Wearing a Backpack vs. Briefcase to the Office

I will be starting next month at a BB and I was wondering if it would be unprofessional if I wore a backpack to the office.

Is It Unprofessional to Wear a Backpack to the Office?

In finance, having a clean appearance can be important especially when you are walking onto your floor for all your group members to observe. Our users are fairly split about whether or not it really matters whether you use a backpack. Some think that it looks very bad as it can look odd against the suit / make you look like a college kid but other users do not think it matters at all.

User @ostrich222" shared:

ostrich222:
So I've decided that it's time to ditch the backpack upon request from a colleague (my VP).

Considering the fact that some people feel strongly enough to tell bankers to not wear them to the office it is wise to use a messenger bag, or gym bag in order to avoid being judged by those that might care.

If you are looking to carry your laptop / paper work - bring a brief case. If you need to carry in gym clothes you should invest in a nice looking gym bag or use the bank provided bag, and if you want something more all purpose you can consider a nice messenger bag.

For example - user @copecre", real estate associate, shared this statement:

copecre - Real Estate Associate:
What are you carrying in your backpack? Your laptop? Buy a briefcase. Your gym clothes? Buy a decent gym bag (Hudson Sutler, Blue Claw, or even Nike). Backpacks make you look like a student or intern.

While brand doesn't necessarily matter, you should look for quality looking bags that look classy / subtle and will hold up. Please see some sample pictures below.

Sample Brief Cases

Read more about good brief cases to use in another thread.

Sample Duffle Bag

Sample Messenger Bag

Read more in another thread about work bags on WSO.

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Controversial

I would judge you. Our whole lives we've grown up being inundated with the image of business men in nice suits with brief cases and now that you've made it, especially in NY, you choose to wear a fucking back pack? You didn't get tired of wearing one for the last 15 years? My dad's partner wears one and he almost convinced my dad to get one until I called bullshit. Dodged a real bullet there.

 

WSO has really lost its shit recently......

"After you work on Wall Street it’s a choice, would you rather work at McDonalds or on the sell-side? I would choose McDonalds over the sell-side.” - David Tepper
 

Nobody in the real world will care. If anybody gets hung up on how you choose to carry your shit to the office, they have too much free time. Also to note, incoming IBD analysts at DB got branded black backpacks as new-joiner swag in London this year. I have also seen plenty of people from analyst to ED/MD in various departments use backpacks and nobody cared. If this is your preferred method of transporting your stuff, go for it.

 

This is VERY true! I took a Poly Sci class with a kid and he had a DB blue backpack he wore everyday with is name on it. I think JPM does the same too for some interns. Since I work in retail banking it's not really a problem. But once I get to the Wholesale side I will ditch the Swiss black and Neo backpack for a Burberry brown bag. BTW I'm a girl so honestly I would rather see a backpack than the rolling ones. Good Luck Kiddo!

Greed is Good!
 

Nobody in the real world will care. If anybody gets hung up on how you choose to carry your shit to the office, they have too much free time. Also to note, incoming IBD analysts at DB got branded black backpacks as new-joiner swag in London this year. I have also seen plenty of people from analyst to ED/MD in various departments use backpacks and nobody cared. If this is your preferred method of transporting your stuff, go for it.

 

I personally think it looks ridiculous, really really horrible...especially the people in suits with HUGE backpacks that stick out like 2 feet. That being said, lots of people do it. However, if you care at all about your appearance you'll get a briefcase or a gym bag. Either would work well for school and would look much better than carrying a backpack.

 
georged:

There's a reason why they pay you well you know, and one of them is to dress up well.

Really? Is this true? So if I wear my favourite bright pink Jansport backpack with green zippers to work, will I be taken less seriously? Will I be paid less for not carrying my shit in something more prestigious?

Serious question. I really wanna wear my bright pink backpack to work. It's so comfy.

 
Lucky Charms:
georged:

There's a reason why they pay you well you know, and one of them is to dress up well.

Really? Is this true? So if I wear my favourite bright pink Jansport backpack with green zippers to work, will I be taken less seriously? Will I be paid less for not carrying my shit in something more prestigious?

Serious question. I really wanna wear my bright pink backpack to work. It's so comfy.

Jansport's a top tier backpack, so I'm sure that you won't get ridiculed. It's the nontargets (the sierra's, everests, and jworld's, that have to hustle to avoid criticism.

In all seriousness, I just feel like what you carry your stuff in should have no baring on your competence as an employee. Does it fuel perception and discussion? yes. Would I prefer the backpack style that I had to go with for the past 20 years? of course. It could just be that i like the briefcase style.

There's a closer meaning to my user name. Try reading it quickly. Perhaps you will then understand ;P
 

Imho it looks stupid and doesn't go well with a suit. However, I couldn't care less. There are lots of people with backpacks for their gym stuff in my office and no one gives a shit. On gym days I bring a duffel back, and on other days there's no need to carry anything at all. Wallet, phone, company phone, keys that's it. No need for a backpack.

 

I personally think it looks kind of weird if you're wearing a suit coat, but I see people do it all the time and I don't judge them. As long as you do a good job I don't think it's an issue. I'm an analyst (not in NYC) and I've also never heard anyone higher up make a negative comment about someone with a backpack. Just make sure the backpack is in good condition.

 

I would say....it depends. Are you talking the same old jansport/college/high school backpack? If so I would say it is a little unprofessional, and people will bust your balls. If you worked in a casual attire environment it is more acceptable, but with a suit....as depicted in the picture the red back pack looks out of place. There are many nicer / modern upscale backpacks that I think look professional. These would be leather or another material and closely resemble brief cases. Shop around.

 

A VP at my firm flew 5,000 miles for a pitch and showed up with a Tumi backpack on. It didn't matter that he flew business class, had a nice suit, tie and shoes, or that it was a Tumi bag and matched his carry-on, in my opinion (and my MD's eyes) he looked like an idiot...For what it's worth, he lived up to that judgement.

As an analyst, I wouldn't worry, just get something that's understated so it doesn't stand out against your formal clothes (i.e. leave the bright blue TNF backpack with excessive pockets/straps for the weekends).

 

A "bag" is like an accessory that should compliment your clothes... a backpack doesn't match a suit. I've seen MDs at my bank carry backpacks, granted they came from Zurich so functionality > looks, but it looks funny, and since you're asking this on WSO, you probably think it's awkward too. Get one of those side sling computer bags to do the job, or a briefcase, but if you have heavy books it can be a pain to carry that around.

When I was at school, I didn't even wear a backpack if I was in a dressy coat...

 

I would like to add that it is very common here in Indonesia, because we don't wear suits to work.

Someone using a suit has a better luck in pulling off a roundhouse kick than a backpack.

Fortes fortuna adiuvat.
 

I would like to add that it is very common here in Indonesia, because we don't wear suits to work.

Someone using a suit has a better luck in pulling off a roundhouse kick than a backpack.

Fortes fortuna adiuvat.
 

You ladies give one too many fucks about accessories. Backpacks are fine and if anyone of the fashionistas give you shit for it, does it really matter to you how they perceive you?

I switch back and forth with my brief case and backpack depending if I am going to a client site or not. I would not suggest you wear a backpack to a client meeting, but for everyday usage I much prefer the convenience of a backpack.

 

Plenty of people do. I don't and I suggest you don't either. If you must, don't go near clients with it.

This is a lesser violation, like wearing black suits or coughing into your left hand instead of your elbow, but it still sends the wrong signal. Also keep in mind that a backpack is going to crease the hell out of your suit and unless it's cold out you will get sweat stripes down your shoulders and back. People will also assume you're back office, especially in NYC, and some clubs will actually not let you in with a backpack.

Get a laptop carry bag, and a gym bag for the days you go. The brand is irrelevant, just don't stick out. The only attention you want is for good things.

Get busy living
 

@"copecre" @"TraderDaily" @"DickFuld" These guys nailed it on this one. You're the office bitch if you wear a school bag to the office everyday. Myself and others look at you like you're a complete mongoloid. It makes you look like a high school freshman. You work in an office so act like an adult.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of the bitches on this board roll a small suitcase to work each day.

 

Depends on your work environment. If you work in a suits-everyday type place then a book bag is going to have the same social acceptability as having a parrot on your shoulder, wearing an eyepatch, and sporting a hook for a hand. So just get a briefcase, which will go well with your big metal cufflinks, contrast-collar monogrammed shirts, and brown tassel loafers.

 

Thank goodness I live and work on the left side of the USA. Lots of us carry packs, lots of us don't. We get things done out here instead of judging others by their use or non-use of backpacks. Maybe that's why we are so far ahead of those on the East Coast. Based on the posts I see here, we always will be. (And I'll bet I make more money and have more customers then you.)

 

Tumi alpha laptop bag, had it for five years and still going strong. It was a gift so didn't have to worry about the cost, but given the ruggedness, customer service and style I think it makes the price point ok. It's expandable and can fit a ton of stuff in there. Only had one issue with the strap wearing through (not sure if defect or something I did) went to the nearest store and they gave me a new one no questions asked. Their carry on stuff has seemed too pricey for me, I stick to LL bean (carry on) and Lands end (garment bag) stuff which has held up well.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 
markhobbus:
total waste of money I can't believe how many people go for those things. instead i just bind my books together with an old belt as i walk to school in the snow with torn sneakers for 10 miles. TROLL!

LOL +1

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
 

Cheap durable and common : north face every kid in ug uses it. If u want a really nice one Hartmann makes a tan leather one. Lifetime warranty and it's awesome. But no1 really gives a crap man.

 

[quote=luccabananas]

] Dude, I gotta get me one of those.

"Have you ever tried to use a chain with 3 weak links? I have, and now I no longer own an arctic wolf." -Dwight Schrute
 

^^^

Agreed. The classics never go out of style, that's why I use the same thing. It gets me a lot of looks from the ladies!

But if you're not a player, check out Targus. I have a very comfortable back pack from them that holds my laptop and is small enough for carry on.

 

http://www.dakine.com/sport-packs/

da kine. their backpacks are the intersection of style, function, and durability, and prices are surprisingly reasonable. a lot of their models have padded laptop sleeves as well. i own 3 and have had two of them for over 5 years

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I tend to think of myself as a one-man wolfpack Buyside strongside
 

Is this a joke? I bring Power Rangers to the table and all you guys have to offer is Targus, North Face and Dakine? Give me a break.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

I can understand the challenge you must be facing. Most adventure bags are rather large and not all of them have a laptop compartment. I think you may like this excursion backpack (http://www.briggs-riley.com/category/productDetail.aspx?id=Excursion-Backpack_BP118) from Briggs & Riley’s BRX line. It falls comfortably within the legal carry-on baggage size and has a padded compartment for a laptop. You can use it to carry things like a knife, flash light, water bottle, snacks, maps, GPS navigator, compass, etc.

 

Its total bullshit... I've been hiding my lunchbox all week in case her MD father keeps cool and goes for a sly counter strike to restore his daughter's honor :(

I don't think I deserve this, everyone thought it was funny when I did it in hs and I did stuff like this all the livelong day back then. I took a piss in her friend's mailbox on the day that they got college offers : ) My parents were always kinda cool, I guess.

I am going to call my kids Ctrl, Alt and Delete. That way if something is going wrong I can beat them all at once.
 
browniepoints:
Its total bullshit... I've been hiding my lunchbox all week in case her MD father keeps cool and goes for a sly counter strike to restore his daughter's honor :(

I don't think I deserve this, everyone thought it was funny when I did it in hs and I did stuff like this all the livelong day back then. I took a piss in her friend's mailbox on the day that they got college offers : ) My parents were always kinda cool, I guess.

6/10 troll

 
Tommy Too-toned:
how stinky was it? Her dad must shit on her a lot, considering he's an MD and all... As long as you smell better than the old man, you should be fine

The heater didn't help, lemme tell you; Im quite a healthy eater, though, so I'd say it wasn't her worst. Im on the sae page as you vis a vis the smell, but I certainly wouldn't want to turn it into a competition between me and her father - I don't want my life to be a constant duel of the bowels, scuttering around the office in the wee hours leaving little surprises for the man who may very well decide the fate of my career. I've got to swing for the fences and think about FT man!

keensetofpeepers:
if this situation actually took place, you're one fucked up dude

Sir, there is know black and white; only shades of gray.

I am going to call my kids Ctrl, Alt and Delete. That way if something is going wrong I can beat them all at once.
 

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Competition is a sin. -John D. Rockefeller
 

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I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
 

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