manee89

I recently landed an internship at a large company (so excited!!!) and I am an electrical engineering major. I would like to know what I should wear to work because I am not used to corporate world at all. I am planning to wear high heels (3 inches min) with chiffon blouses and colorful blazers. Is this professional and if any of you have had internships before what did you wear?
thanks

user_007

Being a guy, I can't exactly explain a girl's clothing too well, but I'm a mechanical engineering intern at a fairly large company where there's a fair amount of girl interns. Most don't wear high heels. It's a job that can keep you on your feet at times, so it's best to be comfortable (EE may be different though). Blazers are also overkill...could certainly wear one, but it's not necessary.

Although each company differs, so it may be more commonplace at yours to dress that nicely, it's definitely not here. Generally girls seem to wear a nice shirt, nice pair of pants, etc.

For comparison, most guys wear collared shirts (polos), khaki's, and shoes that aren't sneakers.

But it really all depends on the employer.

Johnson181

What kind of work is it? Did they mention anything about dress code?

At my internship last summer, I wore jeans, a tshirt, and sneakers every day. It was the nature of the company (and it's relatively large) - even my boss would show up to work in jeans & a flannel.

At my current co-op, I wear slacks and a sweater (man my office is freezing) with flats on days I'm in the office. Jeans & a button up on days I'm in the field (with steel-toed boots, of course).

It really depends on your office. I'm in an operations center with lots of field guys everywhere - I would not get respect wearing heels like you want (in fact, it would be very poor form to wear anything 2+ inches). In the company headquarters, it would be similar - it is in no way a benefit to draw attention to your gender like that (some 2% of the top level engineers are women).

As much as that sucks, it is the nature of my business. 3 inch heels do not really send out a professional message. And unfortunately, field guys can indeed be quite sexist.

Tl;dr - it entirely depends on where you're working. Ask hr.

(If it wasn't obvious, I'm a female EE as well)

terenc

The most important thing is that each company is different.

You should not be afraid to email your contact (HR or whoever hired you) at the company inquiring about dress code and about what women typically wear.

livn487

I'd agree that heels would not be a good idea. Double that if it's paired with a skirt above the knee. Pencil skirts and flats with a sweater or pants with a nice blouse are probably what's the safest bets. Congrats on your internship!

buranka

Im interning at a university in a research position. They wear flats and jeans/khaki pants, since they are quite mobile from task to task. I dont see a need for overdress, simple and tasteful is the way to go. Imo they look really cute-- If only a lot more girls were like them...

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Mokonon

There are plenty of women, some of whom are engineeers, at my workplace who wear heels. Now I'm not talking about porn star stilettos, mind you -- just some fairly conservative looking heels. No one has a problem with it.

discoinferno

That's why I could never make it as an engineer. Hart hats? Khakis? Overalls? Tailored suits please.

ucbalumnus

High heels never made sense to me (but I am not female) -- they are rather bad for your feet and limit your mobility.

As far as normal workplace dress goes, if you had an on-site interview, you probably saw what others were wearing. You can probably start out dressing somewhat on the nicer side of the range you saw, then adjusting appropriately as you get more observation in your first few days at work.

Mokonon

It's not very difficult to understand. They make you look taller and leaner and make your legs longer. I'm not a woman, but I can understand why they wear em.

Mesquite_girl24

I'm a female mechanical engineering student, and I've done a few internships. At my current one, I wear khakis or jeans, nice shirts, and sneakers or keds. CLOSED TOE, no heels pretty much rule my shoe selection. At my past internship in a more corporate setting (working in R&D for a major company), I wore nice slacks and blouses, nicer closed toe flats. Still no heels. You can't move quickly and confidently across a factory floor or in a lab with grated floors if you are in 3+ in. spikes. Settle for flats, or if you really need the height, go with wedges. I'd over dress (read: high business casual) for the first few days of work, then see what other females wear and dress accordingly.

manee89

i cant even think of wearing jeans and t-shirts to work when I dont even wear that to school. I might still go for a little heel at least because I can't stand flats either. This is what happens when you chose to be an engineering major when you actually want to be a fashion designer..

Chucktown

...Then why are you not majoring in fashion design?

Mesquite_girl24

I'd second that question, engineering is hard enough even if you are passionate about it. It's still definitely possible to be fashionable though! I try my best to have a sense of style, but remember that practicality should be a top priority. You don't want to trip over a wire and break an ankle due to your high heels! Plus, dressing according to your environment gives you a sense of professionalism. If you dress like someone attending Fashion Week in NYC, you will not be taken as seriously. Fact of life.

gsmomma

Mirror what the other women in your group are wearing. I am a manager, so I dress a little nicer than the newer engineers. Most of the women wear nice slacks and tops, and small heeled (never high heeled) shoes. Only wear jeans if everyone else around you is also wearing. The same goes with the skirts and blazers.