Reply to Are interviews just more casual now?

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

Reply to "Are interviews just more casual now?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]The thing about the thank yous is that they're a bit classist. That's the kinda thing people with professional parents who run in professional circles know to do, but other people may not. So I like to think of them as a bonus, but I don't penalize someone for not doing it - they honestly could just have no idea that's a good idea.

The dressing thing is so, so varying. On both sides of the aisle, I've struggled with this. I tend to lean towards a suit (I'm a woman, FWIW) when I interview. I'm 37, and for sure when I was in my early 20s, that was pretty standard, so it's really just habit now. Interview = suit. And I work in a pretty casual industry - I've been on both sides of a lot of interviews where the interviewer was wearing jeans and the interviewee was wearing a suit. But I've had people say they think that's too formal, or I'll look out of place. So I might take it down a notch next time. Hard to say. On the other hand, as an interviewer, I do prefer to see people in suits - it shows they take it seriously. But it's a hard needle to thread. Where I've landed is that people should look somewhat put together (unshowered, scraggly two days of facial hair growth, messy hair, pajamas, those are all bad) and should dress in the top 25% of people at the company. So if most people wear jeans and tshirts, but some people wear more business casual (khakis and a polo or a casual dress) at the company, then I will negatively judge an interviewee in a t-shirt. If nearly everyone wears jeans and t-shirts to work, then I won't. It's a fine line. It's also not necessarily a dealbreaker - it's context. Does the person look a little too casual, but he's bright, engaged, with a prepared list of questions, and well versed in the company (ie, has done his research)? Then I'll probably let it go. If they look a little too casual, and also are slumped in their chair and ill prepared? This is a poor choice.

Lateness of less than five minutes with a sincere apology AND a good reason "I'm so sorry, my computer died and the charger was upstairs!" is fine. Lateness of more than that, you better be falling all over yourself with an apology and a FABULOUS reason "My car broke down and I didn't have my computer with me and I had to call a friend to pick me up I'm so, so sorry!" Other than that - this would be a huge red flag for me.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics