Cultural adaptation

[scarlettina]

I've been interviewing pretty intensely over the last two weeks for various contract positions at Microsoft, 30-45 minute, pretty informal affairs. Yesterday while talking with my agency rep, we started talking about interview clothes and she said, "Of course jeans are fine, but you can't wear a tank top." (I wasn't planning to; she was criticizing another candidate.)

Now, I've done, in the last 6 business days, I think, 4 interviews. The first two were in the suit a number of you saw when I was there in March. The second two, I did in dress slacks and a business-y button-down blouse. I've never, ever done an interview in jeans; couldn't make myself do it. As easy as the interviews have been, though, it's beginning to feel a little like going through a grinder, and the question of interview clothes always freaks me out because I still have such an east coast sensibility about it even though it's different here. Microsoft is a pretty laid back workplace; everyone wears jeans. A number of coworkers there over the years have told me they interviewed that way (all for contract work, not permanent).

So today, I did an experiment. I have a pair of navy blue jeans that I reserve for parties and things like that. They're well cut and still look just off the rack. So I took a deep breath, pulled them on and wore the same business-y blouse, make-up and accessories as I did at other meetings. It was a weird feeling, but I looked good--not too dressed up but certainly not dressed down (still dressier than most Microsoft people)--and off I went.

I gotta say, I was 100% more comfortable doing the interview today than I have in the last two weeks. I felt more like myself and didn't fuss with what I was wearing or worried about how I looked. I felt like I gave a better interview than I have in a while. Now, I know jeans wouldn't fly back east or in the midwest. But since my agency rep said they were okay in this circumstance, I was more comfortable doing the experiment for myself. Now, for a full-time job interview--it's a suit all the way, but the dress jeans thing worked for me.

I guess I'm going native. After all, first it was the Gortex, now this...

Comments

[ironymaiden]

interesting. for me, putting on interview clothes is like strapping on armor. the formal clothes, looking good, is something that builds my confidence.

if you see me looking a little more dressy than usual or wearing makeup, it means that i wanted a boost. heh. it may be the thing that's keeping me from being too scared to operate.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

for me, putting on interview clothes is like strapping on armor. the formal clothes, looking good, is something that builds my confidence.

I understand and totally agree. This isn't the sort of thing I'd try anywhere but in a situation I know well and am comfortable in. I'd never try it with a company I didn't know. Even this was a leap of faith.

[botgrrrl.livejournal.com]

Unless you're buying Pendleton wool shirts, you haven't gone completely native.

[herself_nyc]

Heh. Glad that went well.

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the Left Coast, sweetie :>.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Thirteen years later. :-)

Ooh! I saw you while I was there. I was at RedWest C at noonish and I saw you walk across the lobby with a group of people sort of in a single file. I wanted to say hi but I was waiting for the manager and you were clearly On Your Way Somewhere.

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

Ah -- must have been off to a quick noon meeting (we do those as a pretext to get outside occassionally :>). Hope the I-view went well!