Turning up to interview in jeans and trainers

Trackies is an absolute no

But jeans with a nice top/jumper would absolutely be considered appropriate for many places now

The advice given now is "dress for the job you're going for" so if your office attire is smart casual then you shouldn't be judging someone turning up in smart casual!

Yes, I absolutely agree with you.

I turned up in jeans + trainers to an interview, got the job. As far as I remember, I was also weary a nice shirt and a stylish blazer, so the whole style was relaxed yet sophisticated.

I work in tech, as a creative. That would be very weird to come in a formal attire.

My brother is a lawyer and has v rarely worn a tie to work as he really hates ties but he does wear smart trousers and shirt

I was in a gastro pub recently ( toby jug) and it was Sunday lunch and was really shocked by how people dressed to have family meals some were having birthday meals
I was wearing smart jeans nice top had made an effort to look like I’d made an effort nail varnish necklace proper shoes etc

a lot of young people had grey tracksuits trainers , skin tight leggings crop tops I am sure they all cost 10x what my outfit cost ( mine combination of primark, Sainsbury’s charity shop ) but they looked a bit grim in my opinion

I work with teens and to them “ dressing up” is basically wearing expensive sports wear

it all started in Covid 7 months of sports leisure wear …

i would not object to this in view of the role. As long as the clothes are clean and well cared for, I don’t think they need to be too smart. In the same way if anyone had turned up in a very smart business suit, I would wonder if they understood the role advertised.

The tone of that post says far more about you than it does about Angela Rayner.

Personally, I'd always err on the smarter side just in case, but in this day and age I expect most employers don't care. I don't know why you are worried. If you are correct, and the employer in question expected smart dress, your competition is much reduced. If they don't, you have the same chance of getting the job as before.

I think you should present yourself on a par with the smartest people in the office. Even if only a few are in business wear, you should wear business wear for an interview. You can relax your code later but first impressions matter and show you respect the process.

I was very surprised by one candidate who turned up for an interview for a (professional) post wearing a Mickey Mouse sequinned top with her hair in bunches tied with red spotty ribbons. Obviously no-one on the panel questioned her outfit, but she told us that she wore it because the job involved working with children.

I worked as a TA in a SEN school, and interviewed as part of a group who was already at the school through agencies.

My insight into this is a bit different as I was familiar with the workplace and most of the other interviewees. One person turned up in a suit and looked ridiculous. The rest of us turned up in our usual wear, which was casual clothes. The one trying to ‘impress’ really needed too, she wasn’t the most competent. And while she was offered the job (along with the rest of us), she was also let go not long after for her shocking unprofessionalism.

Showed up for interview = making the effort to find work.

I'm interviewing now, as in hiring, and if someone turned up in something like jeans, I wouldn't hire them.
It would indicate they didn't understand the role we do. And whilst a gorgeous uniform is provided, this takes a few weeks to be made so we'd require staff to be in smart clothing in the interim.

Yes I expect people to dress appropriately for an interview. And somehow dark jeans seems better than light jeans....

But not joggers. Unless it's for a job in an gym.

Times have changed. Nobody should be judged by how they look. Why not wear what is comfortable?

Oh come on, most people have something semi smart (and I say that as someone who only it's second hand).

It doesn't need to be a suit but there's a big range between that and trackies.

My husband drives a forklift and spends his day in high Vis. Any interviews have always been a smart ish jumper and shirt and trousers, even if more like black or grey jeans.

If there's a practical element you are told in advance.

It doesn't say 'I've made an effort to be here today' and that remains important. I think formal suits are unnecessary but a bit of effort sets the initial impression (or keeps it neutral rather than negative). I couldn't really tell you what most of our recent interviewees have worn because they are all well presented if not formal. I would remember someone in a tracksuit.

Actually modern advice is "dress for the job you are applying for"
So if the dress code is smart casual then you go smart casual, don't need to over dress for it. In fact in some jobs, dressing smarter and like you are going for a higher paid job is detrimental

Call centre environment, probably doesn't matter too much, but what people wear to interview indicates what they think is appropriate to wear to a professional appointment.

Getting it very wrong can show poor judgement, although I tend to allow more leeway to school leavers looking for their first job, if they otherwise do well.

Better to be overdressed than underdressed. Better to look like you've made an effort than to look like you haven't.

we have a completely casual work dress code (IT), most people just wear regular street clothes (jeans and a tee or skirt/trousers and casual top). Regardless of that, I would personally always turn up to interview suited and booted and I would expect my interview candidates to at least be business casual (chino and shirt for example). It wouldn't actually put me off a candidate if they were too casual, a lot has happened in the almost 30 years I've been working - I'm looking for good engineers above all.

You and your DF both need to get over yourselves and mind your own business.

Personally, I wouldn't turn up for an interview in jeans and trainers, but I also wouldn't be crowing about how superior I am to the other candidates at an assessment day. It's none of your concern what other people are wearing.

If I was interviewing you, your outfit might give a good impression. Your attitude wouldn't.

Times have changed, remember ppl getting rejected by nightclubs for not wearing trousers and shoes? My idea of smart casual and a twenty something will be completely different.
I started teaching in my 40,s my kids commented I looked too smart to be a high school teacher told me the teacher uniform was black old fashioned nylon trousers, greying white blouse and washed out bobbled black cardigan.🤣🤣.
I like what I like and others can wear what they like. I used to interview pre teaching and everyone was suited and booted it was expected, so out of touch now I would not know what was good advice.

It must vary then because I have a close relative who is a software engineer and he wears a suit every time he goes to the office

My job is casual jeans and trainers, I think I wore black skinny jeans and a long shirt to the interview. I would usually aim for slightly smarter than what would actually be worn day to day

Just seems you're setting yourself up to fail by going to an interview in jeans, or tracksuit bottoms. If you've got two candidates who are close, you're giving an easy differentiator to the employer.

I work in tech so people do tend to be more casual, I still think a shirt and chinos / trousers should be worn for an interview. During covid did no end of video interviews where people turned up in a hoodie with an unmade bed behind them. It's hard not to be prejudice from the start when people put in such little effort.

In fairness some people are cfs . Most of us would never expect to have a suit paid for. You would borrow from someone or get one in a charity shop like pp said. Some people would be using the suit for a Wedding, Communion etc !!

I'm in the team of go clean and dress respectfully.

I dress smartly when interviewing and I expect those I am interviewing to also dress smartly. It tells me they want the job, they are respectful of this formal situation.

It's not about designer labels/ expensive outfits (I am sure their trainers cost much more than my shoes). It's about being appropriate.

We also as a company support a local charity who style and provide several outfits for those whom buying clothing is a struggle (for whatever reason).