not sure whether to wear a suit or not. I am snare as so far the phone calls have been very casual and even the invitation to speak in person was a 'it would be lovely if you came in to see us so you cold check us out and take a look at our premises'.

It feels very informal and it hasn't been called an interview but I have been invitited to visit them to discuss the role. Am I being stupid even considering not wearing a suit? I was thinking jumper rather than jacket as I didn't want to stroll up all suited and booted if it was just an informal chat?

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

260 months

Monday 7th January 2013
quotequote all
You'll feel a little silly wandering round in a suit if they are all in jeans and t-shirts.

You'll feel a right tt losing a job interview because your first impression was that of a scruffy git wink

happychap

545 posts

177 months

Monday 7th January 2013
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Cant see it doing any harm by turning up in suit, if you feel over dressed when you get there, remove the jacket. Hope it works out for you.

jas xjr

11,309 posts

268 months

Monday 7th January 2013
quotequote all
you can still have an informal chat wearing a suit . no-one is going to be offended if you turn up suited and booted.

rog007

5,828 posts

253 months

Monday 7th January 2013
quotequote all
Wear a well fitting plain dark/grey lounge suit (with a plain black belt) with light shirt, dark plain tie, black (well polished shoes) with dark socks and you will offend no one. Good luck!

98elise

32,498 posts

190 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
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If its a car showroom then they will have big windows. Turn up half hour early in a suit and have a look what they are wearing. If they are in any office wear, then wear your full suit. If they are in casual, then ditch the jacket and tie.

You want to be smart, but still fit in. As the poster above said though, its difficult to offend in a dark plain suit.


Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
quotequote all
Thanks guys. I had assumed a suit would be best. Shoes are polished, suit is bagged and hung up in the spare room and I just need to prepare now.

Thanks again!

voicey

2,493 posts

216 months

Tuesday 8th January 2013
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Think of it from their perspective....

If the office is casual and you turn up in a suit so they say to you "no need to to have worn a suit".

If the office it smart and you turn up in jeans and a t-shirt they think to themselves "what a scruffy tt".


Tom8

6,296 posts

183 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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One of the most valuable lessons I learned in the navy was that you can always dress down but you can't dress up. Always go as best turned out as possible never aim down. If you wear a suit and feel out of place you can always remove tie and jacket. You can't magic a tie from thin air if you want one!

I would not eomply anyone who turns up for an interview casually dressed.

Pothole

34,367 posts

311 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Tom8 said:
One of the most valuable lessons I learned in the navy was that you can always dress down but you can't dress up. Always go as best turned out as possible never aim down. If you wear a suit and feel out of place you can always remove tie and jacket. You can't magic a tie from thin air if you want one!

I would not eomply anyone who turns up for an interview casually dressed.
It's a terrible thing uneomplyment!

Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies. Like I said, I had assumed that would be the suggestion and I shall follow your advice.

Also, I wasn't suggesting I pop down in my jeans and a polo shirt, I just wanted clarification on whether a suit, shirt and tie was too far.

Thanks guys, might update this if it goes well, might delete it if it doesn't....

fido

18,861 posts

284 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Suit & trousers. You can always take off the suit & tie and wear a jumper to casual down a bit.

Odie

4,187 posts

211 months

Wednesday 9th January 2013
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Always better to be over dressed than under dressed.

MysteryLemon

4,968 posts

220 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
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Maybe not a full suit, but defo shirt, trousers and probably a tie. Nothing less.

Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
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MysteryLemon said:
Maybe not a full suit, but defo shirt, trousers and probably a tie. Nothing less.
I might shove some shoes on but I'm not sure about my cowboy hat?

Pothole

34,367 posts

311 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
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btw, OP: 'snare'?

Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Thursday 10th January 2013
quotequote all
Pothole said:
btw, OP: 'snare'?
Absolutely no idea whatsoever! Must have autocorrected and I missed it. Apologies...

Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Monday 14th January 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for all the advice guys. I did as was suggested and 'suited up' but when I got there felt very over dressed so just popped the jacket off once we sat down. It was warm in the office as well so it was fine.

Interview went well IMO. Seemed to get on well straight away and while I was there my interviewer seemed to suggest the job I applied for was maybe didn't quite suit/was slightly below my capabilities and suggested he would rather put me in a position that hadn't become available yet due to a current staff dispute but was pretty much going to be vacant in a week or two.

This other job is slightly better paid for the same hours so I can't moan. He said they will know fairly soon when the job is being vacated and would 'like to get me in as soon as possible'.

I won't get ahead of myself but I left feeling good, so fingers crossed.

Thanks again!

Pothole

34,367 posts

311 months

Monday 14th January 2013
quotequote all
Donatello said:
Pothole said:
btw, OP: 'snare'?
Absolutely no idea whatsoever! Must have autocorrected and I missed it. Apologies...
Oh. I thought I was going to learn a new bit of slang!

Donatello

Original Poster:

1,035 posts

190 months

Tuesday 15th January 2013
quotequote all
Pothole said:
h. I thought I was going to learn a new bit of slang!
Sorry to disappoint!