How Should One Dress for a Programming Position Interview?
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It's been a long time (over ten years!) since I've had to go out groveling for a programming job. It's become very apparent to me that a lot of what I thought I knew about securing a new position is out-dated. I've managed to reach a truce with Linkedin, I'm getting inquiries from it so it must be close. My resume has been reworked to show value instead of tasks. I'm working on my networking by attending local users' groups and reaching out to former colleagues through social media. The one place I'm at a total loss is what is the prevailing way to dress for an interview. I was always taught that a suit & tie is the only way to dress for an interview. Is that still the expected norm? If it isn't, what is the proper way to dress for an interview? I'm open to all suggestions! A little background: I'm in my mid-fifties, though due to good luck and genetics, I look a lot closer to early forties. I have been very careful to hide my age in my resume & on Linkedin so they won't give my age away.
My signature is undergoing re-branding, stay put and wait for it.
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It's been a long time (over ten years!) since I've had to go out groveling for a programming job. It's become very apparent to me that a lot of what I thought I knew about securing a new position is out-dated. I've managed to reach a truce with Linkedin, I'm getting inquiries from it so it must be close. My resume has been reworked to show value instead of tasks. I'm working on my networking by attending local users' groups and reaching out to former colleagues through social media. The one place I'm at a total loss is what is the prevailing way to dress for an interview. I was always taught that a suit & tie is the only way to dress for an interview. Is that still the expected norm? If it isn't, what is the proper way to dress for an interview? I'm open to all suggestions! A little background: I'm in my mid-fifties, though due to good luck and genetics, I look a lot closer to early forties. I have been very careful to hide my age in my resume & on Linkedin so they won't give my age away.
My signature is undergoing re-branding, stay put and wait for it.
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Only one? Where will you put your retro-pager? Your reverse-polish calculator? :laugh:
If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.
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Dammit, I'm just not cut out for the job! :laugh: On a similar note, our IT support manager has a handheld CB radio. Takes it with him on company days out. Legend.
jim lahey wrote:
Takes it with him on company days out. Legend
:omg: In public? He doesn't trust this new-fangled cellular radio system then? ;)
If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.
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jim lahey wrote:
Takes it with him on company days out. Legend
:omg: In public? He doesn't trust this new-fangled cellular radio system then? ;)
If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.
Damn right. We all went on a skiing trip at the start of the year. We're both in the group of people that doesn't ski or snowboard so we just went up the mountain to drink beer and take pictures. He was using the altitude to talk to people over the airwaves. Respect.
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Oh yes! Nudity is unlikely to get you a coding job. Unless you happen to be a BBBBB1 in which case what are you doing applying for a coding job? 1 Big Breasted Beautiful Blonde Bimbo
If you get an email telling you that you can catch Swine Flu from tinned pork then just delete it. It's Spam.
I think BBB would still get you a job at any place.
People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.
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Dress in a suit. I work in a very 'modern' & casual workplace. Shorts, singlets and flip flop shoes are everyday clobber here in the summer months. No one has ever been criticized for turning up to an interview in a suit though. I do still tease the guy I interviewed about four years ago for turning up with the label still attached to the cuff of his suit jacket. He'd bought it that day and had never worn a suit before.
_Josh_ wrote:
...flip flop shoes...
I'm so glad you have managed to avoid all piss ups at my place to date. I be;lieve your Missus would never see you again.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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Brady Kelly wrote:
I normally just wear a collar and tie
Don't you find that can get a bit cold, even in South Africa? :laugh:
Chris C-B wrote:
can get a bit cold
Did anyone else picture this[^] upon reading this comment... :laugh:
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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It's been a long time (over ten years!) since I've had to go out groveling for a programming job. It's become very apparent to me that a lot of what I thought I knew about securing a new position is out-dated. I've managed to reach a truce with Linkedin, I'm getting inquiries from it so it must be close. My resume has been reworked to show value instead of tasks. I'm working on my networking by attending local users' groups and reaching out to former colleagues through social media. The one place I'm at a total loss is what is the prevailing way to dress for an interview. I was always taught that a suit & tie is the only way to dress for an interview. Is that still the expected norm? If it isn't, what is the proper way to dress for an interview? I'm open to all suggestions! A little background: I'm in my mid-fifties, though due to good luck and genetics, I look a lot closer to early forties. I have been very careful to hide my age in my resume & on Linkedin so they won't give my age away.
My signature is undergoing re-branding, stay put and wait for it.
In the pre-interview phone call you should always ask what work place attire is for the office. You should then dress one level up. Them: Shorts and T-Shirt You: Dockers and Button Shirt no tie Them: Dockers and Button Shirt You: Pants and Pressed Shirt Them: Business Casual You: Pants, Pressed Shirt, either tie or really nice shoes Them: Business Professional You: Tuxedo ... or Business Professional, with really nice shoes Them: Tuxedo You: Vestments I can't over emphasize this enough. Clean, well maintained shoes really help. More so than a watch.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
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It's been a long time (over ten years!) since I've had to go out groveling for a programming job. It's become very apparent to me that a lot of what I thought I knew about securing a new position is out-dated. I've managed to reach a truce with Linkedin, I'm getting inquiries from it so it must be close. My resume has been reworked to show value instead of tasks. I'm working on my networking by attending local users' groups and reaching out to former colleagues through social media. The one place I'm at a total loss is what is the prevailing way to dress for an interview. I was always taught that a suit & tie is the only way to dress for an interview. Is that still the expected norm? If it isn't, what is the proper way to dress for an interview? I'm open to all suggestions! A little background: I'm in my mid-fifties, though due to good luck and genetics, I look a lot closer to early forties. I have been very careful to hide my age in my resume & on Linkedin so they won't give my age away.
My signature is undergoing re-branding, stay put and wait for it.
Right now, business casual is THE thing. Basically, nice pants and an open collar, button-up shirt and nice shoes. As for age, I just finished doing lots of interviews and found that nobody cared about my age (50). If anything it gave a slight edge since the hiring companies wanted truly senior engineers. (I do think it helped that, at least where I live, there is a bubble of sorts of engineers around my age, plus or minus ten years. I probably represent the average age of my current group.)
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It's been a long time (over ten years!) since I've had to go out groveling for a programming job. It's become very apparent to me that a lot of what I thought I knew about securing a new position is out-dated. I've managed to reach a truce with Linkedin, I'm getting inquiries from it so it must be close. My resume has been reworked to show value instead of tasks. I'm working on my networking by attending local users' groups and reaching out to former colleagues through social media. The one place I'm at a total loss is what is the prevailing way to dress for an interview. I was always taught that a suit & tie is the only way to dress for an interview. Is that still the expected norm? If it isn't, what is the proper way to dress for an interview? I'm open to all suggestions! A little background: I'm in my mid-fifties, though due to good luck and genetics, I look a lot closer to early forties. I have been very careful to hide my age in my resume & on Linkedin so they won't give my age away.
My signature is undergoing re-branding, stay put and wait for it.
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Suit & tie for sure. I've yet to meet an interviewer who doesn't appreciate the effort even if they are in jeans and a witty t-shirt. If going through an agency, always best to ask them first, as they should know the client well enough. I have been quite horrified at some of the candidates I have interviewed over the years - especially those just out of uni - who come in shorts and thongs (flip flops, Jellies) and tell you they want double your salary - but it just makes us old 'uns look better :) Good luck
.\\axxx
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Suit & tie for sure. I've yet to meet an interviewer who doesn't appreciate the effort even if they are in jeans and a witty t-shirt. If going through an agency, always best to ask them first, as they should know the client well enough. I have been quite horrified at some of the candidates I have interviewed over the years - especially those just out of uni - who come in shorts and thongs (flip flops, Jellies) and tell you they want double your salary - but it just makes us old 'uns look better :) Good luck
.\\axxx
SockPuppeteer wrote:
I've yet to meet an interviewer who doesn't appreciate the effort even if they are in jeans and a witty t-shirt.
Doesn't mean anything to me. Although not a negative I usually associate it a bit with being stodgy and/or insecure.
SockPuppeteer wrote:
especially those just out of uni - who come in shorts and thongs (flip flops, Jellies) and tell you they want double your salary - but it just makes us old 'uns look better
Myself I look at abilities and comportment not attire.
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It's been a long time (over ten years!) since I've had to go out groveling for a programming job. It's become very apparent to me that a lot of what I thought I knew about securing a new position is out-dated. I've managed to reach a truce with Linkedin, I'm getting inquiries from it so it must be close. My resume has been reworked to show value instead of tasks. I'm working on my networking by attending local users' groups and reaching out to former colleagues through social media. The one place I'm at a total loss is what is the prevailing way to dress for an interview. I was always taught that a suit & tie is the only way to dress for an interview. Is that still the expected norm? If it isn't, what is the proper way to dress for an interview? I'm open to all suggestions! A little background: I'm in my mid-fifties, though due to good luck and genetics, I look a lot closer to early forties. I have been very careful to hide my age in my resume & on Linkedin so they won't give my age away.
My signature is undergoing re-branding, stay put and wait for it.
I am going to go with the suit and tie group on this one. I wish you luck in your search there in Omaha. I was forced to leave the area a couple of years ago, but have landed nicely just a bit south. Let me know if you would be able/interested in a relocation. I know of a job or two. . . .
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In the pre-interview phone call you should always ask what work place attire is for the office. You should then dress one level up. Them: Shorts and T-Shirt You: Dockers and Button Shirt no tie Them: Dockers and Button Shirt You: Pants and Pressed Shirt Them: Business Casual You: Pants, Pressed Shirt, either tie or really nice shoes Them: Business Professional You: Tuxedo ... or Business Professional, with really nice shoes Them: Tuxedo You: Vestments I can't over emphasize this enough. Clean, well maintained shoes really help. More so than a watch.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
:laugh: Vestments... :thumbsup:
