Question about UK remote job interview dress attire. (lemmy.world)

submitted 3 weeks ago by FlyingSquid@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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I'm in the U.S. but interviewing for UK jobs since we're emigrating in January, which means all of my interviews are remote. I've only had a couple so far and only one has been via video, the other just phone, but I realized I don't actually know the protocol here.

I'm in a creative field in the U.S. and the advice I keep being given here is to just wear a shirt and tie to an interview and not a suit because (especially since I'm in my late 40s) it makes you look too old, out-of-touch and grim for a creative position. I actually started getting more work when I ditched the suit for interviews in the U.S., so apparently that was good advice.

But I have another UK interview tomorrow and I'm thinking that maybe they'll see that the opposite way- that if I don't wear a suit, I'm not serious about wanting the job.

So what's the protocol here? Any advice would be appreciated thanks.

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[-] superkret@feddit.org 10 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Find the people you're interviewing with, or others in a similar role with that employer, on LinkedIn or a company website, and dress the way they do in those photos.

Alternatively, dress the way you'd want to dress at work when an executive or a customer walks in.
If you are then over- or underdressed at the interview, it's a sign that the employer isn't a good fit anyway (cause dress code represents culture).

In my professional experience, even a tie is overdressed nowadays, unless you're applying at a bank, insurance company, law firm or similar.
(I've worked with several hundred companies of varying sizes and in different sectors as IT consultant)
And in my personal opinion, a tie without a suit jacket never looks good anyway.

For a creative role, I'd go with a pastel-colored, neatly ironed button-down shirt.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

In my professional experience, even a tie is overdressed nowadays

I guess California has spread to the world. When I was living in L.A. I came into work in a polo shirt one day and someone asked me why I was so dressed up.

Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely do that in general because I didn't even think of it. In this case, it's a company needing someone in a creative role, but the company itself is not a creative business. Maybe in this case pastel shirt and colorful tie?

[-] Im_old@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Nahh, don't use the tie. I go for shirt and smart jumper

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

Thanks, I'll try that out!

[-] superkret@feddit.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

Try to find out who is actually making the hiring decision.
This can be an issue in companies where the team you're working with is casual, but HR and the C-suite are not.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Good point! Thank you!

this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2024

44 points (92.3% liked)

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