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Like someone wrote earlier, unless you know for a fact that the company standards are not to wear a suit for an interview than you should wear a suit. You are not dressing like you already got the job, which may be a very causal attire. You dress to impress and show that you take the job opportunity seriously.
Generally I agree - but I could nitpick since there are exceptions that go beyond individual company standards to industry/sector standards. Clearly most people here are thinking of standard corporate and business environment jobs which, IMO, still call for a suit on an interview even for jobs that have a less rigid dress standard.
I don't agree with wearing a suit to every interview regardless. In your case yes I agree it would be absolutely appropriate however, if one is going to apply for a construction job I don't think a suit is appropriate. Nice clean jeans and a clean polo shirt or a pair of Dockers and a button down shirt would be appropriate for this situation in my opinion.
As you pointed out it all depends on the industry.
I am on the management side of the construction industry and nobody wears a suit or tie. It just isn't done and if someone did wear a suit in to an interview I would think he was clueless. And yes, I do hire technicians and yes, over 80% of the people I hire earn more than $50k.
One of my interviews recently, I showed up in normal business casual (dress pants and a cardigan). The interview had been set up last minute and I could somewhat sneak out of the office but I didn't have time to change into a suit. Considering my office is very very casual I already looked dressy.
I explained it to each interviewer.
Most not have been a deterrent. I got the job although I didn't accept that offer.
A suit and tie approach to every job interview is outdated, and as it has been mentioned typically just for jobs where one would be expected to wear a suit and tie regularly..... which in 2012 is a small chunk of the job market. One can dress up without wearing a suit and tie, for instance a nice jacket with dress slacks looks great. It's all in how one presents themselves versus what they're wearing. Any blithering idiot can put on a suit and interview, which I guess explains many hiring choices I've seen.
I agree with glass_of_merlot and would be annoyed as an applicant if I saw the other applicants in t-shirts and jeans. I've held corporate jobs and $7/hour jobs, and to all interviews, I've always worn a suit. It takes less than 8 seconds to create a first impression. Okay, lately, I've had to ditch the blazer because it no longer fit, and I didn't have money to buy an entirely new suit. But I wore everything else. And showed up early with a resume portfolio...
All you mentions that there are many high paying companies who would look at you like you were crazy if you wore a suit to an interview. I am really curious what companies this would be?
A suit and tie approach to every job interview is outdated, and as it has been mentioned typically just for jobs where one would be expected to wear a suit and tie regularly..... which in 2012 is a small chunk of the job market. One can dress up without wearing a suit and tie, for instance a nice jacket with dress slacks looks great. It's all in how one presents themselves versus what they're wearing. Any blithering idiot can put on a suit and interview, which I guess explains many hiring choices I've seen.
well,ok so a nice pair of slacks and a nice jacket is alittle different than a pair of old jeans and t shirt. Don't you think?
All you mentions that there are many high paying companies who would look at you like you were crazy if you wore a suit to an interview. I am really curious what companies this would be?
I work for a large Fortune 500 company. Dress is casual to business casual. No shorts or flip flops, but pretty much anything else goes. Last year we hired a guy for a professional position ($75-$80K) and he wore a suit to the interview although no one else we interviewed for the job did. We ended up firing the guy because he was all flash and no substance. It went beyond ineptitude, the guy had no sense of responsibility at all. He played the system and wearing a suit to the interview was part of it.
I think wearing a suit is a sign of respect and professionalism, but a suit doesn't make the person. You need to look a lot deeper than the clothes IMO.
I work for a large Fortune 500 company. Dress is casual to business casual. No shorts or flip flops, but pretty much anything else goes. Last year we hired a guy for a professional position ($75-$80K) and he wore a suit to the interview although no one else we interviewed for the job did. We ended up firing the guy because he was all flash and no substance. It went beyond ineptitude, the guy had no sense of responsibility at all. He played the system and wearing a suit to the interview was part of it.
I think wearing a suit is a sign of respect and professionalism, but a suit doesn't make the person. You need to look a lot deeper than the clothes IMO.
However, the company didn't look at him funny for coming in a suit. They hired a guy without substance in a suit over the other guys with substance. It is no comfort to those unemployed applicantsthat they lost their job to an unqualified candidate in a fancy suit. At many Fortune 500 companies, they often don't look deeper. It's unfortunate. We have to adapt to their rules until we get the job.
However, the company didn't look at him funny for coming in a suit. They hired a guy without substance in a suit over the other guys with substance. It is no comfort to those unemployed applicantsthat they lost their job to an unqualified candidate in a fancy suit. At many Fortune 500 companies, they often don't look deeper. It's unfortunate. We have to adapt to their rules until we get the job.
Actually, those of us who interviewed him thought it odd since he came from the same type of industry where business casual is the norm. I also interviewed a guy once for a position that didn't warrant a suit and he wore one. To me, he was trying too hard. I guess I'm just trying to say that you can't make generalizations about wearing or not wearing a suit - all depends on the situation.
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