What wear to an 'informal chat' job interview?

daniellaoxox

I was thinking black jeans, black blazer or cardigan and plain white top with black flats but I'm not sure if this is smart enough?

AP007

Jeans? For a job interview? Jeans are not smart at all in my opinion but I don't own any either so Id never wear them. I'd wear a suit.

Informal wont mean 'come dressed down'

browneyedbazzi

What sort of job is it?

Unless it's a creative job (in the arts/design/media) I'd steer clear of jeans. If it is a creative job and jeans are acceptable then you probably need to be a bit more trendy/creative than a white top and black cardi/blazer.

If they've said it's informal I wouldn't go with a suit either (might look too stuffy/officious) so would go with a smart work dress.

daniellaoxox

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

What sort of job is it?

Unless it's a creative job (in the arts/design/media) I'd steer clear of jeans. If it is a creative job and jeans are acceptable then you probably need to be a bit more trendy/creative than a white top and black cardi/blazer.

If they've said it's informal I wouldn't go with a suit either (might look too stuffy/officious) so would go with a smart work dress.

It's a production operative job in a factory similar to the amazon factories, basically packing orders haven't got any work dresses but will have a look at some now, thanks

browneyedbazzi

I'd look at something like this - with your black cardi/blazer and some smart shoes

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Collection-Crossover-V-Neck-Tulip-Print/dp/B00599ZFP2?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_16&nodeId=43091030&sr=1-16&qid=1379725675

Wyndham

Even if it's called an 'informal' chat, treat it as a formal event. You can never be overdressed for this sort of thing, but it's far too easy to be under dressed.

Good luck!

Nightranger

AP007 wrote: »

Jeans? For a job interview? Jeans are not smart at all in my opinion but I don't own any either so Id never wear them. I'd wear a suit.

Informal wont mean 'come dressed down'

Black jeans will be OK for an informal interview (never blue jeans) but I agree that a shirt (with or without tie) and decent casual jacket will create a good impression. AP007...not taking issue with your post here but I have been at interviews where someone turned up in a suit (complete with briefcase) and it looked out of place. In some circumstances wearing a suit can make it look as though you are covering something up. Indeed, I turned up in a suit for my undergraduate interview and the lecturer who met me at the station good-naturedly took the rise out of me for the next three years. Remember the terms, formal means formal (fully suited and booted), informal means something different and a certain amount of interpretation, providing you are still smart will be seen as a good thing, as long as you do not go in your Sid Vicious (youngsters, ask your parents) safety pin ensemble.

Note on edit: I would mostly avoid t-shirts unless they were high neck ones that I could disguise with a tie and jacket unless you are completely confident that informal means just that. Branded or design t-shirts (even Justin Bieber) should be avoided at all costs. Informal jackets and coats are difficult to judge but remember you could look like a mug to the interviewer if you turn up in summer clothes following a January blizzard (again, based on experience) and vice versa. In an informal situation you can create a talking point ('sorry about my jacket, I discovered my favourite one had an unsightly stain') but don't take this too far. Look in the mirror if it looks wrong, change it!

Southend1

Formal or informal it's still an interview so I would follow normal protocol for interviews I.e. Dress according to how employees at the company dress for work, and if in doubt err on the more formal side. For a factory role, if staff wear uniform of say blue workers trousers and polo shirt, I would wear dark chinos or similar and an open necked shirt to interview. For a woman maybe a skirt and blouse or a dress as mentioned by another poster.

I would never recommend wearing jeans to an interview, even black jeans. It gives the wrong first impression.

Nightranger

Wyndham wrote: »

Even if it's called an 'informal' chat, treat it as a formal event. You can never be overdressed for this sort of thing, but it's far too easy to be under dressed.

Good luck!

I am afraid I disagree.You have to treat the term informal with a bit of care but still treat the event as though it is a formal event insomuch as you do not slouch around. You really can be judged as over-dressed for what has been clearly indicated as an informal interview. I agree that you cannot totally dress down a la the point AP007 made but you really will be judged (rightly or wrongly) if you choose to go formal at an informal event. My interpretation has been that in job context (or similar), informal means smart but casual. You would not get into a nightclub in trainers or branded/design (AC/DC or Native American wolf-style) t-shirt/sport shirt and blue jeans combinations. In other words, be sensible.

Nightranger

Southend1 wrote: »

I would never recommend wearing jeans to an interview, even black jeans. It gives the wrong first impression.

Again, I am going to disagree. It is all about the overall impression when you look in the mirror. Blue jeans have an image and I would never wear them unless I was completely confident that it was a totally (like TOTALLY) informal situation. Black jeans can be disguised with belts, a topping shirt and a jacket so long as they are not of the drain pipe type. Chinos in light khaki can look smart for instance, but not only do they look out of place on a grey and rainy day in Newcastle in February (random example BTW), they are darned uncomfortable and the interviewer would know you have gone for style against practicality. Like it or not, the letter said informal and you would have picked the wrong option.

I think we have become a bit gender biased here and that is a useful way to judge things. If you are a man, think how your partner would dress for formal or informal occasions and you will get a fair idea.

Note on edit: there are a lot of modernistic ideas around these days and we are all familiar with the terms 'blue sky thinking' and 'thinking outside the box' (at least in this context) but employers will genuinely use those filters if there is any doubt. A few years ago, I had a temporary job in an inbound call centre and we had 'Dress Down Friday'. I mostly went smart casual because I was never going to go out clubbing after a shift given my age. However, I once tried it with a tasteful but design-orientated t-shirt and I found that far from creating a talking point (as I had intended), I was psychologically outside an ideal work attitude. These things really do matter so be sensible.

Southend1

Nightranger wrote: »

Again, I am going to disagree. It is all about the overall impression when you look in the mirror. Blue jeans have an image and I would never wear them unless I was completely confident that it was a totally (like TOTALLY) informal situation. Black jeans can be disguised with belts, a topping shirt and a jacket so long as they are not of the drain pipe type. Chinos in light khaki can look smart for instance, but not only do they look out of place on a grey and rainy day in Newcastle in February (random example BTW), they are darned uncomfortable and the interviewer would know you have gone for style against practicality. Like it or not, the letter said informal and you would have picked the wrong option.

I think we have become a bit gender biased here and that is a useful way to judge things. If you are a man, think how your partner would dress for formal or informal occasions and you will get a fair idea.

If you need to disguise the jeans they're not appropriate in the first place!

Agree that anything you find uncomfortable to wear is a no no as you will look uncomfortable in the interview.

Don't quite understand the comment about judging the gender bias? But anyway I am a man and I'm gay, so imagining how my partner would dress is not going to help me advise OP!