[Brian]

I've been a software tester in the US for some time and all of the places I've worked were extremely casual. I had one manager who wore sweat pants and a tshirt to work every day. My usual dress is hiking shoes, cargo pants, and a tshirt or casual button down shirt.

I have a couple of nicer shirts, ties, and one each of pants and shoes for interviews but no suit. Should I consider picking these things up before I fly down next month or are things equally relaxed down there? I'm already out of space in my luggage - bringing more clothes would mean something else would have to stay behind.

[djchicane]

Dress code in my place, (mix of support/dev/test etc..), is shirt/trousers. No tie. I work for a pretty large company though - smaller outfits may be more relaxed.

[Familyofmonkeys]

OH work (big company) is generally tidy casual trousers (not jeans) and polo shirt/casual shirt. OH only worn one of his old work shirts once since we got here and he has never worn a tie or suit.

[M-Squared]

Definitely a suit for interviews. Never dress down for those. I work in IT and no-one wears a tie except for my 3rd line manager. His manager doesn't usually wear one either. Most guys wear smart trousers but rarely a regular dress shirt. We have mufti Fridays. :nice1

[djchicane]

Definitely a suit for interviews. Never dress down for those. I work in IT and no-one wears a tie except for my 3rd line manager. His manager doesn't usually wear one either. Most guys wear smart trousers but rarely a regular dress shirt. We have mufti Fridays. :nice1

hehe, you have just reminded me of my interview.. 10 minutes after putting the phone down from my prospective boss, (and 20 minutes until interview, after he said can you be here in 30 mins!) I thought .. I arrived in NZ with a pair of jeans and a couple of t-shirts...

After the initial apologies for looking like a scruff, and normal interview process, I got the job :)

Dave

[richard]

...

I have a couple of nicer shirts, ties, and one each of pants and shoes for interviews but no suit. Should I consider picking these things up before I fly down next month or are things equally relaxed down there? I'm already out of space in my luggage - bringing more clothes would mean something else would have to stay behind.

Some employers are quite laid back but I personally think it is worth making the effort for an interview as first impressions count. Once you have the job you should be OK to go casual.

I personally wear a suit, shirt and tie but I am in the minority. Some people wear shorts, t-shirts and jandels in the summer. A few guys wear business style shorts all year round.

[Philip10]

I would wear shorts and jangles if I were you

[richard]

I would wear shorts and jangles if I were you

You haven't seen my legs! :exit

[Tia Maria]

OH work (big company) is generally tidy casual trousers (not jeans) and polo shirt/casual shirt. OH only worn one of his old work shirts once since we got here and he has never worn a tie or suit.

Same for my OH, but he always wears a suit to job interviews and goes smart casual to any meetings with agents.

When it comes down to it, if you are interviewing in casual clothes, when the other candidates are in suits, its going to look like you haven't made the effort and they have. Sometimes this won't matter as your skills may see you through, but sometimes it will and its not worth losing a job offer over a suit.

Obviously when you are interviewing you can have a look at what everyone who works there is wearing, to work out the company's official/unofficial dress code.

Cheers

Tia

[Tia Maria]

I would wear shorts and jangles if I were you

:laugh I think you meant jandals, although jangles would look rather fetching also :D:

www.jangles.net

Cheers

Tia

[Philip10]

:laugh I think you meant jandals, although jangles would look rather fetching also :D:

www.jangles.net

Cheers

Tia

Ha ha ha how about wearing these with shorts http://www.jangles.teg.co.uk/ :laugh :laugh

[DMcG]

I'd wear a suit for interviews - I can't think of anyone not getting a job because they were too smart. If you don't have one with you then dress your smartest and apologise for not wearing one - that's also a good ice-breaker.

I'm in a good sized software house and we're smart/casual with dress down Fridays.

Dougie

[Mike & Nicola]

I work for a multinational telecoms/isp co. and wear what i'd call casual casuals :-)

In the summer you'll find plenty of people in shorts & jandals which is how it should be :-)

[mgbridges]

My OH wears a suit & shirt almost every day, the one thing he hasn't done since he started work is to wear a tie. Occasionally he wears trousers/slacks and a jacket and once a month his company have a 'sponsored' casual Friday where they all pay to go casual and the money goes to a nominated charity.

Its not so much that he has to wear a suit more that he at senior management level, is often on client site and also the clothes he has tend to be either very casual or very smart with few 'smart casual' options.

Agree totally that wearing a suit to interviews is a smart move and once you've got that all important job on your first day wear something smart and check out just how casual your colleagues are to gauge what you can wear in future.

HTH
Anneliese

[CJ22]

Where I'm going to be working, I understand it's shirt/trousers, but the sort of shirt-not-tucked-in sort of place. Even that's a step up for me. My current place is t-shirt/cargo pants and shorts in the summer, as all good IT places should be :)

[jubjub]

If you're client facing, then trousers and open neck shirt are fine, not that many people wear a tie.

If you're not client facing, people don't really care.

Sals Husband