Interview - tie or no tie.
 

This is something I suspect I've got wrong in the past: Calgary is very into business casual - for a FIRST meeting about a job, should you wear a shirt & tie, or something more casual??

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

If I were you I would definitely wear a tie. You want to give them the right impression. Not wearing a tie or suit may be construed as lack of seriousness!

I think most of Canada is very business casual, yes, even in Toronto. You should see what some people will wear to work. Stuff that I wouldn't even wear to scrub the toilet!

However for an interview or the like you really want to make the best impression you can...even if the interviewer is wearing a tracksuit!

Interested

ps good luck!

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

you can't go wrong with a shirt and tie - better safe then sorry

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Wear a shirt and tie for the interview. Be formal or else they will think that you don't really care that much about getting the job.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Suit and tie. Regardless of what the interviewer is wearing, the suit and tie is perfect attire.

And like Interested said, you won't believe what some people wear to work. Once you get the job you can be a slob. I have seen people in third world countries dress better to work in their fields than Canadians do to go out or to a job. Quebec is an exception - men and women dress well.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

But Glaswegian is into IT...and we all know they are a bunch of born-again hippies. Too formal: might not fit into the groovy vibe they want to pretend their organization has. Don't software firms have pool tables, bean bags and daycares in their offices (for the single dads)? I say proper trousers and a shirt; don't worry about the tie so much. Also, go Hugh Grant style in "About a Boy" style and get your hair professionally dishevelled.

Or you could just wear a suit and tie.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Had the same kinda predicament recently for an informal chat with an oil sands company - in fact their HR had said to be business casual so no need for a suit or tie...I didn't listen..got suited and booted up and glad I did. Will echo comments by the gurus that you go dressed to the nines cos its all about 1st impressions - let the interviewer be in his/her pyjamas if they choose to. As a by the by Ray1968 you would be making a killing in Fort McMurray - a condo starter type home - 2BR undeveloped basement is 200K Canadian...and that's the not so nice part of FM i.e around the downtown area. Thickwood, Abasands et al you are talking 250K.....for 1200 sqft no wonder they can't get anyone to work up here :D

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

I don't have enough hair to do the Hugh Grant thing ...

I did what I've done for the last couple of successful interviews ... I went along to Moores and asked ... for the informal first meeting, I'll wear a suit with a silk blend mock neck top ... they've got some nice double cuff shirts (like I used to wear when I worked in the City years ago, they're just catching on here, glad I brought my cufflinks :cool: ) I'll get one if I make it to a second interview.

Moores do some very nice clothes ... they also put effort into training their sales people in what's in and what isn't.

If you get into the right software company it's a pretty cool job here ... but you have to get yourself known :D

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

I wore a suit for each of the four interviews I had in Toronto, this is despite the fact that advertising is a very casual business. When I start I don't expect to be wearing anything more smart than a pair of jeans and a t shirt...

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Then go for the Patrick Stewart look ;)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

How do you know I've got a big nose and I'm going bald ... very close cropped hair is actually the new look for guys who would rather avoid the combover look ... many senior IT people in Calgary are wearing it these days.

Personally, I don't recommend it until you've adjusted to the winter temperatures .... I've only really gone for it in the last year :D

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

It's not acceptable for me to look that most days ... I wear the IT guy uniform the rest of the time ... golf or casual shirt (pref.with certification logo) and kakhis ... collarless shirts and jeans don't go down too well unless it's an expensive collarless shirt, but I'm not sure even expensive designer jeans are acceptable outside of Stampede week ... same thing goes for cowboy boots :D

This is also a first meeting ... a quick 30 minute chat ... if everything proceeds in life with expectations, later formal interviews will be different.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Tell me about the close cropped look, I'll be heading that way within 2 years ;) Bald before I'm 30, I blame my parents!!! :)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Don't know if you get 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'? If you haven't seen it, it's very interesting viewing ....

On one show they took a lawyer who had a hideous glued on toupe ... persuaded him to take it off and go for the close cropped look ... big improvement.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Yes we do get it, on a Friday night, but I rarely get to see it as I don't get home until late. I would never wear a toupe though, if it was that or nothing, I'd have the landing pad look and then buy a hat ! :)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

What about truck drivers? Are they expected to wear a shirt and tie too when they're going for a job interview?

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Only if they are applying for a job as a commedian. :)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Too bad I'm out of karma for today......

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

In the end, the question about ties was irrelevant ... we had the first informal discussion via telephone :)

I got throught the first hoop ... the company in question require candidates to be interviewed by eight people in total ... they pay well, they have good benefits and a very low staff turnover and they want to keep it that way :cool:

Theye were one of the first companies to interview me when I first came to Calgary ... I was told to get more experience of big Canadian companies ... I was not impressed ... three years of working with big Canadian companes later, I understand why a freshly imported Brit attitude might not have gone down well :eek:

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Hope it works out Glas, but 8 people in an interview !!! :eek: The most I've ever been interview by in one go is 4.

You say that a fresh brit attitude isn't what a big Canadain company wants, any specifics or just general approach to work?

Simon

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Definitely a bow tie. Then, everybody will think you are a jackass!

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

In your case I'd recommend a spangly one that spins :D

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

I said a total of 8 ... I hope that doesn't mean 8 all at the same time.

General approach to work and attitude to life ... Canadians look at business a different way ... maybe I'm getting to understand the Canadian experience requirement.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Now you're getting it! Hope it turns out positive for you. You're right to look around and try to improve your situation, but understand (I imagine you already do) not to discuss this with any fellow employees at your current employer. You could get fired if they find out that you are looking for other employment.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

I asked a friend of mine - who used to own a large business out of Vancouver - what he thought of Brits that he had employed in the past. He said at times he found the attitude of some of them rather annoying, because they would be critical of him with other employees and they had a superior attitude in general. So you Brits need to be rather circumspect in what you say on the job.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

That is probably the one key thing that shapes attitudes here ... you don't have to do very much to get fired ... your boss just has to be having a bad day.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

True ... be very cautious of what you say in general in Canada ... I just don't give any opinions any more and you can't trust your fellow workers as far as you can throw them either :rolleyes:

Give what a Brit would call an honest opinion and you'll be branded negative ... always try to be constructive and positive.

Don't say "Fred's attitude is a pile of sh*t and I just can't work with him", say something along the lines of "we would work more effective as a team if we could communicate more effectively, I know somewhere that runs courses on that" ... just think for a few minutes before opening your mouth.

Gordon Brittas would love Canada :D

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Useful advice, kiss ar** and never speak ill of the boss. :D This doesn't bode well for me though I've a reputation for speaking my mind. It seems to score points with 50% of people and lose them with the rest. :(

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Actually, you can say whatever you want that is in no way job or employment related. However, if it is somewhat related to your employment or to other workers or the boss, you ought to be extremely careful with what you say - and perhaps that's the way it ought to be in any country. If people (especially the boss or those with a longer time with the company) end up being offended by you or simply can't stand working with you because of a poor attitude (which can drag the whole place down), why should they have to put up with you? They can work with a guy they hate or they can get someone else. In such a case what would you do?

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Having a positive, gung-ho, kick-ass attitude for the company (or the business) can get you far in North America, and that's even when you really think the boss is a big asshole. Businesses want to see profits, and if they can clearly see that you're one of the guys that's making it happen for them, that will also get you promoted or get you nice pay increases.

Contrary to popular belief, ass-kissing will not necessarily get you very far, it may just prevent you from getting fired.

It's always nice to see a smile on an employee's face and a hop in their step when they show up for work, like they are enthusiastic about working there. An employee who looks like they slept in and had to drag themselves to work will impress no one.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Which would lead me to ask, is Canadian corporate culture inclined to put those with relevant experience (and hopefully ability too) in charge ?

Certainly in the UK that seems to rarely be the case, where managers of are often placed in charge of people, about whose skills they know nothing. My previous boss was a qualified chemist, yet he was a qualified chemist.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Harder to have a postive, gung ho attitude towards the company if they are no longer employing you! ;)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

I've always taken the attitude of not kissing ass where I work, and it has worked pretty well for me up to now. At the end of the day, it is delivery rather than bullshit that gets you on...

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

If only that was always true :)

2 teams in a company, one always met deadlines, ran on next to zero budget and made money for the company. The other never set any deadlines, rarely completed work ,never produced anything useful, and had a budget bigger than half the other teams salaries. Guess which got pay rises and promotions ?

If you guessed the first you'd be wrong ;) and thats why I'm no longer working there! :p

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

:D :D Maybe you've got a point there, just don't stick your nose in too far! ;)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Do you want the honest answer or the "positive for new immigrants" answer?

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

I'd prefer honesty, if it's as bad as it is here, then I'd be now worse off, if it's better then that's a bonus. :)

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

The answer is the obvious one ... it depends on the people you're working for.

The first job I had was a small privately owned company ... I worked on site at a lot of other small privately owned companies ... saw lots of nepotism and ass kissing.

The company I work for now is higher up the foodchain ... I work on site with national or global companies ... so I now see hard work and effort being rewarded more often ... guess what? I'm now MUCH happier.

Re: Interview - tie or no tie.
 

Thanks for your honesty :)