Dress code

[SueEllen]

Just imagine that "the people that matter, the MD, owner, and other senior people who actually have the power" are more interested in the quality of the code that you produce rather than in your "dress". Do you have a decent tie collection?

Not everyone on here is a coder.

I'm sure the owner/MD/senior people wouldn't be happy if you had to mix with business users - internal and external - and were a complete mess.

[BolshieBastard]

**** me, some people must work at some real scruffy places. Or is that dole offices?

All the places I've worked at have been smart casual except if you're expected to meet client's clients.

Current gaff is very casual but Im booted and suited except on fridays when its cas trousers and shirt.

[escapeUK]

Just imagine that "the people that matter, the MD, owner, and other senior people who actually have the power" are more interested in the quality of the code that you produce rather than in your "dress". Do you have a decent tie collection?

Such thinking is permie thinking, and indeed when I was one I used to say as well as think that "I was here for my intelligence and skills and not my fashion sense."

However, people that arent programmers (99% of people) are impressed by superficial things such as dress and empathy. As contractors we should raise our game so that we are thought of as higher in the food chain than everyday 9-5 workers. I think its all about wavelength, you need to be on the same wave length as the people in charge. When you realise what these people actually think of those beneath them, you will understand.

[Scrag Meister]

At work I live in black jeans, collared shirt, black shoes.

[bobspud]

Such thinking is permie thinking, and indeed when I was one I used to say as well as think that "I was here for my intelligence and skills and not my fashion sense."

However, people that arent programmers (99% of people) are impressed by superficial things such as dress and empathy. As contractors we should raise our game so that we are thought of as higher in the food chain than everyday 9-5 workers. I think its all about wavelength, you need to be on the same wave length as the people in charge. When you realise what these people actually think of those beneath them, you will understand.

Whs. You need to be seen as part of the other club. If coding standards bothered them, then we wouldn't have the outsourcing issues we do.

The following is really patronising. But it's the rules of the club.

Be smart, and always take time in your appearance.

Be seen to own and solve the problems handed down from the senior team. However. It is really, vitally important, that you do not personally solve the problem. Just make it known, that you know how to drive the people who can.

Problems are a one way street. Never try to introduce them up the team structure. Only report that you have identified them and you are handling them as we speak.

Tell everyone that you have manage to get the issue sorted and mr/miss/mrs XYZ worked like a dog to achieve it. Be able to explain how those problems got sorted if asked. That explanation should always be in non-technical English. (Never try and explain technical details simply. It's patronising and reminds them you are more a tool than an instrument.)

Do not turn up at meetings tripping your tits off on coffee.
Do not fight about low level details in high level meetings.
Do not be the guy that the boss calls up to re-route cables quicker than the help desk can. It shows where you value lies, and you never get moved up to the top table because the boss loses his reliable source of problem solving.

[GillsMan]

Anyone ever turned up to an interview without a tie? I have an "interview" (it's the least like an interview I've ever had in my short time as contracting - it's a proper consultancy proposal meeting by the sounds of it) with a large corporate insurance firm this evening.

Basically, it's a niche role and it more than doubles my daily rate and I'm the only contender so far. I'm considering not wearing a tie, because I don't often wear a tie to work anyway.

I do have to interface with internal departments and key stakeholders, but I'm not so keen on wearing a tie. I'm not 100% arsed if I don't get this role to be perfectly honest, because I'm already in a contract, and I'll basically be asking them to delay the work to wait for me. But, I already wear a small silver hooped earing (it's tiny - it barely goes round my ear lobe) and I don't want to look like a total pikey with that AND no tie! Oh, the humanity!

[northernladuk]

I worked at certain large phone company which has a full dress down policy, or even a lack of a policy right up the chain. I mean it wasn't even decent. Summer tops with no bra's was manageable but trying to have a meeting with a young lad presenting dressed like a goth with his jeans halfway down his legs was taking it a bit too far. Always stayed in trousers and open next shirt despite being called 'the suit'. It seemed it didn't matter if you dressed up or right down so stayed in what I was comfortable in.

[bobspud]

Anyone ever turned up to an interview without a tie? I have an "interview" (it's the least like an interview I've ever had in my short time as contracting - it's a proper consultancy proposal meeting by the sounds of it) with a large corporate insurance firm this evening.

Basically, it's a niche role and it more than doubles my daily rate and I'm the only contender so far. I'm considering not wearing a tie, because I don't often wear a tie to work anyway.

I do have to interface with internal departments and key stakeholders, but I'm not so keen on wearing a tie. I'm not 100% arsed if I don't get this role to be perfectly honest, because I'm already in a contract, and I'll basically be asking them to delay the work to wait for me. But, I already wear a small silver hooped earing (it's tiny - it barely goes round my ear lobe) and I don't want to look like a total pikey with that AND no tie! Oh, the humanity!

Most places don't really bother with ties any more so you are quite safe without one. I regularly interview with an open shirt collar. However you really should consider removing the hoop. It's a cardinal sin in most true consultancies, and I'm pretty sure its an automatic interview fail for the Cap and Accenture tier.

[malvolio]

I stand by my earlier comment - contractors are always better dressed than the permies. And that includes at interview.

To pick up GillsMan's point though, the earring isn't an issue, they're not uncommon provided they're discrete. Not wearing a tie though...

Actually it depends on the shirt. A standard business shirt sans tie is merely sloppy dressing, but a shirt collar that is designed to be worn wthout a tie is a different matter. How acceptable it is will be down the prejudices of the interviewer(s) and that's not something you will know until you meet them, by which time it's too late. So IMHO why take the risk: wear a tie for the interview.

[GillsMan]

Yeah, I've decided to definitely wear a tie. It's not a shirt designed to be worn without a tie, so I agree, it would just look sloppy. But this will be the first interview I attend wearing an earring. I mean, it's really subtle, as I say it just about fits around my earlobe, but I really like it and frankly I wear it every day, so I'm not overly interested in taking it out for an interview.

Suit? Check.
Tie? Check.
Two day stubble? Check.
Wearing an earring? Check.
The only candidate in London for this role? Check.

Bases should be covered. Hopefully.