Job Interview: Appropriate Attire?

[Bailey Guns]

I haven't had a job interview since 1997. I've applied for a low-level state job in Lewiston and have been asked to interview.

I feel like an idiot even asking this question. I've looked around and found differing opinions online about appropriate attire. This is an office job, lots of public contact. The office setting is business/casual. Not shorts and flip flops casual, but maybe nice jeans and polo shirt casual.

I'm thinking I'm just going to wear a nice pair of slacks (something like Dockers) and a nice button-down long sleeve shirt to the interview. Am I way off base here? Should this be a suit/tie kind of thing? It's Lewiston, ID, after all.

I'd like to know what some of you think. Mrs BG seems to think my choice is appropriate for the job/location and she's usually pretty on top of stuff like that.

[Batteriesnare]

Dress to impress, you'll have plenty of time for casual but one shot at a first impression.

[thedave1164]

Sounds like you got it covered



I was all set for my first interview in CO, suit, tie, black wing tips. HR called me the day before the interview and asked how I was planning on dressing, I told her, she suggested dockers and a polo shirt, said the people I would be interviewing with might be in shorts, tank tops and sandals. They were.

Got the job too

[Rucker61]

Sounds like you got it covered



I was all set for my first interview in CO, suit, tie, black wing tips. HR called me the day before the interview and asked how I was planning on dressing, I told her, she suggested dockers and a polo shirt, said the people I would be interviewing with might be in shorts, tank tops and sandals. They were.

Got the job too

How long have you been with HP?

[AirbornePathogen]

I would go slacks, dress shirt, and tie personally. Better to overdress a little than underdress.

[thedave1164]

How long have you been with HP?

That was a dot com, In 2000, HP was in 2004

[Zundfolge]

I would go slacks, dress shirt, and tie personally. Better to overdress a little than underdress.

QFT

[BushMasterBoy]

Last time I bought a suit it cost 115 bucks at kohls. Dark grey jacket and matching pants. Wear a white long sleeve shirt and a conservative tie. Dark socks and black shoes. Dress to kill. Just my .02 cents

[ChickNorris]

I would go slacks, dress shirt, and tie personally. Better to overdress a little than underdress.

This^^^

Though I would wear a blazer rather than a tie & darker slacks not khakis. It's an interview, not the daily business casual, not formal & not golfing.

Good luck.

[drew890]

You only have one chance to make the first impression so why not at least add a tie to your planned outfit.
If you get the job then you can adopt the company business casual approach.
It does zero harm to your candidacy to be the best dressed individual in the room.