Interview dress etiquette

[spottypenguin]

Hi people

I know we've had a thread about this in the past but every scenario is different so a new one it is.

I have an interview on Thuirsday for a design position, essentially all in house graphic design but also traditional skills (hand illustrating gift cards, hand painted wrapping paper etc.). OK that's all good. The thing is this: the lass who is the Senior Designer is apparently the same age as me but this is only her first design role; she re-trained late and only got into this game 6years ago. I don't personally know her but one of my mate's in the trade does. I'm not being at all arrogant but I know for a fact I am more qualified and experienced than her.

So my question is do I go in booted & suited / shirt n tie & trousers / smartish combats and shirt? I just don't know. On the one hand I don't want to go in looking super professional for her to think "shit he'll want my job" then again I am your archetypical arty type (long har, beard, tattoos) and I don't want to look tooooo laid back.

I guess it's just a while since I had an interview of this kind and all my last in-house roles I was head hunted and sort of pypassed the akward "first interview" stage.

Cheers very much for any advice / opinions :icon_thumbup:

[Boss Hog]

For me always shoes, shirt & tie, anything else and it's as though you haven't bothered and hence not serious about the position, make the effort.

[spottypenguin]

Cheers Boss, I was planning on shirt/tie/shoes just wasn't sure of a suit might be overkill

[Boss Hog]

I just think better to be over dressed and made an effort than under dressed and look like you can't be arsed. Good luck.

[linziloop]

I think smart shirt, trousers and shoes should be fine, definitely not anything casual, especially with the "arty" type look - I have the same look, it takes a lot of scrubbing to get me looking smart haha!

[Corrosive]

Agree with the others. Smart (pref a suit) and then ask about dress code and pick up the vibe from the office when you get there. You are going to feel more of a dick turning up in combats and seeing everyone else in shirt and tie than the other way round

Good luck with the interview.

[spottypenguin]

Cheers for that guys. Suit it is then!!

They apparently test you in Indesign and Photosop when you're there. They just sent an email outlining the test (they don't want to scare us lol) and it is changing a jpeg to tiff in Photoshop and doing a spell check in Indesign - I think I should be OK lol

[Corrosive]

They apparently test you in Indesign and Photosop when you're there. They just sent an email outlining the test (they don't want to scare us lol) and it is changing a jpeg to tiff in Photoshop and doing a spell check in Indesign - I think I should be OK lol

I think even I could handle that!

[ARRIVALS]

Have you met any of the people you could be working with before or have you been to the place before?

When I went for my first interview, they called me beforehand to confirm a date and time. They told me specifically not to turn up in a suit, because I'd look like a knob (those were the exact words) but to dress how I would normally dress.

[spottypenguin]

No not been there yet but my mate who knows the senior designer girl says she is pretty casual in her dress but I'll wear a suit to be safe!