Dressing for interviews (engineer).

[nobb]

Im an engineering student and in a few months I will probably be doing interviews (hopefully with big oil and gas companies) to try to get an internship.

Right now I have black dress pants and a black dress shirt. I was just wondering what you guys would recommend for dress shoes, and tie. I am thinking maybe a gold tie (with a pattern, not too flashy though)...is that okay? Preferably something I can get cheap on eBay, because $80+ just for a tie...wow. As for dress shoes, I looked around the Bay and to be honest...black dress shoes all look the same to me. I have no idea what to look for, maybe you guys can show pictures of dress shoes that you think look good? I am also wondering if maybe I should get a vest for that dorky engineer look...lol.

Also, I am a typical asian with black hair...incase that is of relevance to matching. I think I would rather go for the professional look rather than some sort of flashy clubbing/prom look. I would love to hear all your opinions, so feel free to comment.

Thanks.

[laineylains]

invest in a suit. no matter if you're applying to a company that's relaxed on clothig (i.e. google, microsoft), you can never change the first impression.

i still don't understand why some of my classmates went to interviews in jeans and i tried so hard to convince them otherwise >_<

but yes invest in a suit. men are so lucky since they can wear suits so many times. you can use it for interviews and social events.

welcome to the working world!

[k2truong]

I'm also in engineering lol and its a coop program as well. Like laineylains said, invest in a suit, you will need to go for a lot of interviews. Plus, suits can be used in various things as well. Don't cheap on ties or shoes either. You can normally find them for around $40-50 for decent ties and around $100 for a decent (these prices are usually original pricing lol, you can probably find them on sale at various places). As for colour, it all depends on your suit, btw i think black shirt with black pants especially if you have a black jacket as well will not go that great lol. Go with a lighter coloured, stripped if your blacks are plain black and a tie that matches.

By the end of all of this lol, you're going to have a collection of shirts, ties, shoes, and suits before you even finish school. Depends where you work, especially in office positions, you're going to need more shirts :cheesygri

Good luck hunting

[BananaHunter]

Black dress pants is standard. Black pants + black shirt looks kind of depressing, like you just got out of a funeral. White shirt = more conservative. Blue shirts are good too. Pink is a bit queer but some people look good in pink shirts. Being a little conservative at interviews is good. No funky patterns. After you get hired, you can add a little more funk if it fits the culture.

You are right, all dress shoes look alike. But invest some $$$. Doesn't have to be $500 shoes. Around $100 is ok with me.

Ties on the other hand I don't think you need to invest much. Just make sure it doesn't look like plastic or paper.

Overall...please do invest in style. People DO judge a book by its cover.

[JC69]

Seriously...ditch the black shirt. If it's still hot out then pants and shirt and tie will be OK but a suit will always convey the correct message. A haircut doesn't hurt either. If you look as though you take care of yourself then it will give the message that you take care of your work.

[drago403]

I'm an EIT, and you should definitely get a suit, and if you're asian you should already have a bunch of dress shirts.. possibly pants too. Definitely avoid black dress shirt.. stick with solid colours like blue or grey as long as its not crazy colour. You should wear a tie as well in your interview and make sure to practice typrical HR questions that may come about, and take your time to answer the questions since there will probably be a group that interviews you.

Good luck

[manixc]

I'm an EIT, and you should definitely get a suit, and if you're asian you should already have a bunch of dress shirts.. possibly pants too. Definitely avoid black dress shirt.. stick with solid colours like blue or grey as long as its not crazy colour. You should wear a tie as well in your interview and make sure to practice typrical HR questions that may come about, and take your time to answer the questions since there will probably be a group that interviews you.

Good luck
How does being Asian have anything to do with dress shirts?

I agree with going for a suit (or just tie, dress shirt and pant if it's too hot).
Color wise, it should be safe to go with a light color for the shirt and dark color for the pant.
And make sure they fit well. Go for slim fit if you are a skinny guy.

[laineylains]

I agree with going for a suit (or just tie, dress shirt and pant if it's too hot).
Color wise, it should be safe to go with a light color for the shirt and dark color for the pant.


yes please wear a suit! i am going to be representing my company and recruiting students from universities in comp sci and engineering backgrounds at an upcoming career fair...one of the things i will note is how they dress. it's not EVERYTHING, but it's a first impression for sure.

wear a suit, no matter how relaxed the dress code is for the company. better to be overdressed than underdressed!

[MoonDoggy]

I went thru the co-op process years back as well (brings back memories). Suit is a good idea *if* you have a nice fitting suit. If you're like majority of the student where you don't have the money or have a suit that fits well, it's better to just go with a shirt and tie. Bad fitting suit makes it looked like you had a "hand me down".

Stick with the basics. Don't try to be too flashy (it makes you look dorkier if you can't pull it off). Nothing wrong with a white shirt and black pants and tie.

P.S. You should be concentration more on other stuff for the interview

[mrlooneytoon]

I'm a engineering Coop student, on my third work term right now. I don't own a suit, only sport blazers for nights out.
To work and all my interviews I have worn dress pants and dress shirt (Interviews are blacks pants, white or blue shirt, black belt, black shoes and socks, tried and true classic and you can't go wrong). No I don't even wear a tie. Business casual for engineers. Unless you have an MBA and are going for a corporate, management position business casual is the way to go.

Besides while at work your mostly likely going to be wearing lab coats or smocks or something.

PS: A good place to pickup cheap but amazing fit dress pants and shirts: H&M.

[famous_unknown]

I went thru the co-op process years back as well (brings back memories). Suit is a good idea *if* you have a nice fitting suit. If you're like majority of the student where you don't have the money or have a suit that fits well, it's better to just go with a shirt and tie. Bad fitting suit makes it looked like you had a "hand me down".

+1

I'm doing engineering coop as well and I don't know how many people I've seen go to interviews wearing what looks like they're dad's/uncle's/big brother's suit. It looks awful and, yes it does leave a bad impression. As a student I know that business attire can be expensive but spending $200-$300 for some good-fitting, professional looking clothes is a must. You'll (hopefully) make it back during the work term.

And make sure you wear a pair of matching dress socks. White gym socks + business wear just looks ridiculous.

[Skip2MyLou]

here you go:

Don't forget your hard hat!
http://www.datafleet.biz/ESWeb/Engineer.jpg

OR

http://pro.corbis.com/images/OCH046.jpg?size=572&uid=%7B33C325DE-1A2A-4554-AFD8-E76D09FADF71%7D

[Fox]

I agree, don't weat all black to the interview. Wear a shirt in white or blue. Get a nice tie at Winners if you don't want to spend too much.

I once wore jeans to an interview (with a suit jacket) and explained that it was dress down Fridays wear I work, and that it would look weird if I wore a suit to work that day (which was true). It went really well..

Interview standards are changing. I see people come in more often for interviews with a suit, but no tie. A lot of them pull it off.

[billdozer]

http://images.starpulse.com/Photos/Previews/Dilbert-02.jpg

[yucksta]

it depends on who you ask and who you are interviewing with...

my brother is a manager at a very large engineering firm and hates the ultra "business" look.

he's into hiring down to earth, in the trenches type of people that can relate to tradesmen, just as other engineers and higher ups...

like if you showed up wearing worker boots, that would really impress him!

i've landed jobs where i've worn a simple dress shirt and dress pants, as well as a suit...

whatever you wear, own it, and be confident (that's the most important thing) lol.

[sonick]

NO BLACK SUITS PLEASE.

Most versatile = Charcoal suit.

For a conservative look have the charcoal suit plus a white/powder blue shirt and a maroon/navy tie + black captoes and black belt.

[poedua]

Im an engineering student and in a few months I will probably be doing interviews (hopefully with big oil and gas companies) to try to get an internship.

Definitely get a suit.

Right now I have black dress pants and a black dress shirt. I was just wondering what you guys would recommend for dress shoes, and tie. I am thinking maybe a gold tie (with a pattern, not too flashy though)...is that okay? Preferably something I can get cheap on eBay, because $80+ just for a tie...wow.

E-Bay ?

Just go to Moores or Winners if money is tight - AND with a little hunting , you can find a pretty decent ' conservative ' looking tie at either place.


As for dress shoes, I looked around the Bay and to be honest...black dress shoes all look the same to me. I have no idea what to look for, maybe you guys can show pictures of dress shoes that you think look good? I am also wondering if maybe I should get a vest for that dorky engineer look...lol.

An ' oxford ' something like this would do the trick - with a suit - IMO...

http://rckp.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pG01-4503177p275w.png



Or a ' slip on ' ( but these are more casual than lace up shoes ) .....

http://rckp.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pG01-4474060p275w.jpg

Also, I am a typical asian with black hair...incase that is of relevance to matching. I think I would rather go for the professional look rather than some sort of flashy clubbing/prom look. I would love to hear all your opinions, so feel free to comment. Thanks.

A simple dark 3 button suit is all you need to look ' professional ' - even with black hair....

http://images.saksfifthavenue.com/images/products/04/184/7125/0418471259559/0418471259559_ASTL_300x400.jpg

[DVDManiac]

Most versatile = Charcoal suit.

For a conservative look have the charcoal suit plus a white/powder blue shirt and a maroon/navy tie + black captoes and black belt.

So true, you can wear almost any colour tie and shirt with a charcoal coloured suit.


whatever you wear, own it, and be confident (that's the most important thing) lol.

So true, confidence can makeup for being a little under-dressed.

Make sure your socks match your pants. Wear a belt that matches your shoes. Almost always go with black shoes unless you are wearing lighter colour suit. Not hard, just look in a mirror and you should be able to see if colours go together.

Avoid cologne unless you have bad body odor, then you can grace the interviewers with bad body odor and strong cologne, nice mixture that is...interview should last 5 minutes.

Leave thick gold chains at home. Piercings to a minimum. Leave the hair products to a minimum for the day, have natural looking hair, don't want interviewers staring at your hair instead of listening to your answers. Sweaty palms?!? Keep some tissues in your pocket, put hands in pocket before shaking hands, of course, don't look like you are trying to put the 9 ball in the corner pocket.

Learn to tie a good knot, youtube it is. Half/Full windsor usually good. Good dental hygiene the night before and an hour before, nothing worst than having your interviewer's nose hairs curl from your breath.

Physically that should take care of it...how will you be mentally? Practise, practise, practise!