My teenage son has an Interview at KFC on Friday - What should he wear?

[mummytippy]

As he's a student... for starters he does not have any footwear that aren't trainers! He has a grey Hilfiger polo shirt (he hates wearing), but no dress trousers or dress shirt... what is acceptable in your opinions? He really wants this job.

A smart grey polo sounds fine. My suggestion would be a quick trip to Primark or Asda to get him kitted out with a pair of smart trousers and maybe borrow a pair of shoes from a relative or a mate. Shouldn’t cost more than £20. As he is applying to work in a food service environment, I would tell him to make sure his hair is neat & tidy and his hands & nails are immaculately clean.

Are his trainers dark and not ruined? He should get away with those. Polo shirt and get some plain trousers from a supermarket.

Good advice above. Two of mine did fastfood for a bit (McDs). Tell him to pay attention to any instructions in the interview offer with respect to clothing/hair/jewellery and what to bring etc. They assessed how you complied with these instructions as a proxy to how you'd comply with their working rules/instructions.

My DD thought she got the job because of her good interview performance but found out later that she was the only one to comply with the hair rule.

Thank you and good point on the hair and nails... the hair won't be too much of an issue as he's forever in front of the mirror!

He does have an old pair of school trousers that are black and still smart but there's no one to borrow shoes from! I might have to buy him some.

I'm finding it difficult to convince him what he needs to wear 'to look the part' as opposed to what he wants to wear

He should be able to get a decent suit in a charity shop?

@Aworldofmyown

Unfortunately his trainers although completely black are ruined (one is faulty near the toe) and they weren't cheap 4 months ago. He's asking me to buy him some more for this interview... instead of shoes... £165 - which I do not have. The faulty ones were for his bday and that's the only reason I spent so much.

As long as he is squeaky clean he will be fine with a polo shirt. He definitely does not need to buy a suit for a job at KFC 😂

My son went for a similar fast food interview in a smart jumper and jeans and was offered the job then and there.

@SandyIrvine

Thank you for that advice as I imagine McDs is very similar.
His hair is very short and is tidy... it's more the clothing I'm struggling on with him. It's a battle of wills. He doesn't seem to realise it's all about first impressions and competition is fierce!

Oh, and plain black trainers (a la primark or George) were fine and all I negotiated to provide since he too ruins the expensive ones!

Sorry @CatsAreAlwaysCute I am a great believer in supporting charity shops but there is no way my ds would wear a suit from one. He went crazy when my Dad made him wear his school blazer to a family wedding 4 years ago when he was 12! I also think a suit is a bit over dressed for KFC... I'm thinking more smart casual.

He doesn't need a suit.

Clean clothes and even trainers are fine for the interview. My son went in school trousers trainers and a polo shirt. He was offered the job immediately.

@ItsOnlyNovember

Can I ask how old your son is please? And was his interview for a high street name fast food chain?

My DS interviewed at McDs in black jeans, Jordan’s and a polo shirt and was offered a job the next day. These places employ a lot of young people and know they don’t have traditional interview attire. Maybe think
about getting some fast food suitable shoes as he’ll need them if he gets the job. McDs recommend shoes for crews I think but I got some for DS in Sainsburys for £20. Plain black trainers but not too trainer like iyswim.

@lilybloom2

Thank you. Please can I ask how old your ds is?

H&M is your friend, smart casual black trousers and a grey fine knit, or "insert dark colour" and trainers? If they are ok..

@ItsOnlyNovember

Same... wish I could do this... partly why he needs the job! He had champagne taste and not even a lemonade budget!

Oh, and plain black trainers (a la primark or George) were fine and all I negotiated to provide since he too ruins the expensive ones!

DS wore this he is 19 and works in a high street place, where he now wears a uniform..
Tbh I said make sure your hair is nice, clean nail and hands, sit up straight and smile 🤣

Looking online briefly KFC provide uniform and black boots for staff so I wouldn't buy him dress shoes just for the interview. Black trousers if he has them. A nice polo shirt or smart looking long sleeved top/jumper and his neatest looking trainers/shoes cleaned up as best as possible will be fine.

The answers on indeed,com from people who have got jobs at KFC suggest they are quite casual in dress code.

Thank you @WhatWouldHopperDo

I'm tempted to get him the new trainers he wants... might say I want half the money from his first wage packet if he gets the job!

My dd wore a dress and jacket to her McDonald's interview, she got the job and they offered her a degree apprenticeship after a few weeks, she turned them down as she had other plans

@FatAgainItsLettuceTime

Thank you for that info. The manager I spoke to today was dressed smart casual now when I think about it. All in black.

You can't wear most trainers to work at food places. Food safety rules mean you need shoes that are leather and cover the whole of the foot in case of oil spills because in most trainers the oil will get straight through to your foot. Big oil burns are really really nasty. Oil spills will also wreck fancy shoes so be sure he doesn't wear anything especially nice to a work trial/first day working there.

Additionally, make sure the soles are half-decent. I got through about four or five pairs of shoes working in McD's for 2 years because the soles just kept melting and cracking. IDK if it was the grease having an odd reaction with the plastic soles or if it was one of the floor cleaners we used. And get him some insoles for comfort.

You can't wear most trainers to work at food places
Should have said You can't wear most trainers to work at fast food places.

Thank you @PeekabooAtTheZoo

Someone has said that boots are provided by KFC so if that's the case I'll just get him something reasonable for the interview.