Anonymous
02/07/2026 23:41
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
When I was in my 20s and worked in Hong Kong, I spoke with a local colleague who was younger.
Her opinion was that wearing make-up and dressing up showed respect for the other person. American me thought that was kind of weird.
Well, flash forward a decade or two later and I kind of agree with her. Dress signals a level of formality and a corresponding level of boundaries involving respect - for the occasion, for the other person, for yourself. It's sort of the reason we dress for, say a wedding. Even if it's a courthouse wedding, couples usually will throw something nice on out of respect for the occasion.
Her opinion was that wearing make-up and dressing up showed respect for the other person. American me thought that was kind of weird.
Well, flash forward a decade or two later and I kind of agree with her. Dress signals a level of formality and a corresponding level of boundaries involving respect - for the occasion, for the other person, for yourself. It's sort of the reason we dress for, say a wedding. Even if it's a courthouse wedding, couples usually will throw something nice on out of respect for the occasion.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 22:34
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hope you arent trying to hire tech experts, then.
We’re willing to lay a bunch extra for non-autistic tech experts.
I sure hope you are not in charge of any hiring decisions. Autism is a protected disability, which I am sure you know, and tying pay or preference to being “non-autistic” is illegal under the ADA and DC Human Rights Act.
I’m sadly not surprised at all.
— Autistic adult
Anonymous
02/07/2026 21:12
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Tech bros think that if you pay a lot for a t-shirt that it counts as formal.
It does if it’s black, white or grey. Pink if you’re female
Anonymous
02/07/2026 21:08
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Hope you arent trying to hire tech experts, then.
This because I do t see the problem
Anonymous
02/07/2026 20:37
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hope you arent trying to hire tech experts, then.
We’re willing to lay a bunch extra for non-autistic tech experts.
I sure hope you are not in charge of any hiring decisions. Autism is a protected disability, which I am sure you know, and tying pay or preference to being “non-autistic” is illegal under the ADA and DC Human Rights Act.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 20:04
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
It sounds like it's not actually weird or inappropriate anymore.
It’s almost like people have realized that your clothes don’t influence how your brain works.
It’s almost like some people are too clueless to realize the world quickly judges you based on your appearance regardless of how smart you might be.
Maybe in your world they do.
You mean the real world?
Yes.
There’s a reason even the dumbest, least credentialed people often succeed: they are attractive…or do their best to look polished and professional at work.
I’ve worked in my PJs for the past 5 years. Have had great success. But ok.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 18:49
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
I have no complaints about my career, so I'm going to keep making my own judgements about what to wear to job interviews. If one out of a hundred applicants you see is dressed casually, they are probably doing it wrong. But if you constantly are judging other people's clothing, especially people who are in senior, highly-compensated roles, you are the one who doesn't understand what's going on.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 18:34
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
It sounds like it's not actually weird or inappropriate anymore.
It’s almost like people have realized that your clothes don’t influence how your brain works.
It’s almost like some people are too clueless to realize the world quickly judges you based on your appearance regardless of how smart you might be.
Maybe in your world they do.
You mean the real world?
Yes.
There’s a reason even the dumbest, least credentialed people often succeed: they are attractive…or do their best to look polished and professional at work.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 18:05
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
It sounds like it's not actually weird or inappropriate anymore.
It’s almost like people have realized that your clothes don’t influence how your brain works.
It’s almost like some people are too clueless to realize the world quickly judges you based on your appearance regardless of how smart you might be.
Maybe in your world they do.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 18:03
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
It sounds like it's not actually weird or inappropriate anymore.
It’s almost like people have realized that your clothes don’t influence how your brain works.
It’s almost like some people are too clueless to realize the world quickly judges you based on your appearance regardless of how smart you might be.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 16:58
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Look, when you get the offer and start the job... you figure out the culture and can likely dress down. For the interview... You don't need a 3 piece suit, but a shirt with buttons and pants seems reasonable and prudent.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 16:57
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
It sounds like it's not actually weird or inappropriate anymore.
It’s almost like people have realized that your clothes don’t influence how your brain works.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 16:55
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
It sounds like it's not actually weird or inappropriate anymore.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 16:44
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Was it like a tee shirt with a jacket over it? Is it the tech industry?
Anonymous
02/07/2026 16:26
Subject: Don't show up in a tee-shirt for your professional interview.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Preach, sister!
It’s like everyone lost their mind during covid and devolved to unprofessional behavior…particularly when it comes to appearance.
If your team is simply meeting without clients, external parties, etc., then maybe you can get away with a nice solid t-shirt. But it shouldn’t have logos, writing, pictures, etc.
If clients/external parties are involved, then you need to dress like you are in the office. No t-shirts.
And interviews require a jacket.
Geez.
I’m struck by how so many people dress inappropriately.
We met with lawyers from a fancy Big Law firm and one was in t-shirt and zipper hoodie like a tech bro. So weird.
And just last week I was in a zoom meeting with two dozen people from nearly as many orgs, and I noticed multiple people wearing t-shirts with pictures or writing. WTH are people thinking?
Calm down. I work in my PJs most days.
I published 3 major strategic analyses last year for public and private sector clients and will be quoted in Tier 1 media next week.
Nobody cares what you wear off camera.
Everyone notices when someone is dressed inappropriately or looks unpolished on Zoom. That’s just a fact.
The comment was about working all day, not just meetings.