informational interview - what to wear?
During my summer internship, I have built strong connections with my alumni by having informational phone conversations and whatnot. Consequently, I have scheduled to meet them in person for some coffee. I have met 2 of them today and I just wore business casual. (Nice button shirt and dresspants/slacks) Did I shatter my ideal impression to them? Do they expect me to wear professional attire?
What do you think? What have you worn in informational interviews or 'casual' meets if you will.
You're fine, stop worrying. Wearing a tie to a 'casual' meet would just take away anything casual from it.
I would suit up. It rarely hurts to be a little overdressed.
http://clnsradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/shaq-suit-top-hat.jpg
There is no way to know for sure. I had an informational with a HF manager at his office so I wore a suit. I get the office and hes in jeans and a nice button down untucked. He was like, dude why the suit lulz. I felt kind of stupid. On the other hand you could have someone be offended that you're not dressed to the nines. Try to get a feel for the type of person you will be meeting or just over dress and laugh about it if it comes up in conversation.
Always did b-cas when I was networking during my internship and nothing was ever brought up about it.
By the way, I wear business casual 80+ percent of the time, so it wouldn't bother me, but I also wouldn't be bothered if someone wore a suit. I would know they were at least taking it seriously and/or pretending to care.
Ha, good point. Not yet. The people I met with were wearing the same thing though and encouraged me to forward my resume/keep in touch, so I doubt it mattered.
Just wear a suit and say you came from your grandma's funeral. They will feel sorry for you and just give you the job on the spot. Works every time.
Matter of fact... I followed up saying thank you with one of the alumni I met today and he responded in a very friendly tone saying that in the future I should wear professional attire during informational interviews. He was very friendly and told me this as an advice. I don't know how I should interpret this despite his positive vibe during the meet up.
http://www.filmforager.com/2009/12/orgazmo-1997.html
Wear this. Image might not be safe for work.
IMO... Always dress like you want the job. Regardless of how informal the interview is.
I have an informational on Friday -- was talking to the MD over the phone and said "don't you dare wear a tie" jokingly of course.
Not going to disappoint ;)
i'd recommend suit up too ...but really have gone to over 50% of my informal in biz casual and i doubt it affected anything
Do you think it depends on the level they're at? Like if you're meeting with an MD, suit up, but with an analyst, maybe only business casual? It seems like very mixed responses, I guess in the end it's not that big of a deal.
I've had dozens of informational interviews and I went with a full suit + tie for all of them. Everyone I talked to did as well. One or two analysts left their jackets in the office but for the most part everyone was dressed up
Dress for informational interview? (Originally Posted: 06/17/2012)
I sent a cold email to a partner at a top tier consulting firm who is an alum of my college asking for advice about recruiting (I went to a reputable non-target).
She responded by suggesting we meet in person at her office. Should I wear a suit to this, or is that presumptuous? In a weird way, I feel like by dressing up the way I would for a real interview I am assuming that it's something more than it is and that it might creep her out.
I would go business casual. I have even had interviews at top consulting firms where they asked us to wear business casual over suits in for the interviews, and most of these offices only wear biz casual anyway so worst case you'll fit in.
business casual is probably the best choice unless it's an extremely conservative firm.
I think business casual would be fine - for me, that's just a suit minus the tie.
A quick heads up, unless you're sure that she knows its an informational interview, be prepared to answer some tough questions yourself. It may have been because it was set up through someone else, but I had a similar meeting at a boutique where the MD started asking me fairly tough questions on M&A that I hadn't even thought to prepare for (he must have just took it that I was looking to work at their office, the guy who got him to meet me had told me otherwise).
Yea, I agree with the posts. Business casual. Suit without the tie should be fine. Think about it this way, if you didn't wear a suit, then they'd think you weren't taking it very seriously, and that would be way worse. Especially at a top tier and with somebody high up there, then you definitely want to have a bare minimum of biz casual. Good luck! (I got an info interview this week too :P)
You're meeting at her office so err on the side of formality, i.e. wear a suit & tie. I'm not a consultant though, but I assume that at the very least the Partners will be dressed for business. Maybe the US is more informal as well. Perhaps the consultants will give you different advice.
What do you guys mean by business casual? Suit sans tie?
Business casual (suit without the tie). It'll make you look like you aren't necessarily treating this as an interview, but that this is semi-important. Just wearing a shirt and trousers is probably an office thing, but for the info interview go suit without the tie.
I agree with Dufus. She probably doesn't get too many kids who are from her school contacting her, so she may think you're interested. All questions are on the table. Worst case scenario she asks technical questions. Could happen though.
it's an informational. don't take any risks. you wouldnt lose w/ a suit.
I'd wear a suit. She's high up at a good firm, and there's a decent chance that you'll get introduced to a couple other people she works with. At least that's been my experience. You can't go wrong with a suit.
Business casual means suit sans tie and jacket.
That's because you work abroad and in IBD.
In New York, "business casual" means dress shirt and dark slacks. Wear a fleece if it's cold. Actually, in Chicago, "business casual" means any collared shirt and khakis or dark slacks.
For a college student not knowing the dress code, the risk of being a douche or being underdressed is best mitigated by wearing a collared shirt and dark slacks if this is New York. A college kid does not need to wear a suit- or jacket- to the office for a friendly visit with an alumn.
IP,
Thanks for clarifying, but the impression that i got was that the OP is seeking employment at said consulting firm or at least a referral. Surely wearing a suit jacket or at least a blazer would be more respectful, wouldn't it?
The way you respect the people you are meeting with is that you follow the dress code. You do not come down to the trading floor wearing some suit jacket when we are all wearing dress shirts and maybe a tie depending on how much folks feel like complying with "business formal". Heck, we've even taught most of our bankers to leave the jacket upstairs. And those who haven't learned tend to learn quickly.
If you aren't there for a formal interview, you want to match them. Cardinal rule of meeting with folks. If everyone is wearing business formal, wear business formal. Otherwise, follow their dress code. IIRC, Deloitte, McKinsey, and Accenture are business casual and their recruiters wore that to all of the career fairs and recruiting events. Best for OP to check what this firm's dress code is and show up wearing that.
Go business casual, consultants very rarely wear business formal, especially on an average day in the office. Now if this was a full-fledged interview for FT or SA then you would need to suit up.
Interesting feedback IP. I suppose it's a cultural thing. I've always thought it more appropriate to err on the side of being more formally dressed than the person I was meeting if they were senior to me in age / status.
I've never heard of wearing a suit as being douchey in a business environment (particularly in finance), especially if you are a visitor or someone who wants to do business with the person. Even when I've met with eccentric top Hedge Fund managers or real estate guys at their offices they were in jeans & floral shirts whereas I was in my grey chalk stripe suit. Of course, if I actually worked there I would dress similar to their culture.
The senior guys I've met at trading floors at the large banks have always worn suits, but I was usually the client in those circumstances and it was usually outside of the US.
Interesting to see the sartorial differences between the US / rest of the world.
Thanks. I'm going to go suit no tie--I'll be coming from another professional job, so I feel like it's excusable.
With or without pocket square?
Only kidding!
Suit without a tie is a good call. General rule in consulting is to always dress a bit nicer than your client, and that's what she is to you now.
Only thing I've ever thought to myself when I showed up to an informational interview (last time this happened I was in jeans) and the requestor was in a suit is "Well, at least they're serious"
Also, you can always take off a jacket, tie, etc if you feel overdressed.
Out of curiosity, how did you go about sending this e-mail and landing an informational interview? I plan on doing the same but am worried about just cold e-mailing a partner or even recruiter and annoying them.
My college has a database of alumni organized by industry and position. You have to choose to be part of this database, so it wasn't a completely cold email. But even if it was a cold email I would have done it anyway. It would be very difficult to actually annoy any of them unless you started pummeling them with email...worst case scenario is you just get ignored.
There's always an excuse to be over dressed, rarely one to be under dressed. Look the part, be part the part!
I used to always go business casual to these things, until one MD at an MBB invited me for coffee and I ended up being interviewed for an hour and went through a case study.
Should I wear a suit and tie for an informational interview with a MD on Friday? (Originally Posted: 06/17/2013)
I have an upcoming informational interview this Friday at a boutique bank. I will be meeting with a MD of S/T. I was wondering if I should wear a suit and tie, or possibly just a suit. Also, if you guys have any other advice for me that would be great! Thanks!
yep
suit and tie
You can never go wrong by over-dressing - you can always take your tie off. However, you can go very very wrong by under-dressing.
This.
The general rule of thumb is as follows:
If you are asking/looking for something (i.e. money, a job, advice, a mandate to represent a client, etc.) always wear a suit and tie
If you are the "money" you will be funnier, more intelligent, and more handsome than you have ever been before so you can wear whatever the F you want. The dynamic is even more palpable for guys who have spent a great deal of time on the sellside and then move over to the buyside to manage money.
Yeah, a buy side guy can literally show up in his undies and the suited sell side guy will still compliment him on the quality of the underwear fabric.
What the fuk is wrong with you kids nowadays? When interviewing in any capacity, WEAR A SUIT. Holy hell, is there no common sense coming out of the education system nowadays?
What do you wear for informational interviews? (Originally Posted: 07/21/2014)
When undergraduates go networking, do you dress up in a suit with tie for informational interviews in Chicago, NYC, or San Francisco?
depends: if it's during the work day and you're confident they're wearing the same thing, do it. I'd basically dress to what you think they're wearing. if it's a Saturday morning coffee in San Francisco, this will be different attire than a 3pm meeting in a MDs office in NYC, catch my drift? when I was in undergrad, I met a Wharton grad who started his own PE firm at a coffee shop on a weekend, he was in chinos and a button down, I opted for a suit but no tie, stuck out like a sore thumb. great interview, but the first thing he said was "why are you wearing a suit, you didn't have to do that!"
also, if meeting socially (not in an office), buy one of those 8x5 moleskines, very discreet but gets the job done.
I would wear a suit on most occasions. I agree with the previous post that you probably should dress business casual if you're meeting on a weekend, but if it's during the week, even after business hours, you should wear a suit. Make sure it's navy or grey and that it fits well. I can't tell you how many undergrads come through in their ill-fitting black suits with square toe shoes and I can't help but judge them for their appearance. How you look is going to be important but being very well prepared and fully engaged in the conversation will be key to landing that job/internship.
Dress Code For informational interview If The Firm Dresses Casual? (Originally Posted: 04/09/2010)
I have an informational interview next Friday at a buy-side shop (Investment Management). What should I wear?
Obviously, my first choice is the suit, but my contact told me that they really participate in casual Fridays and wear jeans, and that I can wear jeans if I want to. I would not wear jeans, but my standard business attire does not include the suit jacket or tie.
Also, I don't want to be showing up to work in a suit and tie, which would raise some eyebrows / suspicion, since I never wear a suit jacket or tie (just the pants).
My contact also said that this was no pressure (it's actually something that was offered to me in return for a nice thing I did a few weeks back).
Shirt, Slacks. No tie, no jacket.
wear a suit dude, it is the ONLY thing to do ... trust me
Wear business casual. Colorful/non-plain shirt (no light blue/white) and possibly a sports jacket. You might also look good in khakis.
Suit trousers and shirt - no jacket, no tie. Don't wear khakis - it's always better to be slightly overdressed for an interview than underdressed.
I can't wear khakis at work, so right now I'm thinking of going with fp175's suggestion (which is what I wear to work everyday anyway)
Anyone else?
i second fp175's recommendation since this is an informational interview: slacks & shirt - no jacket, no tie
I'd usually vote for a suit, but in this case, i third fp175's recommendation
I'll jump on fp175's bandwagon
there's a fine line between looking professional/respectful and looking like "you're trying too hard". I would probably wear a tie but no suit jacket.
guys i'm not sure why i even care, which i don't but OP, please, do yourself a favor and buy a fucking suit and show you are serious
anyone that owns khakis should honestly throw them out, please, they are so 1990's GAP
all the people going with fp175 (great username btw, not) are morons :)
I fifth fp175 - no khakis, no tie.
Thanks for reviving an 8 month old thread for that
informational interview Attire (Originally Posted: 07/26/2013)
I have an informational interview this weekend. This is my first one ever, and I am not exactly sure what to wear. Here are some details that might shed some light on the situation:
1) Alumnus from my frat 2) Meeting up in LA (heard west coast is much more informal) 3) Meeting for coffee 4) he reached out to me to meet
What should I wear? casual? business casual? business professional?
khakis and a polo
Try to get a feel for how formal the guy's company is. If you are meeting him during business hours, I would wear a suit, but maybe no tie. It's better to be a bit overdressed, than look like a slob.
^^^ I would mirror what he would be wearing. Although it's better to look overdressed than a slob, it would also be weird if you rocked a suit while he's in jeans... at a coffee shop. It's too much and it appears you're trying too hard.
If the guy works in jeans when he's not at the client -> nice jeans and button down or polo
If the guy does biz casual sans jacket -> slacks/khakis and button down. If the guy works in a suit sans tie (can't imagine this is the case for consulting, esp on west coast) -> suit sans tie.
My guess is that you're fine with either of the two above. You can always take your jacket off.
If the guy works in suit/tie (see comment above) -> suit and tie
Jeans and Jacket with a sport shirt. Works for me.
informational interview- What to wear (Originally Posted: 08/05/2013)
I have an upcoming informational interview at a large bank in NYC with an IBD alumni. This is my first one, what should I be wearing?
I was thinking suit with no tie, just to keep some casual-ness with it considering it is just a meeting.
To be honest you really can't be over-dressed, and if you are it won't hurt you. I would go suit and tie.
If you're on their premises, then go with a suit & tie. If off-site, then a jacket without tie should suffice.
Ok I'm going to be in their building so I guess I'll go with a tie, any recommendations for a good tie with a light grey suit/white shirt?
blue tie
I like purple/lavender ties w/light grey
yep, blue works well with light grey
informational interview Dress Code? (Originally Posted: 12/12/2008)
I have a bb informational coming up with a trader. Do I wear a suit? or slacks & button down?
I know many traders don't wear suits so I don't want to look out of place, but its still an interview...
I am assuming the interview is at the trader's place of work. I would wear slacks, a button down with no tie and a jacket. I really think wearing a suit to an informational is a little too much.
I went to a Bear Stearns informational meeting wearing something similar and I ended up with a SA interview. Maybe it can bring some luck to you too!
Make sure you brings extra copies of you resume. Don't be caught without them!
Good luck to you.
If it's NY, wear a suit and tie.
@jman: good point
It is NY and at the workplace. JPM to be exact.
should I really wear a suit? or are you guys messing around lol I can't tell.
Now that I know it's JPM in NY, I would definitely go with the suit (i am not messing with you). Good luck!
Thanks.
Business Casual for informational interview at Boutique Investment Bank (Originally Posted: 11/02/2014)
I have an informational interview this week a small local boutique in Virginia. I was invited to visit their office and was wondering what I should wear. The person I meeting with said business casual is fine but I feel like that is a very wide range. I'm a non-target junior so the pressure is really on for me and I want to make the best impression possible.
You can never go wrong wearing a suit and tie, even if they say business casual. Better to overdress than under dress. If you get there and feel seriously uncomfortable, it's easy enough to take your tie off. But you won't get knocked for wearing the full get-up.
This. When in doubt, throw on the suit.
This. When in doubt, throw on the suit.
Awesome, Thanks!
CONSULTING informational interview ATTIRE (Originally Posted: 09/20/2010)
i have two informational interviews next week with two different consulting firms (non MBB). one is with a director and the other is with a senior consultant. what is the appropriate attire? suit or slacks w/ shirt? and yes, i am trying to get actual interviews out of these, should i dress to impress?
anyone?
Suit up
What's the venue, and what city are you in? I'd generally feel weird suiting up for getting coffee with a senior consultant (I imagine someone a couple years out of MBA) in San Francisco, for example.
it is in chicago. i can see the one with the senior consultant being more causal, however with the director, this guy brings people into the firm, suit would be more acceptable, even for coffee correct?
lose the jacket?
What to wear to firm visit? (Originally Posted: 09/13/2011)
An MD at a MM IB offered me to come visit his firm next week. On their company website, all the bankers, analysts up to partners, all are wearing a suit and tie. Is this what I should also wear?
Thank you in advance for any help.
yeah, obviously.
YES
Better to over-dress than show up in your favorite booty shorts. Go with the suit and tie.
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