January 9, 2009 at 6:59 am
I believe that you need to dress to fit the situation. In my position, we wear casual business dress (dockers & polos) with jeans on Friday. However, regardless of the day, if we have to go to a client location or are giving a presentation, we dress to fit the client/situation. If you're giving a presentation to a bunch of suits and you're wearing jeans and a t-shirt, then you don't have as much credibility as you would if you were dressed accordingly. On the other hand, if you're doing a project at a factory where jeans are the norm, then wearing a suit or even dockers are too much and the perception that others have could be that you're too good for them. It's not fair, but that's the way it is.
I have also discovered that some people (including myself at times) behave in a more professional fashion if they are dressed more appropriately. Because I tend to relax more when wearing jeans as opposed to a suit, my behavior is also more relaxed and less professional. While it has no affect on my performance or productivity, it does affect how I interact with others.
In short, there is no correct answer other than "it depends." Dress for the situation so your clothing is not a distraction from your performance. Pulling cable in a suit is as much of a distraction as giving a professional presentation in jeans. Part of the perception people will have about you from your clothing will be the appropriateness of your dress.
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January 9, 2009 at 7:00 am
Im with you Steve, though if anything dressing down will slightly increase performance. There is something to be said for stepping up one level for clients. If you normally wear a tshirt, go to a polo. Just like on a first date, they want to see that you care enough to make an extra effort (though the challenge can be that they have to be able to see that you made the effort, and that usually means coat & tie).
But even clients live in the real world. A few years ago we had a very large client who was onsite with us for a week at a time several times a year. Not long after she had started those visits she happened to ask me why everyone was dressed so formally, and (I'm sure she guessed) so I replied it was because she was there, that normally it was a great deal less formal. Interesting situation, she obviously preferred to be less formal (though not tshirt), but wanted to be onsite to be a real partner and spend time with the teams working her project - and didn't want everyone breathing the sigh of 'Im glad she's gone so i can take off the tie'. It took some doing, but finally mgmt moved away from client here = dress really nice to one that was tailored to the situation a little more.
January 9, 2009 at 7:02 am
After working as a consultant for many years, I learned to dress for my audience. When working with the development teams, I would dress as they did, to gain acceptance as part of the team (which can be quite a challenge for an external consultant)
When I was meeting with users and/or customers, dress was always at least business casual (dockers and button-downs) because I wanted to portray a sense of professionalism.
In the business world, you have to sell yourself constantly. You have to give your audience what they expect and present yourself in a good light. When I met with one development manager (who had the rep as being a techie-geek) for an interview, I wore a tie I had purchased from ThinkGeek (the tie that say "I hate ties" in binary). I mentioned that while chatting with him as we were concluding. He thought it was hilarious and mentioned it to several of the team members. I got that gig because I presented myself as someone he could relate to.
~Just my two cents~
January 9, 2009 at 7:04 am
Anyone who has followed these editorials knows that Steve isn't a suit and tie guy. I don't keep track of how many times he's said it but I remember it. I'm glad Steve doesn't dress up because then he wouldn't look like a peer.
I tend to wear jeans and a polo/golf shirt. It was the minimum dress code at my first job after university and was perfectly acceptable at all the jobs I've had since then. Actually, when I interviewed at my current job, toward the end of the interview we were talking about dress code. I didn't wear a suit to the interview and said I'd look pretty out of place at my (then current) employer if I did. My boss laughed and said that if I wore a suit to the interview, he would have ended it right then! He was probably joking about that but this is a casual place to work and people wear jeans, T-shirts, etc. I can't get comfortable in a T-shirt in a professional environment anymore, it's all in my head though. At that last job, we had to dress up when potential clients were coming to visit. Usually it just meant no jeans, other times we had to suit up. That was fine by me though.
I live in a mining town, we work with people in the mining industry and rarely see clients face to face in this office. We're not stuffy financial people. We wear clothes that wouldn't look out of place when we go get a drink after work and you don't mind spilling stuff on.
January 9, 2009 at 7:09 am
I have to agree with you. I must have grown up in your era. In our day there was an inverse relationship of teeth to tatoos. It is hard to make the transition and get accustomed to body mutilation or art as it is seen today.
Having been around a while and having been a rogue on the dress policy, I believe that I have paid the price for non conformance. Unfortunately image does matter to the upper management of Corporate America. SLY
January 9, 2009 at 7:10 am
Captain Miserable (1/9/2009)
Personally, I thought it was fun coming straight out of college into a "Grown-up" job, where I was required to wear a tie like a "grown-up". But, I have a 17 1/2'' neck, and tend to generate a lot of body heat, especially with a buttoned-up collar and neck tie.
Try finding shirts with a 22" neck, 37 sleeve, and fitting a 40" waist.
Now try finding one for less than a couple of hundred dollars (including the tailoring).
Honor Super Omnia-
Jason Miller
January 9, 2009 at 7:18 am
Aaron N. Cutshall (1/9/2009)
In short, there is no correct answer other than "it depends."
How often do we hear that in our profession?
Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes
January 9, 2009 at 7:24 am
Scott.Young (1/9/2009)
...Unfortunately image does matter to the upper management of Corporate America.
Yes, yes. I have been waiting for those ol' boys to retire. Not just to change the dress code either. :rolleyes:
Mia
I have come to the conclusion that the top man has one principle responsibility: to provide an atmosphere in which creative mavericks can do useful work.
-- David M. Ogilvy
January 9, 2009 at 7:27 am
WayneS (1/9/2009)
Aaron N. Cutshall (1/9/2009)
In short, there is no correct answer other than "it depends."How often do we hear that in our profession?
It depends..... 😉
Hiding under a desk from SSIS Implemenation Work :crazy:
January 9, 2009 at 7:27 am
My company manufactures skateboard footwear/clothing. Everyone from the CEO down wears shorts, sandals, jeans, t-shirts very casual.
Whenever we have people in for meetings they are told we are very informal and they can wear whatever they want. Most consultants will dress business casual though some will come in jeans, t-shirt etc..
Being 'the Client' we set the dress code.
A consultant should dress as the client (they pay the bills).
January 9, 2009 at 7:37 am
I think it's great so many people in IT refuse to play the game and dress up for certain situation.
That means even more work for us players!
😀
Great topic and discussion for a friday morning! I get the feeling all our databases are running smoothly today 😎
January 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
SERIOUS SUGGESTION for Jones man:
Show TWO photos side-by-side, one in a suit, and let them pick.
That's what I'd do. For me it would take 3-pictures. I also have a popular one wearing a Stephen Kings' IT the clown full head mask. I also have a Digital Photography business on the side. Professionally speaking, I don't like the "Plant" or whatever, that appears to be "Growing" out of your right shoulder. The objects in the photo make it a bit unbalanced compositionally.
TRENDS:
Nowadays what you wear doesn't matter as much as it used to. Times do change, and they have, whether it's evolution or Devo-lution. Business-casual has been the new trend, that's what it has been in my career.
The classic logical brain thinker's answer is "It depends". And there is a reason for everything.
It depends who your "Audience" is, who you are trying to impress and how. Sometimes, simply "just Contrast" makes you stand out, in an seminar presentation or speech. It also "Depends" on what Industry you're in and what "Image" you want to portray. Yes, "Perception" IS everything, or about 90-percent. Politicians and Bankers usually wear suits on formal occasions. The average person will wear a tuxedo for a wedding, not many would wear "T-shirt and Jeans". Why, because there are still acceptable standards of "Uniform" by the average and the conservative. For a "First-Impressions" it's still recommended, it "Adds Value" to your character, "As perceived by most".
EXAMPLES:
People like Bill Gates, past President Jimmy Carter, and others have worn sweaters to appeal to the more common folks of less stature. And "Not" having a "Uniform" is less domineering. Would you listen and respect a Police Officer as much, if they were wearing "T-Shirt and Jeans"?
Where I currently work "uniforms" consisting of dress shirts with a company-logo and T-shirts with logos for the printing-machine operators. These all must be purchase through the Company. Suit and ties are an acceptable alternate for IT and Sales Depts.
I feel sorry for a waitress who had a tatoo of a ring of daisies on her upper arm. She had to wear a bandage like she got hurt to cover it up.
January 9, 2009 at 7:44 am
I think that when meeting with clients it's good practice to dress well, or when you are a public representative of the company.
With that being said I think lots of HR people put way too much stock in image for people who don't fit the above catagories...
For example you could have job interview with an individual who looks good, and is wearing a 3 pc suit, and makes a big first impression, but doesn't have the experience or aptitude for the job. However they could be "perfect" for our company from an HR perspective.
Next enter the so called geek, this person may NEVER want to wear a suit, and isn't going to win a beauty contest. This type of person may be "born" for the job, and has aptitude for everything IT.
I pushed and we hired the geek instead, it turned out that he is a great employee and he also got a great review from upper management. 😉
January 9, 2009 at 7:51 am
I agree completely. I don't have anything against those companies, but I don't want to work there. I have no desire to go into management, and want to be comfortable when I'm working.
January 9, 2009 at 7:53 am
I worked many years for an automation company. I wore a skirt once, and was asked - what are you going to do if you have to crawl into a machine? I wore simple and plain clothes for the rest of my stint at that factory.
Well, my next job was at an office and I wore open-toed shoes and bright, girly outfits every day. As summer changed to winter, I was less and less girly and more and more comfy.
I ended up where I started from - despite my best efforts. 😀
Mia
I have come to the conclusion that the top man has one principle responsibility: to provide an atmosphere in which creative mavericks can do useful work.
-- David M. Ogilvy
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