Very dumb long coat etiquette question

Grew up, went to college and started working in Texas, so I have never really had to deal with cold weather and in this case, cold weather attire. Landed an IB interview in NYC where it’s absolutely freezing, so I’m going to layer on a long coat on top of my suit and tie.

What am I supposed to do with the coat once I get to the office? Do I just hang it off the back of the chair in the interview room like you would a normal suit jacket? Wouldn’t half the coat be on the ground if you did this?

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Funny question, because I totally see how someone from the South would be totally unsure about this.

1. DO wear your coat...100% .  Don't listen to the guy above.  You will actually look more stupid if you show up on a 10degree day without a coat. (classic intern move).

2. When you get there to reception (or when someone from HR/Ops who is facilitating the interviews greets you nearby the conference rooms) you will 90% chance be asked to leave your coat somewhere.  You can also ask "Hi, is there somewhere I can place my coat"  Thats a totally normal question..not weird at all.

3.  There will likely be a "waiting" area prior to the interviews.  You can always leave it there on a a chair/table

3. Absolute worst case - you enter building and are IMMEDIATELY taken to a room to do the interview without being able to take off coat...it would be 100% fine to enter the room in the coat where you can take it off and place it on a chair.  I do this all the time at client meetings.  You can fold it so it wont touch the ground, and even if it does, no one care. the rooms are clean

TLDR, wear the coat - there will be many opps to take it off.  

 

An administrative person will take your coat when you arrive and return it when you’re about to leave. Standard office practice for visitors.

 

Definitely wear the coat. Walking into a NYC IB interview in the dead of winter without one is how you get labeled as 'the guy with poor decision-making skills.' When you get there, just ask where to leave it—reception usually has a coat rack or a designated area. Worst case, fold it neatly on a chair. Just don’t drape it over the back like a confused cowboy—this isn’t your dorm room.

 

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