Wearing a suit to the interview?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Wearing a suit to the interview?

Posted: 9/14/2016 10:31:00 PM EDT

This is my second ever police oral board interview. For some background it will be for a
reserve position, as I already have a great paying career. I have to admit, I do not own a
suit. I never initially interviewed for any of my jobs interviews or for my supervisor role with one. I wore
"very nice" business attire.

That being said. Is not wearing a suit a total and utter deal breaking for an oral board interview?

Posted: 9/14/2016 10:41:48 PM EDT

[#1]

Full suit not sure yet cannot go wrong. At least dress in nice slacks with dress shirt and tie. How things are now days not sure the coat helps much yet cannot hurt. Me personally I do not have a dress coat so haven't worn one on interviews yet did wear nice dress pants and shirts with the tie added. Depends on where you are in Texas and time of year if the jacket is really needed. I would say "very nice" business attire is everything but the jacket.

Posted: 9/14/2016 11:16:45 PM EDT

[#2]

Full suit, if not sport coat, tie etc. No cologne, wedding ring only (if married), shave/trim your facial hair, fresh hair cut, brush your teeth (you'd be surprised), trim your nails.

J-

Posted: 9/15/2016 4:45:51 AM EDT

[#3]

Get a suit.

Posted: 9/15/2016 7:43:33 AM EDT

[#4]

Get a suit. It is frowned upon by my agency and any other in my area when someone shows up in a polo or buttoned dress shirt. We see people show up with shaggy facial hair, unkept hair, etc. Show you have a bit of regiment in your lifestyle, as if you take some care of yourself.

You're applying for a career and should be at your best at all times.

ETA** Please be sure to remove all the tags from the suit as well. Nothing worse than seeing the label markers or price tag still on the cuffs.

And in true Step Brothers fashion--last year we had a guy interview in a navy blue and black tuxedo.

Posted: 9/15/2016 9:47:54 AM EDT

[#5]

Show up without a suit or at least sport coat and tie and I am probably going to look the other way. I haven't seen too many men not do this, it is the women who wear all kinds of inappropriate get ups. I guess since the rules for them and dress code are less clear, they sometimes really screw it up.

Posted: 9/15/2016 9:50:44 AM EDT

[#6]

We expect a suit and tie. Those that show up unprepared are judged as unprepared.

This is a career your are interviewing for, not a job.

Posted: 9/15/2016 11:27:38 AM EDT

[#7]

I had an interview the second day after I moved to a new town. I didn't have a chance to unpack my suit. I wore a polo and Dockers. When I was escorted out afterwards, it was pointed out to me. Luckily, my application was passed to another agency that shared a building.

Posted: 9/15/2016 4:49:41 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Full suit not sure yet cannot go wrong. At least dress in nice slacks with dress shirt and tie. How things are now days not sure the coat helps much yet cannot hurt. Me personally I do not have a dress coat so haven't worn one on interviews yet did wear nice dress pants and shirts with the tie added. Depends on where you are in Texas and time of year if the jacket is really needed. I would say "very nice" business attire is everything but the jacket.

View Quote

I was just wondering what the consensus here is on that. I applied to a full time position a few years back at a couple of different agencies but I did not have my TCOLE so I was less advantaged over the more experienced candidates. I got through the oral board wearing a nice dress shirt, shoes, and a tie. I did not wear a coat or full suit. I feel like down here in the heat and high humidity, it seems more acceptable. As far as how far along I got in the process, I got a couple of steps passed the oral board so I assume I did okay. I was actually told directly that it would be difficult for me going forward without any prior experience or state license. Smaller departments would rather not spend to send someone to an academy when there's plenty of certified people applying.

Posted: 9/18/2016 6:09:07 PM EDT

[#9]

Just buy a suit. That way you have one if a wedding or a funeral pops up. Plus if appointed you may want a suit for jury trials or if you ever get in a jam.

Posted: 9/19/2016 9:01:36 AM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Show up without a suit or at least sport coat and tie and I am probably going to look the other way.

View Quote

My partner back in NY applied to a different department and when they were called in for the first step of the hiring process the letter said to wear "business attire". He said a bunch of guys showed up and weren't wearing a suit or jacket and they DQd them all right there.

Posted: 9/19/2016 9:27:45 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

My partner back in NY applied to a different department and when they were called in for the first step of the hiring process the letter said to wear "business attire". He said a bunch of guys showed up and weren't wearing a suit or jacket and they DQd them all right there.

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View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Show up without a suit or at least sport coat and tie and I am probably going to look the other way.

My partner back in NY applied to a different department and when they were called in for the first step of the hiring process the letter said to wear "business attire". He said a bunch of guys showed up and weren't wearing a suit or jacket and they DQd them all right there.

This is the same for Fire, i've seen a few folks show up sloppy and they were given the thanks for showing up but no thanks and showed the door... Suit up every time if you are serious about getting the job, I even dressed business attire for written tests, agility of course wear exactly what they say in the invitation/application...

Posted: 9/19/2016 10:23:45 AM EDT

[#12]

If you want the job, go buy a suit.

Oh, and brush your teeth. The last hiring panel I sat on had a decent but unspectacular applicant who smelled like he had eaten a raw onion for breakfast. I was sitting four feet away and it was making my eyes hurt. It didn't DQ him right on the spot but it showed up in all four of our panel worksheets and to me just shows a lack of forethought.

Posted: 9/19/2016 6:50:46 PM EDT

[#13]

I wore a dress shirt, tie, slacks, and a navy sport coat to my interviews. I don't own a real "suit" to this day (26 y/o).

Posted: 9/19/2016 7:12:16 PM EDT

[#14]

What kind of grown man doesn't own at least one suit? You need to be neat and professional looking in this line of work. I wouldn't have a high opinion of someones ability to do that if they showed up to an interview in anything other than a decently fitting suit.

Posted: 9/21/2016 12:42:35 PM EDT

[#15]

Buy a suit... At 26y/o there are a few things a man should have. A good fitting suit is one of them.

If you want the job, wear a suit. Always better to be overdressed and show respect than to show up half-assed and make them think you dont care.

Posted: 9/21/2016 1:35:55 PM EDT

[#16]

I've never worn anything but a suit to an job interview. I even wore one when applying for summer job as a bag boy. My father taught be to show up looking your absolute best, regardless of the job.

-Deke

Posted: 9/21/2016 4:53:03 PM EDT

[#17]

Depends on the department. Around here, yes, it's a deal breaker.

Go buy a suit. You should own one anyways.

Try some on at JC Pennys or Macys.

Posted: 10/4/2016 4:23:45 PM EDT

[#18]

I got my job and have been at my agency now for over three years. Didn't have a suit due to trying to lose a large amount of weight at the time.

Posted: 10/5/2016 1:25:33 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Depends on the department. Around here, yes, it's a deal breaker.

Go buy a suit. You should own one anyways.

Try some on at JC Pennys or Macys.

View Quote

Me- at 15 in 1990, dressed in my best suit to apply for jobs at the local grocery stores to either bag groceries or collect carts. I had a list of places to go on my bicycle parked outside, but the fist place hired me on the spot! Ended up working there from 15 to 21- they let me work during college breaks. I had so much fun making that $3.85 an hour.

But seriously, buy a suit! If you get hired, you will likely need it during the career. I ended up wearing a suit quite a few times during grand jury, court, and various social gatherings with attorneys and and court staff.

Posted: 10/5/2016 1:29:06 PM EDT

[#20]

It's a dealbreaker for me.

Posted: 10/5/2016 1:37:01 PM EDT

[#21]

Buy a suit.

For a reserve job, it might not be a deal breaker, but why take the chance?

Posted: 10/6/2016 4:47:07 AM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've never worn anything but a suit to an job interview. I even wore one when applying for summer job as a bag boy. My father taught be to show up looking your absolute best, regardless of the job.

-Deke

View Quote

Same here

Posted: 10/6/2016 5:50:42 AM EDT

[#23]

I am very relaxed in these sort of things and will never go to a proper interview without a suit on.

Posted: 10/6/2016 6:28:03 AM EDT

[#24]

Nobody ever got rejected for a job because they wore a suit.

Posted: 10/6/2016 8:42:00 AM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
Nobody ever got rejected for a job because they wore a suit.

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Boom.... People don't get rejected because they wore one, but can get rejected if they don't.

Posted: 10/6/2016 8:46:26 AM EDT

[#26]

First post did not nail it. Get a dark grey suit.

Posted: 10/6/2016 1:08:51 PM EDT

[#27]

Literally just went through boards. Can tell you for a fact the 2 guys who I saw that weren't wearing suits are not moving along in the process at this time.

Posted: 10/30/2016 9:22:01 AM EDT

[#28]

I have worn a suit to everything interview related, and everytime i have gotten the job/position i applied for.

when in doubt, suit it up.

Posted: 10/30/2016 2:24:12 PM EDT

[#29]

We tell all of our applicants to wear a suit. Better to have and not need, well, you know.

Posted: 11/2/2016 11:38:32 PM EDT

[#30]

Maybe not a deal breaker, but, they will evaluate just how professional ( and how serious about getting the job) you are and the first impression is physical and what you wear. If you plan on getting a LEO job you may need several suits anyway in the event you go to testify as a witness in court or at Grand Jury proceedings in the event that the Assistant District Attorney (state) or Assistant U.S. Attorney (federal) wants you in a suit (happens rarely, but, sometimes I have heard of certain judges prohibiting firearms-even on uniformed officers- in their courtroom). The judge is the king of his/her courtroom and there are some judges that take their subject's attire very seriously.

Posted: 11/4/2016 2:13:09 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
(happens rarely, but, sometimes I have heard of certain judges prohibiting firearms-even on uniformed officers- in their courtroom).

View Quote

In any Federal Courthouse, no one is armed except the Court Security Officers and US Marshals. Agents and Officers check their guns at the door before entering the courthouse.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Wearing a suit to the interview?

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