MALE CALL

What to wear for interview at that laid-back workplace

Q. I saw a question online on a business social network. It received answers all across the gamut, but none from an expert. I am wondering what your thoughts are on this. What should a man wear for a mid-high level job interview in a well-respected company, where the recruiter specifically tells him not to wear a suit? The recruiter explained that the company does not want the candidate to feel uncomfortable since the company people will be wearing jeans.

A. As you can imagine, my usual answer to a question about how to dress for a job interview (especially one above entry level) would be to wear something dressier than a blazer or a sports jacket, namely, a matched suit. But, of far more importance than traditional interview dressing advice is this: Follow directions! Since the recruiter was thoughtful enough to give you specific heads-up advice not to wear a suit you should follow it. Why risk shooting yourself in the foot?

This brings up the recruiter's next point of information -- that the others at the company will be wearing jeans. It is useful for you to know this, so you will know how to proceed, but not so that you, too, should wear jeans. A successful job interview has to do with presenting yourself in the best light you can, in a slightly more formal way than you might expect to dress if you get the job (to show respect for the company and the position), and also to follow that most useful bit of business dressing advice: Do not overdress, but do dress for the position that is the next step up from the one you would be occupying.

Certainly, there are times when you want to impress, but you never want to come on too strong. When you are out to sell yourself to a potential employer, dressing to project a professional look is essential. It becomes a powerful form of self-expression, conveying nonverbally that you are not only competent, but also an effective team player.

While putting together a clothing combination usually begins with the suit or the jacket, in this situation, I would begin with the trousers. Rather than the totally casual look of jeans, I strongly suggest you move up one step to khaki pants, well cut and well pressed. These are not as formal as dress pants and not as casual as jeans, a happy compromise that could not be interpreted as either over- or under-dressed.

From there, I would choose an ironed light blue Oxford cloth button-down shirt with barrel cuffs (buttons, not cuff links). The typical interview-appropriate white shirt is a bit too formal for this combination. Dark brown shoes and socks (to the calf, not anklets) and a dark brown belt. And two items I would suggest are a tweed sports coat, perhaps in shades of brown and/or blue and a quiet navy or brown knit tie. The reason for these two: They are the most casual forms of each category, and they can each be removed easily if you arrive at the scene and feel much too formally dressed.

If you don't have khakis in good condition or if you want to go another way, you have a few options. The trousers remain the starting point. Whatever you have that you feel makes you look your best and are above jeans/cargo level of informality and below suit pants could possibly work.

So, if you have nice black or gray dress pants you'd like to wear that are a touch formal, wear them with that same button-down shirt mentioned above or one in another light color. Or, if it is winter and you want to go with corduroys, avoid any that have a wide-wale or are baggy. Still, it is hard to imagine any man beyond absolute entry level who does not own a well-cut pair of khaki pants. If you don't, you should.

The truth is, that rather than look for an alternative to a nice pair of khakis if you want to go in another direction, consider substituting something for the tweed sports jacket. I would not go with a navy blazer, because it too closely resembles a suit. Instead, a handsome, high quality sweater worn over the Oxford cloth shirt might work nicely, either with or without the knit tie.

Be sure your grooming is impeccable. Additionally, avoid any fancy/dressy touches, such as a pocket square, a tie clasp, wingtip shoes, colorful braces (suspenders), showy jewelry or a noticeably expensive accessory, such as alligator anything.

Send men's fashion queries to Male Call:

lois.fenton@prodigy.net

High Profile on 03/19/2017

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