Should you always have your shoulders covered for an interview?

[Frenchvanilla]

??

Yes - shoulders covered, toes covered and preferably skin coloured tights if you're not wearing trousers (think Duchess of Cambridge).

As my mum always taught me: it's better to be overdressed than underdressed. You don't want your interviewer thinking you don't care/didn't make an effort!

Yes. Obviously.

sugarandsprite - I like that dress code!

what's wrong with showing your shoulders or toes at work??? (assuming it's not a very formal workplace). Is there something indecent about them?? I always wear sandals in the summer and work in a semi-formal office.

I interview a lot of people. Cardigans look a bit sloppy IMO and make me think the person isn't sharp enough. Only interview, not day to day. A dress and a jacket would look great.

Don't have an issue with bare shoulders / peep toes day to day. But I'm meeja innit.

Thank you cointreau

tugamommy I absolutely agree that most workplaces run a less formal day to day dress code -whether stated officially or just in officially accepted. However I believe interviews are a totally different ball game, designed to show off you at your most professional, rather than day to day.

Hence a dress code that is more formal.

Op agree with pp, definitely tights and a blazer rather than a cardi.

Unofficially not in officially obvs.

"what's wrong with showing your shoulders or toes at work??? (assuming it's not a very formal workplace). Is there something indecent about them?? I always wear sandals in the summer and work in a semi-formal office."

I wear sleeveless and sandals (on the odd occasion that it is warm enough) in the office and we have a fairly strict dress code. I wouldn't wear them for an interview though.

One girl turned up for an interview recently wearing a fairly smart outfit with the most awful sandals. She had to walk through our office for the interview and the sandals were the main topic of conversation (she didn't get the job).

I also interviewed someone in a smart sleeveless shift last week.
It didn't bother me at all (professional position), but i would err on the side of conserative myself for an interview.

But I'm meeja innit. Fab expression - gonna find away to shoe-horn that in somewhere tomorrow

who makes these rules?