Interview Attire

J

jamster

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone!

This is my first post here, but I've been lurking for a while and you guys seem to be pretty knowledgeable.

I'm going to buy a suit for interviews soon and I've been told by many that navy blue is the color of choice. I was wondering what your thoughts were on this topic. Is a grey suit acceptable? Or black? Or is navy blue really the most desirable?
 
Suit:
Navy, grey, or black two-piece single-breasted suit.

Shirt:
Long sleeved, white.

Ties:
Silk, with a conservative color and pattern.

Belt:
Black, matching your shoe color

Shoes:
Polished black leather. Cap toe, wing tips or lace-ups work best.

Socks:
Color matches (or is darker than) your suit color. Socks cover calves.
 
CRJDriver said:
Suit:
Navy, grey, or black two-piece single-breasted suit.

Shirt:
Long sleeved, white.

Ties:
Silk, with a conservative color and pattern.

Belt:
Black, matching your shoe color

Shoes:
Polished black leather. Cap toe, wing tips or lace-ups work best.

Socks:
Color matches (or is darker than) your suit color. Socks cover calves.
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+1 This pretty much covers any interview, aviation related or not. :D
 
First, never wear a black suit for any sort of business situation, especially to an interview.

Navy blue is the suit of choice, preferably dark navy, but a charcoal suit is ok if you can't find a navy suit.

White shirt with spread colar, standard cuffs.

Red or yellow silk tie, full windsor knot.

If you're wearing a navy suit, wear cordovan (burgandy) shoes and belt. Black with navy looks horrible. Rookie mistake. If you're wearing a charcoal suit, wear black shoes and belt. Socks should match your suit color and not have any noticable patterns.
 
Never went to an interview I couldn't wear carhartts too.

To be honest with you, its one thing to be professional, and wear nice attire, its an entirely different thing to stress over stuff. Let your resume and volume of experience be the defining factors for your successful employment, not your selection of suit colors, or your choice of a full windsor instead of a half windsor.
 
That advice may be ok when interviewing for a bush flying job in AK, but it won't cut it at many airline gigs. Believe it or not, some HR people are taking notes on your attire, your posture, etc.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
That advice may be ok when interviewing for a bush flying job in AK, but it won't cut it at many airline gigs. Believe it or not, some HR people are taking notes on your attire, your posture, etc.
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Totally, and that's to be expected, that said, I think the tendency is there for people to go overboard. If you carry yourself with decorum, show you have integrity, and act as mature as your resume is, I wouldn't think that a black suit would do you too much harm. Though I will undoubtably be corrected.
 
ppragman said:
Totally, and that's to be expected, that said, I think the tendency is there for people to go overboard. If you carry yourself with decorum, show you have integrity, and act as mature as your resume is, I wouldn't think that a black suit would do you too much harm. Though I will undoubtably be corrected.
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Depends on the airline. You would probably be ok at my company, but not so much at other carriers. Depends on the culture. Some of the guys here have been around long enough to remember the nighmare that was John Dresser at Continental Express pre-9/11. He ran pilot hiring, and he not only paid attention to what color your suit was, but whether you took off your jacket, what way you sat in the chair, how your hair was cut, and on and on. The guy was a complete jerk, but he held the keys to a job a Continental Express, which was one of the better regional gigs, and still is. Better to pay attention to every detail rather than miss an opportunity.
 
Thanks guys.

I think I'll go with navy, it seems like the safe choice.

I had several teachers in college tell me never to wear a black suit to an interview also...

I agree that one's resume should definitely trump one's attire, but I just want to be sure that I don't miss out on an opportunity because of something as simple as the color of my suit!
 
Honestly, your resume got you the interview. It's how you carry yourself (including your attire) that land the gig. That being said, I don't think you can go wrong with navy vs. grey. I would stay away from defined pinstripes though. Stick with a white shirt and buy yourself a decent tie. You can get away with a cheap suit and shirt, but a $9 Kohl's tie sticks out to me.

I think the fit of your clothing makes more of a difference than color. I have the hardest time finding stuff that fits. Nothing like watching a guy walk into an interview with pants that are about 3" too long or a shirt that's to big but the next is too small.

I guess the general idea is to make sure what you are wearing does not distract the interviewer from YOU. Good luck!
 
+1 to ppragman and ATN. There are some jobs where over dressing can make you seem like an insufferable tool, but at an airline, try to have some "pinache" (SIC intended) and avoid wearing a tux and interviewing as a team.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
s, but whether you took off your jacket,
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That's crazy. Ive never ever worn a jacket to an interview, be it for McDonalds or a regional airline and have always been hired. I guess when I go for the next level, I'll look into one.:D

Original poster, four words... good expensive RED TIE!
 
ppragman said:
Totally, and that's to be expected, that said, I think the tendency is there for people to go overboard. If you carry yourself with decorum, show you have integrity, and act as mature as your resume is, I wouldn't think that a black suit would do you too much harm. Though I will undoubtably be corrected.
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I completely agree with you. A lot of people go way overboard. I mean if you're interviewing at Fedex, go all out, but if you're relying on your suit to make an impression then you're going to have a short day with the interviewers.
 
ATN_Pilot said:
Some of the guys here have been around long enough to remember the nighmare that was John Dresser at Continental Express pre-9/11. He ran pilot hiring, and he not only paid attention to what color your suit was, but whether you took off your jacket, what way you sat in the chair, how your hair was cut, and on and on. The guy was a complete jerk, but he held the keys to a job a Continental Express, which was one of the better regional gigs, and still is. Better to pay attention to every detail rather than miss an opportunity.
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What a bag.
 
hrjet said:
That's crazy. Ive never ever worn a jacket to an interview, be it for McDonalds or a regional airline and have always been hired. I guess when I go for the next level, I'll look into one.:D

Original poster, four words... good expensive RED TIE!
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Do you know why I suggest wearing a coat to an interview? Great place to stash away business cards.

Otherwise, you've got to dig them out of your pocket (along with lint, fuzz and maybe some loose change) and when you finally had over a unexpected contact your information, the card is all warm and damp from your thigh sweat... Ick!

If you want the job, do what it takes. Your competition will.

Gotta play the game they're asking you to play, it's part of the screening process.

Remind me to tell you the story about the psychologist, his role in pre-employment screening, and the significance of the reclining chair during the interview over a future beer.
 
One thing to remember: When you buy a new suit there's usually a tag sewed onto one of the sleeves advertising the brand of suit- make sure to remove it! I was at an airline interview a number of years ago with a group of about 15 pilots and 2 of them had forgotten to remove it! That really stood out to me. I have no clue if they got the job but they sure stood out as looking nieve to me.
 
So if I only have a black suit will I be ok? It worked at my first interview. It fits well.
 
cmill said:
+1 to ppragman and ATN. There are some jobs where over dressing can make you seem like an insufferable tool, but at an airline, try to have some "pinache" (SIC intended) and avoid wearing a tux and interviewing as a team.
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I would love to sit in on a real interview that went down like something out of Stepbrothers. So who wants to interview with me? We will knock it out... planes and h... :)
 
I gotta ask....what's wrong with a black suit at interviews?? I've seen many applicants wearing black. IMO it looks better than navy. Navy kind of looks industrial.
 
Most business executives view black as being "too strong" of a color for a business suit, and it should only be worn after hours. The CEO can get away with wearing black to work, but everyone else best stick to navy, gray, and brown.
 
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