Interview advice needed, please -UPDATE in OP

[RoxMonster]

UPDATE: Thanks again for all the advice. He wore nice dark jeans and a button down. The interview went really well and he was told today that the interviewer was contacting HR to officially offer him the job! We're very excited.

DH has an interview tomorrow for a tech job. In the last email communication from the interviewer, he was told "And don't worry about dressing up tomorrow. We are super casual here, and I will be in jeans."

DH had planned on wearing dress pants, dress shirt, and tie. Now he is worried that he shouldn't. He doesn't have any nice khakis but is wondering if he should go buy a pair today and wear those with a more casual button-down (not a dress shirt)? He doesn't want to go so far as jeans. And then he isn't sure if he should just wear his dress clothes anyway?

What would you do in this situation? I have always been in the boat of dressing up, even over-dressing for the job on an interview. But he also doesn't want to come across like he wouldn't fit into the office culture. He would love wearing jeans to work every day! Please help!

[verycontrary247]

My fiance works in tech. He wore dark wash jeans, a button up shirt and black Vans to his last interview (and got the job).

I wouldn't dress up if the interviewer specifically mentioned not to.

[wambam]

We say the same thing because it's true. It's not a trap. Usually, the candidate comes over-dressed and we really don't care. But yeah, I'm going to interview someone in the same clothes I wear every day, which is jeans and a Dashboard t-shirt.

If I were the interviewee, I would probably dress business casual in the off chance it's a "test" or some bullshit like that.

[wildrice]

Definitely no tie or jacket, but I think a nice pair of dark jeans and a button down shirt might be ok? Or khakis and a button down would be fine I'm sure, if that makes him more comfortable. I would not show up in a t-shirt or anything like that but I think sometimes dark wash jeans can look polished if you wear a nice shirt/shoes with it.

I actually hate this advice from the interviewer. The interviewer probably thought they were being nice to give him a heads up, but now it will look weird if he shows up in normal interview attire and it just causes more stress wondering WTF to wear.

Good luck to him!

[ECB]

I would wear the dress pants a perhaps a more casual button down shirt than a "dress shirt".  No tie or jacket.  

[W.T.Faulkner]

We work in a very casual environment and I wouldn’t think twice about someone who showed up in dark-wash jeans, a nice button-down shirt, and nice dress shoes to interview with us. Because right now I’m participating in those interviews in a t-shirt and shorts or a maxi dress. lol

[preppy]

I work in a similar environment and people usually end up in business casual for interviews. I would go with his dress pants or dark nice jeans and a button down and no tie and def no jacket. When people show up in suits its honestly is weird and I feel like people didn't do any research on the company so I think as long as no tie and no jacket or suit he will be fine.

[mrssandro]

My husband is old school and insists on wearing dress pants and a ironed pressed shirt daily. But I totally embrace the casual tech company vibe at my job.

It's not a trap. I agree with others. Dress to impress but also with a little comfort in mind. Def no suit or tie.

[circa1978]

I'd follow the advice of the interviewer. I rarely notice any more what candidates wear as long as it is at least office casual. I'm much more interested in their abilities.

FWIW, my H, who loves to dress up in his private life, works in tech and the most formal he ever gets for work, including any interview he's ever had, is dark wash jeans, a crisp white dress shirt, maybe a sweater if it's cold, a blazer and spendy shoes. It looks really sharp. (He adds his dad's Rolex if the client is super important or he's courting a $$$ contract, LOL.)

[goldengirlz]

I work in tech. Do not — I repeat, do NOT wear khakis. No one wears khakis.

If he absolutely can’t bring himself to wear jeans, then go with navy dress pants in a more structured fabric, no pleats.

But seriously, just wear jeans. As someone said above, it’s not a trap. I wear jeans to all my important meetings. I joke that they’re my “power jeans.”

Also, I HATE that I’m saying this but culture fit is super important in tech, especially if you’re over the age of 27. I’ve seen a guy interview in gym shorts and get the job over someone who interviewed in khaki pants. (You can guess which side of 30 each person was on.)

[jennistarr1]

so I would just ditch the tie, same pants and shirts

[georgeglass]

I would wear dark jeans and a button down. "Culture fit" is a real, if terrible, thing in interviews.

[RoxMonster]

Thank you for all the input. He doesn’t have any nice dark wash jeans, so I think that is what I’ll have him buy today instead.

[RoxMonster]

Do you think the nice jeans and a button down alone or also with a blazer (not suit jacket) as well?

[wambam]

Aug 7, 2019 9:49:08 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Do you think the nice jeans and a button down alone or also with a blazer (not suit jacket) as well?

Probably overkill, especially in August.

[RoxMonster]

Thanks! You guys rock. Right now he has a job where khakis are required with a polo or nice shirt on top and this is the first tech job he’s had an interview for since he went back to school for it.

[goldengirlz]

Aug 7, 2019 9:42:44 GMT -5 @heyitsme said:

Aug 7, 2019 9:09:11 GMT -5 goldengirlz said:

I work in tech. Do not — I repeat, do NOT wear khakis. No one wears khakis.

If he absolutely can’t bring himself to wear jeans, then go with navy dress pants in a more structured fabric, no pleats.

But seriously, just wear jeans. As someone said above, it’s not a trap. I wear jeans to all my important meetings. I joke that they’re my “power jeans.”

Also, I HATE that I’m saying this but culture fit is super important in tech, especially if you’re over the age of 27. I’ve seen a guy interview in gym shorts and get the job over someone who interviewed in khaki pants. (You can guess which side of 30 each person was on.)

#truth

Khaki pants are like the nude pantyhose of men’s fashion. All the kids are like, gross, what were they thinking back then?

[mrssandro]

I don't necessarily agree with the no khaki thing lol. Plenty of people still wear khakis. Especially in Texas as it's too damn hot to wear jeans. I am sporting them now.

[isabel]

Aug 7, 2019 9:49:08 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Do you think the nice jeans and a button down alone or also with a blazer (not suit jacket) as well?

No blazer. Jeans and a polo or button down.

[hbomdiggity]

With that wording, I would go with jeans and a button down or tee shirt + casual blazer (not a sport coat).

[mcsangel2]

I had no idea that khakis have died out. Huh.

Ditto no blazer.

[starburst604]

Aug 7, 2019 10:33:56 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

I had no idea that khakis have died out. Huh.

Ditto no blazer.

Same. But I’ll admit it’s been a while since I’ve worked somewhere they would be worn or commuted into the city.

[calamity]

I work in tech, but some of the guys I work with still wear khakis and pocket protectors, hahaha.

If they said to wear jeans, wear jeans.

[Nonny]

Definitely agree with the advice to wear dark wash jeans and a nice shirt.

Absolutely no tie.

Only a casual blazer if paired with a work-safe, geeky graphic tee.

My H is a fairly high level manager at a software company and when he interviews people he's wearing jeans or shorts, a t-shirt that is probably faded and maybe even frayed at the collar, and athletic shoes or Birkenstocks. He wouldn't notice a candidate in jeans, but a candidate in a tie would stand out and probably in a bad way. A woman could wear whatever and he wouldn't notice because he has no clue about fashion.

[RoxMonster]

Update in OP

[isabel]

Hooray! This is exciting! Does this mean he's getting out of retail? Will be have a more standard schedule?

[Monica Geller]

Yay!! Congratulations!

[RoxMonster]

Aug 9, 2019 15:51:14 GMT -5 isabel said:

Hooray! This is exciting! Does this mean he's getting out of retail? Will be have a more standard schedule?

Yes! No more retail management Thank goodness. He’ll work just M-F and they are very flexible on setting your own hours and working from home when need be, which is amazing.

[isabel]

Aug 9, 2019 16:29:53 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Aug 9, 2019 15:51:14 GMT -5 isabel said:

Hooray! This is exciting! Does this mean he's getting out of retail? Will be have a more standard schedule?

Yes! No more retail management Thank goodness. He’ll work just M-F and they are very flexible on setting your own hours and working from home when need be, which is amazing.

So happy for you guys! Congrats!

[goldengirlz]

Welcome to the world of tech 😀