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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Turning up to interview in jeans and trainers

191 replies

Cuffi · 06/01/2025 09:04

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

OP posts:
Whyamiherenow · 07/01/2025 17:40

As a person who recruits to quite senior civil service type jobs. Professionals etc. I can honestly say I don’t take in to account attire. More their performance in assessments and interviews. Albeit this may be different for client facing roles. Genuinely don’t think it matters.

BlueSky2023 · 07/01/2025 18:05

Depends on the profession / company vibe, also were a lot of the other interviewees younger than you?
If the company is young / hip/ trendy start up/ very creative, then jeans and trainers might show that they would ge a good fit

I personally would not wear jeans and trainers to an interview but I’m 49 and would be looking at senior positions, I think for some of the more junior roles nice jeans and trainers might be acceptable though as long as they weren’t ripped jeans etc

Emmz71 · 07/01/2025 18:14

Onlyvisiting · 06/01/2025 09:22

Why are cheap polyester trousers automatically deemed smarter than jeans?
Personally I think you should be able to dress for an interview the same way you would dress if you got the job.

I worked in a call centre and you weren't allowed to wear jeans, denim skirts, t shirts or trainers. Had to be minimal of smart casual trousers or skirt, shirt or blouse or a dress. Daft really as customers couldn't see you

ThewrathofBethDutton · 07/01/2025 18:19

I once interviewed someone wearing ripped jeans and flip flops for a professional role.

I was completely thrown by it. They interviewed terribly but believed the role to be theirs so made zero effort.

It is important, it does make a difference to how you present your first impression and shows that you give a fuck.

PoppyTonthere · 07/01/2025 18:39

It's about respect, isn't it? Respect for the role (whatever it is) and respect for the interviewers. Respect for self as well.

Onlyvisiting · 07/01/2025 18:45

Emmz71 · 07/01/2025 18:14

I worked in a call centre and you weren't allowed to wear jeans, denim skirts, t shirts or trainers. Had to be minimal of smart casual trousers or skirt, shirt or blouse or a dress. Daft really as customers couldn't see you

But whilst I think it's daft having clothing requirements at a non customer facing job- it would make sense to me to interview in the same style.
If you can work in jeans or other more casual clothing once you get the job I don't get why you would need to wear different clothes for the interview.
You should be able to dress for the role you are applying for imo.

Differentstarts · 07/01/2025 18:48

Onlyvisiting · 07/01/2025 18:45

But whilst I think it's daft having clothing requirements at a non customer facing job- it would make sense to me to interview in the same style.
If you can work in jeans or other more casual clothing once you get the job I don't get why you would need to wear different clothes for the interview.
You should be able to dress for the role you are applying for imo.

Are you saying i should of turned up for my job interview in a aldi uniform. A bit presumptuous but I like it 🤣🤣

FreddieMercurysCat · 07/01/2025 18:57

Where I work, we specifically tell interviewees not to dress smartly. But that’s because we take them on a tour of our facility to show them what we do, to meet the other staff members and to give them a couple of tasks to see how they deal with the basics. It would be mortifying if they ruined perfectly good clothing. So, it really depends on the job and the type of interview being held.

Onelifeonly · 07/01/2025 18:58

When I was young I used to buy a skirt or trouser suit to wear for interviews. The jobs, as a teacher, didn't require that degree of smartness but it was the done thing. Plus wearing a tailored jacket was more common generally back then. I remember wearing tights to one interview on a particularly hot day as bare legs seemed wrong and ripping them off as soon as I got out.

I'd still dress smartly now but more smart casual. I see lots of interviewees in my role - for various jobs in a school. Management level candidates still tend to dress up, most others wear smart casual or clean and tidy at least. If it's a non teaching role they do sometimes turn up in what I imagine they'd normally wear to work to sit on the floor with the younger kids. But we never judge on clothing, only what they have to say and performance on tasks.

AnotherChildFreeCatLady · 07/01/2025 19:36

Completely depends on the role. If it's a skills based job then no, don't think it's necessary at all. I got a job and I went to the interview from work where I was wearing jeans, trainers and a hoodie bc it would have looked obvious if I had come to work dressed up.

DelicateSoundOfEchos · 07/01/2025 19:40

I think people should dress however they'd dress in the role. I've rejected people before for being overdressed because it tells me they didn't understand what we do and thus would be difficult.

In my industry you only wear a suit to an interview if you're interviewing for a director level job.

mitogoshigg · 07/01/2025 19:46

Even when I've hired warehouse or caretaker roles I would expect black jeans, polishable shoes or smart plain black trainers and a collared shirt as a minimum dress code. For admin trousers (not jeans) and shirt plus proper shoes or female equivalent as a minimum

roundabout2 · 07/01/2025 20:12

Cuffi · 06/01/2025 09:15

It’s for a call centre/admin role. My trousers were from Primark for £8 bought 4 years ago

Seems entirely appropriate for that type of role, put as much care into dressing for the job as the organisation puts into looking after its staff!

DisabledDemon · 07/01/2025 21:08

Best to turn up looking neat and professional but conservatively so (no high fashion or gimmicky outfits unless you know it's that sort of environment). You don't want your clothing to distract from your abilities and personality.

When you're offered the job, there's no harm in asking if there's a dress code if it's not obvious.

wasieverreallyhere · 07/01/2025 21:22

Call centres just glad people turn up for interviews

TheVoiceOfUnreason · 08/01/2025 10:23

All good points- probably the rule is always dress at least as smartly as any dress code for the job if known and normally be.at least a little bit smarter than that if you want to give an impression you do want the job. And for non-manual especially jobs with prospects or high salaries or roles with high presentation standards like escort in a high class night club, creatives etc more appropriate to power dress up as a statement of intent; for the stripper role, may be less is more.
of course the whole thing is a bit like the wrapping on Xmas presents- it’s only later does the employer hopefully find out if you were the immaculately wrapped bottle of regifted boots shampoo or a brand new iPhone handed over in a Poundland bag.

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