Pittsburgh-area jobs (Greensburg, North Versailles, Jeannette: how much, attorney, to live in)

[ferraris]

Most entry level - to middle management non-medical hospital workers wear business casual, especially the IT folks. Khakis and a nice sweater, polo, or collared shirt is fine. You might want to wear a suit for interviews, though. Or you could dress how you desire to dress and find out quickly if it fits the company's dress code or not.

Also, look into getting quality, tailored specifically for you, dress clothes - it can make a huge difference in comfort.

If you are looking for computer related jobs, your best bet is probably a computer repair shop/store, they are usually pretty laxed on dress codes. Then of course there are companies that are all around unique, like Vivisimo in Squirrel Hill.

[Hopes]

I don't like khakis. Khakis are messy, not very comfortable, and not very warm. Plus khakis are like a uniform, not very much room for individual expression. In the winter, I often wear quality lined tweed dress pants. They're super comfortable, stylish and very warm.

To be honest, I started a much more casual trend at my office when I started working. They wore business casual every day of the week, except on Fridays they wore jeans. When I started working at this company, I wore jeans whenever I wanted and everyone else started to also. Mind you, I wear quality jeans with nice shoes, etc. The look is much more stylish than any business casual everyone else was wearing all along.

However, we do dress to the nines when we were meeting with clients and prospective clients. We go all out, not just some passing standard. Our suits are top of the line. Our grooming is impecable. We understand the importance of dressing for success. We all represent our company and the image we convey is very important.

Regardless of whatever job you try to get, even an IT job at a business casual place, you MUST dress in a suit or dress for the interview. It doesn't matter what the dress code. Dressing properly for an interview tells the interviewer that you understand the importance and formality of the event. How you dress for an interview speaks volumes for your having simple common social sense.

[ddietrich]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Regardless of whatever job you try to get, even an IT job at a business casual place, you MUST dress in a suit or dress for the interview. It doesn't matter what the dress code. Dressing properly for an interview tells the interviewer that you understand the importance and formality of the event. How you dress for an interview speaks volumes for your having simple common social sense.

Seriously. If you don't look like you're taking it seriously (which for outside the retail/food service world means a suit), you will immediately be written off. No one will ever fault you for overdressing for an interview. Or, to go a step further, overdressing the first day of your new job.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by ddietrich

Seriously. If you don't look like you're taking it seriously (which for outside the retail/food service world means a suit), you will immediately be written off. No one will ever fault you for overdressing for an interview. Or, to go a step further, overdressing the first day of your new job.

Definitely!

Not just the interview or the first day. I'd say overdress for the first few months---until you get a feel for what's acceptable.

Always dress better than anyone else in the office, whatever the standard.

I started the jeans trend because we never have clients at our office. The khakis and polo shirts are less causal than how I wear jeans. When I started wearing jeans, my coworkers started dressing BETTER because they wanted to wear jeans more often but they recognized they could only get away with it if they did it well. So the wrinkled khakis and cheap shirts disappeared from our office! I can tell they are putting more money into their suits now that they are wearing more jeans to the office. They're making it very clear that they understand WHEN and HOW to dress. Nobody is taking advantage where I work.

I'm amazed to see how many people in my building wear sweatshirts and tennis shoes. They truly look like they're ready to do yard work!

Just one correction for women's clothing: a taylored dress is just as professional as a suit---sometimes more so depending on the style.

It shouldn't take rocket science to figure this stuff out.

[Copanut]

You only get one chance at a first impression.

[ferraris]

It should be noted that all dress codes go out the window for a Steelers' game.

[Hopes]

It's hockey in my office.

[ddietrich]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

It should be noted that all dress codes go out the window for a Steelers' game.

You mean the office ladies don't wear bedazzled sweatshirts in your office every day?

Office lady Steelers attire cracks me up.

[neurodistortion]

Personally, I don't really wear jeans unless I have to work outside or the situation merits wearing it. If I'm wearing pants, it's usually of the cargo variety or just plain khakis. Sometimes I'll also wear athletic pants that are made of a more comfortable material. I get hot too easily though so I'm more comfortable wearing shorts unless it's too cold outside. I get slammed occasionally by my friends when I wear shorts when everyone else wears pants. I don't think it matters what you wear at any time of year as long as it's comfortable.

As for button-down shirts, if I have to wear them, I try to wear them as casually as I can, which usually means not tucking them down my pants. Is that still considered business casual or a little too casual?

[neurodistortion]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

It should be noted that all dress codes go out the window for a Steelers' game.

I think dress codes go out the window for any major Pittsburgh sporting event, except for the Pirates of course.