<p>We see lots of kids come for interviews all dressed like Assistant Undertakers… Despite being an old company we’re all denims and oxford shirts and sneakers (in our 50’s) so it looks quite strange to have applicants half our age dressed really well… Just don’t overdo it. We had a guy from Dubai interview and his suit cost as much as my car… THAT you notice.</p>
<p>A little bit of color would not hurt - a nice tie for men or an interesting blouse for women. Color does not have to be dark and dreary. </p>
<p>For female applicants, if there’s even a hint of a possibility of a factory floor visit, low heels, and shoes that cover the toe (as if sensible pumps will save one’s foot if an anvil falls on it…)</p>
<p>Woah! A suit that costs the price of a car–wish you took & could post a picture. I’m curious to see what that looks like, as I have no personal experience. Not sure that much would safe a foot from an anvil falling on it!</p>
<p>It does depend on the car – if your car is a < $1,000 beater, then it is not hard to find suits more expensive than your car (some engineers like to tinker with old cars that are not necessarily expensive).</p>
<p>I don’t know. The most expensive single piece of clothing I’ve owned was a $300 sweater I bought when I was freezing in Carmel. I bought a $200 pair of wool slacks to go with it. Kept me from becoming an icicle that weekend but I considered it most extravagant. Don’t own anything that costs $1000 and not sure I want to.</p>
<p>My most expensive suits are about $200 or so & I’ve had them for many years; they’re classics but still look great.</p>
<p>Hi, I’m an engineering manager in a large company. I think a black suit coat w/ matching pants are a smart investment both for the interview and for occasions at work where you need to step it up (presenting to an exec, meeting w/ a customer, traveling to a city where the dress is more formal, etc.). As a female manager, I do recognize a high quality suit that fits well. It doesn’t have to be too expensive, but it should be well fitting and of good quality fabric. When I see a well dressed female engineer, it tells me that person put some thought into the words/music/dance of the interview (her words and accomplishments match her confidence which matches her posture and appearance), and it also tell me that I can put her in front of more important people as she gains experience without me having to apologize for her. Ann Taylor and Banana Republic both have high quality suits that will last a long time. The only reason I abandon mine is because I gain or lose too much weight, but not because the style changes or the quality. You can also use the black pants again for work. Get the suit to match the largest part of you, and then have a real seamstress make tune-ups for a perfect fit in the waist, pant length, sleeve length, and occasionally the suit coat shoulder or waist, but not too much or you have the wrong size or fit. Hems can be $2-5 a leg, and other tweaks are similar, but it will pay off in spades as your daughter will never be embarrassed for how she looks in situations that count, and you can’t believe some of the outfits engineers wear to interviews.</p>
<p>p.s. On the shoes and blouse … that is where the personality should come in if she wears the black jacket and black pants. Toes should not be seen, so if she wears heels, make sure the toes or toenails don’t show. Some women/girls wear shoes that look like boots that are short (below the ankle) and that looks pretty snazzy, but professional. The shoes don’t necessarily have to be black, but if she is not artistic or creative, you should stick to the black formula as that always works. The top can be as colorful or as feminine as the image you are trying to project. If you’re interviewing for engineering sales, be aware that in NYC and San Fransisco the business attire for engineering sales can be more serious, but in other cities and towns the shirt can be more fun/colorful. And I’m sure I don’t need to say it, but in case someone doesn’t realize it, wear a nice camisole even if you wear a button up blouse … you don’t want to turn at a funny angle and there your skin or bra is peeking through the opening between buttons. You also don’t want to show any cleavage, of course, so if you’re bigger chested you should make sure your attire says “I would never show cleavage at work.”
Jewelry should be simple … you can find stuff at Claires in a mall that can add a little sparkle to an outfit without being tacky. Earrings for an interview should be more conservative and simple … not too dangly but also not as boring as your mom’s.
Hair: Engineers need to be forward thinking and solving problems … hair should make a statement that you are clean, tidy, stylish to at least be in this decade, and easy to maintain, and recently trimmed or cut.</p>
<p>I don’t either as far as clothing goes, but it does not seem to be that hard to get to that range for suits, especially if you need a custom tailored suit with dress shirt (which ironically may be more likely for younger men who are more likely to need the almost non-existent “athletic cut” suits and dress shirts).</p>
<p>Odd as it sounds, the best fitting suit (bar none) that S had was one that H wore when he was a similar age in college. It fit S like a glove & it was off-the-rack many decades back when H bought it in college! S could not find anything that fit him nearly as well & it no longer fits H very well (he’s gained a few pounds in the intervening decades). S was fortunate in being able to find decent shirts that fit him nicely off-the-rack when he was in Malaysia. He can also buy some slimmer cut shirts from mainstream brands as well as ONE particular pair of slacks from ONE manufacturer in ONE style (after we tried literally dozens). This particular brand runs about $50–but can get a bit cheaper when it goes on sale.</p>
<p>We thought S would get some custom tailored stuff while he was in Malaysia, as he said he would. He decided against it, since he could find things he liked off-the-rack there.</p>
<p>Doesn’t seem as odd after thinking about it for a little bit. American men a few decades ago when your husband bought the suit, and Malaysian men now, were/are likely a lot closer on average to a college age man in build than most American men are now.</p>
<p>Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree–H was quite slim in college & S is as well. Folks can’t believe H’s suit is still in good enough condition after these decades to hand down to S. It really still looks very nice. H is still trimmer than most of his friends & peers, as is S.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, I got lots of great advice. My D and I are going shopping this weekend. Wish us luck! We will need it to find something that fits lol! </p>
<p>I really, really appreciate everyone’s advice and I’ll come back on Tues and update everyone of what we found.</p>
<p>J Crew and Banana Republic have Tall sizes and 0 and 00.
Dark pant, white long sleeved collared shirt, jacket to compliment pant or dark cardigan.
J Crew gives a 15% discount-bring her student ID
Skinny belt.
Closed toe shoe flat or loafer type.
Dark neat purse.
Little to no jewelry.
Ann Taylor is too matronly. IMHO.</p>
<p>The Dubai fella was strange in more ways than one. You could tell it was not a JC Penney suit or a Nordstrom suit. Fabric, cut, fit, the works (the dude was, thin as a reed, tall, and his clothes fit perfectly. Shirt, tie, jacket, pants, the works. Expensive briefcase, serious shoes, TAG Heuer watch… Big Ten EE graduate, needless to say he turned us down…</p>
<p>It all depends on how you can pull it all together. Mrs. Turbo just landed a new job with a premier Computer Hardware/Software/IT Consulting company known for its, ehem, serious dress code… She showed up with a Barney the Dinosaur purple suit, power silk blouse, a bit more jewelry than she should, her favorite Movado museum watch, patent leather pumps and handbag… (Being a Tiger Mom has its benefits :-))</p>
<p>How often did your husband have to wear it?</p>
<p>If your son needs a second suit, perhaps he should bring the suit that fits to a made-to-measure place and have them make a suit cut exactly the same.</p>
<p>Well, it is over 40 years old! I find that pretty amazing. At this point, S still has the blazer he wore for HS graduation (that the altered but never fit as well as H’s suit jacket), as well as the slacks they altered for HS graduation, again never fit as well as the suit slacks). He also has some other things. Told him he should speak with our LA friend who got a suit made that fit well for a wedding with a young man that was also pretty thin. Will not worry about it until it’s an issue for S. :)</p>
<p>I let him figure out his own wardrobe issues at this point–it has worked well for us all his life and I don’t figure to start interfering now.</p>
<p>If it isn’t a very conservative city/company, it’s nice to see something other than black, for women, or even guys can do the dark charcoal. For gals a more interesting suit jacket, (dark autumn or jewel colors in fall or winter) is a nice touch and makes you memorable without being in a negative context. (then keep the blouse in more of a neutral).
LandsEnd sells some conservative dress shirts and they send return shipping if needed. (one of the expenses of mail-order is having to return.)
ColdWater Creek Outlet on line can have some interesting jackets that hold up well for travel, and have a looser tailoring that works well for gals that are not svelte. A multicolored jacket also will not show a “spot” as much. If interviewing involves meals, also consider the ease to eat with grace factor. (and guys pack an extra tie, as well as shirt).
Also women can look great for interviews in a colored jacket, coordinated pants or skirt and very high quality black turtle neck (esp if neck line /cleavage is an issue)
And my own prejudice, but I never hire a woman in “foot-killer” heels.</p>
<p>We once had an intern interviewee show up wearing a very interesting outfit that came straight out of “I Dream of Jeanie”, bare midriff and all. Think of a normal suit top & blouse, just the top was a LOT shorter intentionally. The boss, a really OLD guy at the time, nearly passed out and we joked about it for weeks. She was pretty good in terms of education (Junior at MIT EE) and she was visiting a friend who worked with us who arranged an interview on the spot, hence her best outfit was the Jeanie one…</p>
<p>I follow the theory that nobody will ever show up looking better than they did in the first interview. Grooming counts – a lot. Scrupulously clean hair, and try to break any habit you might have of touching your hair during an interview. Eye makeup that isn’t raccoon eyes. </p>
<p>I don’t mind some creative jewelry, but I don’t like a lot of creativity in shoes.</p>
<p>My daughter is a rising college senior, and one of the bennies that her women’s college provides is a wardrobe of “interview clothes” the student can borrow from. Not limited to seniors, either - can be used for internship interviewing as well.</p>
and we joked about it for weeks. She was pretty good in terms of education (Junior at MIT EE) and she was visiting a friend who worked with us who arranged an interview on the spot, hence her best outfit was the Jeanie one…</p>