Internal Job Interview Question
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I'm scheduled to interview for a new position in the same plant I'm currently at in a different department. Better schedule, less stress, more hands on work. I've done a handful of regular interviews for new companies, but never an internal interview before
I'm fairly confident going in to the interview in most aspects. My question is what the hell do I wear to this interview? Our basic dress code is business casual: collared shirts (golf shirts and flannels), jeans, and closed toed shoes are all acceptable. My interview is right at the beginning of my shift, so do I go in to it with a dress shirt and tie and rock that rest of the day? Do I bring a change of clothes? Do I risk it and wear a nicer business casual get-up?
I'd feel really weird walking around the plant floor in a dress shirt and slacks. But I know there is no harm in overdressing. I'm leaning towards bringing a change of clothes. Let me know what you all think.
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@i86hotdogs Change of clothes I'd say.
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@i86hotdogs IMO, you always wear a suite and tie and button down to an interview. I don't care if it is for a McDonalds cashier.
Do the interview, change, and leave your nice clothes in your car or at your desk or locker.
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@i86hotdogs I think I'm going to have the contrary opinion here but I would just go in my regular work clothes. I don't remember the last time I 'dressed up' for a job interview and it hasn't made a difference as far as I'm aware.
Now, if the job is "fashion executive' or something then I might reconsider.
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@i86hotdogs At my last job I interviewed for a new internal position with folks I had worked with for years. They docked points off that I didn’t wear a suit (I see them every day, no first impression needed I thought). I was also surprised by the standard getting to know you type of questions they also included in it. The interviews were more what I’d give an outsider instead of someone I already knew.
I’d say go all-in and prepare like you would for an external interview and be pleasantly surprised if it goes to the less-formal.
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Wow, so that's a little bigger than the normal picture. lol
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@ibrad said in Internal Job Interview Question:
@i86hotdogs I think I'm going to have the contrary opinion here but I would just go in my regular work clothes. I don't remember the last time I 'dressed up' for a job interview and it hasn't made a difference as far as I'm aware.
Now, if the job is "fashion executive' or something then I might reconsider.
This is very industry and employer dependent. I work in tech so 95% of jobs don’t care what you wear as long as you don’t look like a slob, but if it is IT at a financial company or govt job you need to wear a suit for that interview.
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@jminer Fair enough I guess. I work in manufacturing and show up ready to work!
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@jminer Yeah, this is a position at a manufacturing plant. Even the plant managers wear jeans every day.
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@i86hotdogs Dress up for sure, this way they know you're taking it seriously.
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Filthy oily coveralls, some wrenches, and a few 10mm sockets to sweeten the deal
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@i86hotdogs
Always dress your best when interviewing. After working a couple of months in my first job out of college, my boss asked me if I knew why I was hired. I didn't, of course. "Because you were the only one who showed up wearing a suit," was his reply. -
@i86hotdogs I'd say dress up, and either rock it all day or change. For a counter advice, my mom (who is now retired, but was head of a good sized organization) says she thinks suits for interviews are excessively formal and old-fashioned. Personally though, I think better to leave that impression than risk the interview feeling disrespected or that you aren't that interested in the job.
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@i86hotdogs Another vote for dressing in a suit. Bringing a change of clothes is nothing.
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@vincentmalamute Just make sure you turn off your web cam before you change back to your work clothes!
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We have such slobs in the IT world. One guy showed up for an interview at a previous employer in a grungy t-shirt. He fit right in with most of my fellow geeks but I’d never hire someone who showed that little interest in impressing me.
A couple of employers before that, a webmaster showed up in flannel shirt with suspenders (not terrible, just...not great) and a typo-ridden résumé that emphasized the porn sites he had worked on.
I could live with the flannel, even the porn, but don’t expect to be a webmaster if you can’t run quality control on your own résumé.
(Having said that I discovered one typo on mine after many years, but just one.)
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@ibrad said in Internal Job Interview Question:
@vincentmalamute Just make sure you turn off your web cam before you change back to your work clothes!
Depends on how fit and sexy @i86hotdogs is!
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@vincentmalamute look up "Mr. Heel Ya Girl". I've been told several times that he is my doppelganger.
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@i86hotdogs Wear a suit (or the nicest clothes you have, iron everything) and bring a change of clothes.
Make sure you have questions ready for them too, here are some of my favorites but they may not apply:
- Who am I going to be working with most closely and what will the nature of the relationship be? Equals, supervising, or being supervised.
- What's the most important thing I will do in the first 30, 60, 90 days?
- It's a year from now and I'm getting a "walk on water" performance review, what are three things that I did to separate myself from my peers?
Good luck!!
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@i86hotdogs I've been in manufacturing for over 15 years (aerospace was the most formal dress) and have always stepped up my dress above normal, for internal interviews but I've only gone the full suit route for the initial. I'd say you can always bring a change of clothes if you'd be overdressed for the rest of your day or just change shoes, dropping the tie and coat (if you wear one).
I would wear dress shows, slacks, button down and tie but no coat. I'm always hot and a coat is too much unless I'd pull it off and then it's awkward to have worn it, just to take it off.
Good luck!
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@i86hotdogs 100% treat it as any other interview, every time I've had an internal interview (office based) I've turned up for my normal shift in what I'd typically wear suit shirt & trousers but I'd bring the suit jacket and tie to put on before going into the interview then taking off the jacket and tie when returning to my shift.
in your case definitely bring a change of clothes
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@hillrat definitely stealing that last question!
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@ibRAD
@i86hotdogs said in Internal Job Interview Question:look up "Mr. Heel Ya Girl". I've been told several times that he is my doppelganger.
After researching said "Mr. Heel Ya Girl", my vote is @i86hotdogs needs to be sure his webcam is OFF.
