Turning up to interview in jeans and trainers

[Cuffi]

Awaiting for interview/assessment day. Out of the ten waiting. Three are wearing pale jeans, trainers, Adidas tracksuit bottoms.

All the rest including me wearing smart trousers, tops and shoes.

From what few workers I have seen, some are wearing dark jeans.

I think everyone needs to wear smart clothes for interviews. Doesn’t matter if the prospective employer has a casual dress code

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

Yes, I absolutely agree with you.

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!

It depends very much on the job. Someone wearing very formal dress for an interview for a job in an organisation that is very informal could look as though they wouldn't fit in.
Interviewees need to do their research before deciding what to wear..

I’d be more interested in a candidate’s abilities than their appearance, as long as they were clean.

It’s a call centre, clients won’t see them. Some of the most nicely spoken/well educated people I’ve know over the years were scruffy as they come.

I have a French colleague who had a strict dress code, he cracked me up

1. I don't want to wear a tie
2. I don't need to wear a tie
3. You can't make me wear a tie
4. Fuck you and your fucking tie

Until I was interviewing somewhere known to be particularly formal my go-to interview outfit is:

Black skinny jeans (not faded or ripped)
Black and silver slim belt
Black Chelsea boots or flats depending on weather
White shirt, but a nice fitted one rather than one that looks like you've nicked your dad's
Black blazer
A couple of bits of silver jewellery

I wouldn't concern myself too much about it. Ultimately if it makes a difference to the recruiter you'll have the edge. But if I was interviewing for a call centre role I'd be more concerned about the applicant's soft skills and understanding of the core competencies.

She's wearing a shirt and trouser suit? Is colour unprofessional?

I think many workplaces are much more casual now than they were 10 or even 5 years ago.

I used to work in outdoor clothing retail and anyone who turned up for their interview in a suit and tie got a very odd look indeed 😂

Equally I now work as a dog walker and if I interviewed someone in a suit and smart shoes I'd think they didn't have a clue!

If it's an office job, you need smart cloths. If it's as a labourer on a building site, probably not needed. Generally rule is slightly smarter then employees, so if they're in smart-casual, I'd go with shirt/blouse, but not a full suit/equivalent.