Just wear the suit already!!!

Where did this notion of casual being OK for an interview setting come from anyway?!!?


I get asked by about 50% of the candidates I send on interview... "do I have to wear a suit?"


(I am at risk of using too many exclamation points in this post... so please forgive me if it feels as though I'm yelling at you) :)
YES you have to wear a suit!  Why wouldn't you!?   We all know that most offices are moving towards a "business casual" model, but that's once you've actually gotten a job, and it totally depends on the business.   So let's have a look at the diagram below: (courtesy of a conference website - great idea to give people a sense of comfort before attending a big event)

You only have one chance to make a first impression.

Men: I would recommend a minimum of a Business attire, but if you've got the goods - go Formal.

Women:  I definitely recommend Business attire.  Skirt / Pants... up to you...

Invest in a good Dry Cleaning before you go to your interview. 

Shoes... 

• comfort - no 4" heels - if you're regularly a flats girl... you don't want to be walking like a horse, and looking awkward as your first impression... I don't care HOW cute the stilettos are.
• no winter boots! make sure to switch out your boots for a business shoe before entering the building / in the washroom before you go to the office.   It's not appropriate to track snow into someone's office, and it could distract your audience, especially if you are interviewing in an arm chair - without a table to hide your feet under!

The goal is to have people paying attention to you, not your clothes.  And though a lot of offices/professionals will be business casual when you go meet with them for an interview, YOU don't want to assume anything about them.  Wouldn't it be the worst, if the ONLY reason you didn't get a job.... was because the interviewer didn't like that you weren't wearing a suit??

Candidates do the darndest things...
I have had hiring managers tell me the most heartbreaking reasons why they discount candidates.  These may seem like common sense, but I can tell you - I know the people who did this, and they were very smart.... don't let this be you!

• "Candidate came into the interview with a Tim Horton's coffee in hand, and sipped away at it for the whole interview... if he'd offered to bring us coffee too, then that may have been acceptable... but he didn't"
• Director level candidate, went to an interview in an international head office, wearing a wrinkle shirt (remember those?!? - funnily enough I couldn't even find a pic like I wanted... that's how out those shirts are! AAAND - please note how genius the translation is on this website! :) hahaha)
• "Great candidate, but he tracked mud all through our office with his big winter boots, and didn't apologize, or even seem to notice... this kinda made us question his respect for our space and property."

Update that wardrobe...

This is essential.  You may not have been looking for a job, for over 10-20 years, and perhaps you have always worked in a business casual environment.  So your suit section of the wardrobe is, shall we say... lacking something current?  Men really luck out when it comes to this, as most suits are classic, and unless there's a fit issue, you should be able to wear the same one from 10 years ago without anyone noticing.  

I understand that if you're currently looking for a new job - especially if you are unemployed - that this is NOT the time to go out and purchase a new wardrobe.  HOWEVER... you just can't pull off that  80's / 90's look, if you want to be taken seriously: 

Vixens of their time... we just can't pull off this look anymore :(

More current, and can be oomphed up with a different color shirt.

If you are going to be going on a number of interviews, then a classic, timeless suit is going to pay off, and will hopefully also see you through many a corporate event, function, or wedding? :)  Here's a great custom tailoring company I found in Toronto.... for someone as tall as I am this is a great option  Women's Custom Suits, or http://savillian.com/

If you just cannot justify investing in the suit, please do consider you have other options:

• Dress for Success (International, with operations in US, UK, Canada and more - for women)
• Career Gear (only in the US I think... please let me know if you find any other orgs who are based in Canada for men.

Similar charitable organizations exist out there, and can have a very positive effect on your career search!  These organizations are always looking for volunteers too, and this is a fantastic place where those of us who are employed can give back... :)

To summarize.... put your best foot forward, and dress for the job you want; don't give a hiring manager any reason to be distracted from why you're the candidate they want to hire!