To expect apprentices to look smart?

[sproodlemummy]

Currently interviewing for apprentices at our company, have so far seen 6 boys ranging from the age of 16-19. All except 1 of them has turned up in Jeans & T-Shirt!! WFT????

AIBU to expect them to look smarter?? Their parents drop them off so they are very aware of how they are dressed. My parents wouldn't have left me leave the house without a suit on for an interview.

The environment in which they could be working is not a suit based workplace, but still i'd like to see them make a bit of effort.

Is it a sign of the times and I'm just becoming am already and old fart???

I work in professional services and we had someone turn up for an internship interview (required placement under their uni course) in jeans. We are a suit workplace and whilst we could gave accepted trousers and a shirt + tie (on the understanding not everyone has a suit) jeans showed a complete lack of understanding of the job he was applying for.

Yy I would expect smarter clothes than jeans and tshirt, definitely. I am old though. I thought everyone knew to dress smartly for interviews 🤔

I have known people turn up to job interviews like they were going out clubbing and being totally unprepared for the questions they were asked.

Some of these candidates even asked if they could just get their job centre form signed and not bother with the actual interview.

Do they or rather their parents have "Smart" money, though

I would assume that the ones in dirty or scruffy clothes don't want the apprenticeship and are being dragged to the interview by the parents mentioned as dropping them off, who probably can't force teens into smart clothes.

I wouldn't expect a tie let alone a suit for a job done wearing a t shirt though, you usually dress one level smarter than the day to day dress code for an interview - so t shirt day to day is tidy shirt no tie for interview.

In general I don't understand the "special interview clothes" mindset at all. Do we need to check a box, "owns suit"? I don't even understand that for jobs that do have a suit dresscode - actually that's even odder in some ways, it's not as if applicants to a real uniform job (anything from flight attendant to police) have to turn up in the uniform to prove they can wear it.

But dirty clothes would be off-putting for me too. And trousers hanging off their arses.

Collared shirt and trousers (even clean jeans) are acceptable, scruffy jeans and a tshirt not. Likewise arrive on time, read a little about the company, turn off phone etc. Why do schools and colleges not instill this?

I don't see an issue with jeans and a smart shirt, or chinos. I don't think many 16-19 year olds own a suit, do they?!

There is also the fact that any teenaged boys in suits always, always look as though they're on the way to enter a plea at juvenile court... Teens and suits really shouldn't be put together...

A suit is a bit OTT in these circumstances but you are definitely NBU to expect a plain shirt and smart trousers. Primark will have both of those without anyone needing to break the bank. Even if the job is going to involve wearing very casual clothes, any interviewee for any job should look like they’ve made an effort.

I would assume their parents had no money for smart chinos and shirts which boys won't wear unless they're into that style. Don;t judge.

All of them will have had some kind of interview prep at school. They will have been told to dress in a shirt. YANBU!!

You can pick up a shirt and tie pack in Asda for £10. It’s not unreasonable to expect people to bother for an interview no.

DS went for an interview for a Saturday job in his (prom) suit. He got the job.

I would also expect at least school pants and a school shirt.

My DS went for a job interview for a High Street store last year. He went dressed in chinos, a white shirt and blue tie. He was interviewed by 2 managers - one of them was wearing jeans! DS was issued with a uniform when he got the job.
He has recently been for another interview for a warehouse job. This time he decided to leave the tie off. I have quite high standards for this sort of thing but even I thought a tie was OTT considering the job it was for. He got the job there and again now has uniform - polo shirt and black trousers.

I think jeans at interview are not appropriate.

Similar, my son had an interview for a local educational grant. I insisted he worn some smart trousers and a shirt. He originally came downstairs in jeans. I think he sees jeans as a step up from the tracky bottoms he normally wears! We went for a coffee afterwards across the road and I saw my friend’s dd arrive wearing a grey vest top and ripped jeans!

This is actually an access issue - kids from lower income backgrounds often face barriers to employment such a not owning a suit because they are expensive to buy and they might not have had cause to need one (especially as teenagers). It's one of the hidden disadvantages poor kids face.

If they are actively scruffy then YANBU to expect better but if their clothes are clean, ironed and neat then for an apprenticeship (I.e. Practical rather than office based) I would view that as totally acceptable.

I work in finance. In what is very much a suit workplace.

I have had summer vacation interns turning up in HOT PANTS because they thought the tweed style material made them appropriate, and separately silk PJ type vest tops. We have had to have so many conversations about what I appropriate in a corporate and conservative office!

Full suit and tie is maybe a bit much for an apprentice considering those clothes are v expansive, but I would have thought they could find dark smart trousers or school trousers and a shirt.

Most 16-19 year olds will not have that kind of clothing. They also won't have much money. If it is not a suit based job I would expect smart black jeans and a non logo t shirt or polo shirt.

Were any of the scruffy ones actually interested in the placements you were offering?

Or is it more a case of being pushed to go for something they don't want to do, so they reckon looking scruffy will make sure you don't offer them any work?

There's enough information given on how to present yourself for interview from schools, parents and peers, I'd seriously doubt any candidate "didn't know" that they should look smart for interview.

All of them will have had some kind of interview prep at school. They will have been told to dress in a shirt.

You can pick up a shirt and tie pack in Asda for £10.

Oh such middle class lives. Some schools are shit. Some people don’t have a spare £10 lying around for something that will be worn once.

Sp mpre hurdles for poorer people for interviews? My young nephew keeps having to pay £15+ pounds per interview on transport costs because local businesses have decided that outsourcing all interviews to Manchester is a great idea mo matter that 45 minutes away from the town they would be working in...

My almost 18 year old DD (17 until Thursday!) is currently interviewing for jobs and apprenticeships, and she dresses smartly, in navy or black trousers or skirt, nice smart shoes and an ironed shirt.

I don't think it is unreasonable to expect that a bit of extra effort is made to look presentable for an interview. It shows willing, I'd think someone turning up in jeans and t-shirt wasn't really interested in the job.

Why would they own a suit? Do you expect them (or their parents) to spend £100+ on clothes that they will hardly ever wear on the off-chance that they gain a place on a programme for which they don't have to wear a suit anyway?

So you’d go to a job interview for a company that doesn’t insist on formal office wear wearing jeans and a t shirt?

Don’t be ridiculous. They can wear their old school uniform, sixth form uniform, funeral/prom/special occasion suit, dad’s suit jacket, friend’s shirt and tie, etc.

They’re finishing school and beginning their careers, at some point a suit is going to be necessary.

Look past the attire. These are young lads.

Are they a good fit with the company?