Quote: Original post by Buttacup
How are any of all of the above points even a question on anybodies mind? The simple fact is it's Google and if you don't look better than everybody else chances are you are not! I think the insinuation in that statement is pretty straight forward.

The possibility of someone who is, as portrayed by say a bad episode of the Simpsons, an obese nerd type or Moores suit wearing workaholic, being an A type personality is pretty slim. A man and or woman of character will be distinguished from the rest. A suit and tie can be very distinguishing, if it's the right one. A good sense of fashion, within the confines of business and business casual, denotes a creative mind; creative minds tend to earn their keep. Anyone who arrives to an in interview in jeans and t-shirt should probably be prepared to back up the balls they've splayed on the table....

To answer for my own post just above yours:

I typically wear jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a funky dress type shirt over that to interviews and I usually do well. I dress how I might for any regular day on the job but I put some more thought into it than I would normally. This means that I'll be dressed similarly to the interviewers and will be comfortable. It removes a barrier that a suit puts up and lets me talk more freely.

I figure a job interviewer should care about your skills (both personal and technical) more than the tie you chose to match your shoes. Often these types of jobs going in with a suit and tie is overkill, and is as likely to score you points as it is to make the interviewers who are probably not wearing ties just a -little- uncomfortable or at least bemused. It depends on the company though.

My comments were not meant to be revolutionary, but rather reminders of the basics which can easily be forgotten when put in a stressful situation where someone might consider cramming and not getting a good night sleep, rushing into the interview with bags under their eyes, foul breath, and mismatched socks. It's not really so far out of the realm of possible and it's the best advice I can give someone going into an interview.

Quote: Original post by M2tM

Quote: Original post by Buttacup
How are any of all of the above points even a question on anybodies mind? The simple fact is it's Google and if you don't look better than everybody else chances are you are not! I think the insinuation in that statement is pretty straight forward.

The possibility of someone who is, as portrayed by say a bad episode of the Simpsons, an obese nerd type or Moores suit wearing workaholic, being an A type personality is pretty slim. A man and or woman of character will be distinguished from the rest. A suit and tie can be very distinguishing, if it's the right one. A good sense of fashion, within the confines of business and business casual, denotes a creative mind; creative minds tend to earn their keep. Anyone who arrives to an in interview in jeans and t-shirt should probably be prepared to back up the balls they've splayed on the table....

To answer for my own post just above yours:

I typically wear jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a funky dress type shirt over that to interviews and I usually do well. I dress how I might for any regular day on the job but I put some more thought into it than I would normally. This means that I'll be dressed similarly to the interviewers and will be comfortable. It removes a barrier that a suit puts up and lets me talk more freely.

I figure a job interviewer should care about your skills (both personal and technical) more than the tie you chose to match your shoes. Often these types of jobs going in with a suit and tie is overkill, and is as likely to score you points as it is to make the interviewers who are probably not wearing ties just a -little- uncomfortable or at least bemused. It depends on the company though.

My comments were not meant to be revolutionary, but rather reminders of the basics which can easily be forgotten when put in a stressful situation where someone might consider cramming and not getting a good night sleep, rushing into the interview with bags under their eyes, foul breath, and mismatched socks. It's not really so far out of the realm of possible and it's the best advice I can give someone going into an interview.

I've heard you should dress one step above what you expect to wear to work on a given day.

So polo shirt and tie. Be sure to rip off the sleeves so they know you're not afraid to get dirty...

"So polo shirt and tie. Be sure to rip off the sleeves so they know you're not afraid to get dirty..."

This is also where slapping a bit of mud on your cheeks could help things out.

Quote: Original post by M2tM...

I would probably wear something from Bebe, Mexx or Josefs.... and bring a light saber!

I would also sneak in the portfolio piece that I developed between the phone call and the in person interview. Hopefully it would be revolutionary! If that was the case however I would not be daydreaming about what it would be like to have an interview at Google. Or in my case...... Hope the OPer did/does well and gets the job o-o....

Quote: Original post by Buttacup
A man and or woman of character will be distinguished from the rest. A suit and tie can be very distinguishing, if it's the right one.

Not in a workplace where no one ever wears anything close to suit and tie -- you'll give the impression that you're overcompensating for a lack of talent/character, not the impression that you are a distinguished character. In a casual, relaxed environment, looking like a bank exec would be just as bad as looking like a dirty hippy. Just fit in, or be slightly overdressed -- but in relaxed programming environments like Google or games companies, wearing a suit will do you as much good as it would if you were applying to work in a mine or a factory.

Look, it's simple. If you are going for an interview in a place of business, you wear a suit.

Q: Is it fair, or even reasonable?

A: No. Welcome to the world of employment.

Quote: Original post by ChaosEngine
Look, it's simple. If you are going for an interview in a place of business, you wear a suit.

Q: Is it fair, or even reasonable?

A: No. Welcome to the world of employment.

I've been told it's best to dress one level above what you'd wear to work if you got the job to the interview.

edit: unrelated, but where can someone with a thick neck that doesn't weigh over 180lbs get a dress shirt that isn't for a 250lb person? all of my shirts are grossly oversized for my body type because I can't find any others that fit my neck.

Quote: Original post by ChaosEngine
Look, it's simple. If you are going for an interview in a place of business, you wear a suit.

So if you want to flip burgers at McDonalds you should go buy a suit first?
You dress appropriately. A suit is neither appropriate for McDonalds or Google.

Quote: Original post by Hodgman

Quote: Original post by ChaosEngine
Look, it's simple. If you are going for an interview in a place of business, you wear a suit.

So if you want to flip burgers at McDonalds you should go buy a suit first?
You dress appropriately. A suit is neither appropriate for McDonalds or Google.

What about a novelty t-shirt suit?

It says, I'm pro - but I'm still here to party.

Quote: Original post by Hodgman

Quote: Original post by ChaosEngine
Look, it's simple. If you are going for an interview in a place of business, you wear a suit.

So if you want to flip burgers at McDonalds you should go buy a suit first?
You dress appropriately. A suit is neither appropriate for McDonalds or Google.

Bad phrasing on my part. When I said "a place of business", I was referring to an office environment (was looking at the "BusinessData" namespace in our code when I wrote that and got mixed up).

Look, I wear shorts, t-shirt and bare feet at my job now, but I still wore a suit to an interview. If you can't make the effort to look business like at an interview, it's a bad first impression. So yeah, I'd wear a suit to an interview with google.