Deirdre Saoirse wrote:
>
> On Sun, 31 Oct 1999, Steve Kudlak wrote:
>
> > But U have tons of John Malloy (dress for success) telling me how to
> > dress. Beyond common decency boradly considered. I have been upbraided
> > in tnetervies and walked out because of this. Please tell me what I am
> > missing, gentluyy. Why do I have to wear a monkey suit which I hate to
> > an interview. Why can't I just appear as I feel comfortable?
>
> Well, because one might presume (as one might from your lax attention to
> spelling and grammar) that you lack attention to detail. That you are
> unaware of how to fit in. Companies aren't like SOs: they don't do
> unconditional love.
>
> But, a better point: if you're really THAT uncomfortable in that kind of
> environment, DON'T INTERVIEW THERE. Look for a company with "business
> casual" dress and interview there.
>
> When I go to an interview, I find out what their usual dress is and dress
> one notch better. That way I look professional by their standards but I
> also don't look out of place. You CAN dress too formally for an interview.
> I have done it. We used to laugh at people who would show up for job
> interviews in a suit in a company where everyone wore dockers.
That's reassuring actually...
> You can also dress too casually and yet still be too stuffy for almost
> any company. For example, I was once flown to a place where I wore a skirt
> suit and a bright blouse -- but I found out when I arrived that it was
> strictly a grey-suit white-shirt type of place. I got the fact of suit
> right but missed by a mile. And yes, I still regret not getting that job.
Ick. I wouldn't want to work for a company that put its programmers in suits.
They're obviously missing the point.
> > I here this all the time, from cut my hair to wear a suit. I really
> > think it sucks. I see no difference at all in thew whole thing please
> > explain the whole thing preferably withoug a flame war over I can
> > "change my clothing". I am tired of being told my brightly colored
> > Hawaiian dinner jacket was a clown suit. Or aa brightly colored ascot.
> > Who cares of I color my finger nails. Why is this important?
>
> There are companies that relish the concept of difference. One of my old
> companies had 'hawaiian shirt day' (a different day for different groups)
> and each group would wear hawaiian shirts on their day. For product
> management, it was Thursday. It was kinda cool.
I think I'd hate that. A kind of nonconformity-by-the-book.
> That said, being TOO different can be problematic.
My problem I think. I recently got turned down for a job I really should have
got (not only am I more expert than anyone they've got for the technology
they're using (JSP on Unix), but it's to the extent that I know how to fix
specific stuff that's wrong on their site - like the BST/GMT rollover that
their sites can't cope with and mine did - their error made me miss the
Walking With Dinosaurs repeat and a DS9 episode today because their TV
listings were out by an hour). But I noticed going into the place, there was
not one single female face in the entire IT development department and there
must have been at least 50 people there. The only women I saw working in the
entire organisation were the dolly-bird-PA types. Apologies for any
stereotyping but I'm sure you know what I mean.
People like to hire people like themselves. I'd probably be the same if I
ever get into that position - geeky TSs welcome!
The biggest thing I lost in transition, I think, is the assumption of
competence. I got jobs *much* easier Before, when, in relation to now, I knew
practically nothing.
--
Rachel
************
[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linuxchix.org
