So Boston huh?

[Cliff Schecht]

I might be gainfully employed in the near future at a major audio company in Boston. I fly in Sunday and do the interview on Monday (leave Tuesday). The job seems like a good fit (power supply and magnetics research) and I think I'll enjoy the Boston area. I've been a few times but I was either younger, sick, at a funeral or a combination thereof.

I guess I'm just not sure what to expect there. I'll be working about 20 miles west of Boston and so hopefully I can avoid the insanely priced houses in Boston proper. Not sure what to expect there as far as the people but I keep hearing about how much drinking happens there and how crazy people are. Probably about as true as how others think we ride horses and fight with American Indians down here in Texas..

Also, I guess this is a good place to ask what I should wear. I have a nice pair of slacks, formal dress shoes, some nice white shirts and a tie but I don't have an overcoat. My buddy who got me the job is recommending that I go buy one but it seems trivial to me; I have a hard time believing that I won't get the job because I don't have an overcoat.. I also don't have the money to just go out and buy a nice one within the next few days before the interview. So is it worthwhile for me to figure out an overcoat or just go with what I have? I'm pretty sure my personality will jibe with the guys in the group enough to where my clothing won't be too big of a factor..

[LeftyStrat]

Man, I wish I could give you some advice, but the east and west coast are so out of sync it's like two different countries.

I can't imagine an overcoat would be for anything other than keeping warm. That might be important for a job in the financial industry, but I can't imagine it being a requirement for an engineering job.

Funny part is, at least for programming jobs, if you showed up for a job interview on the west coast wearing a tie, it would probably count against you. Most I try to do is find one of my least offensive t-shirts to wear with my jeans.

I know that what your wearing for an interview with Amazon doesn't matter a hill of beans. After the eight hour technical interview, it's all about what you know, and how you deal with problems you don't know the answer to. I did a ton of interviews when I worked at Amazon. We actually turned down one very bright candidate because she was too polite, and caved on a correct answer when the interviewer insisted she was wrong. Reason was "bad fit for Amazon culture."

I say don't sweat it. You're smart, just be confident without being cocky.

And good luck.

I haven't been to Boston in probably ten years or so, but in the eighties and nineties went quite often for computer courses (DEC and ComputerVision for you old farts). I loved every visit. Great history, food, and music scene. Traffic sucked, and Boston drivers take some getting used to (at least for this polite former southern boy), but it is truly a jewel of the Northeast.

Damn, I was going to suggest you make a side trip to the Rathskeller, but apparently it closed down in '97. Great legendary club.

[Bob S]

Can't comment on how to dress.
Things have changed over the years.
But Good Luck !

[Teleguy61]

I'm in Framingham Cliff, 20 miles west of Boston.
I would just try to gauge what kind of company you're working for. Except for the financial business and high end law, real estate or business types, Boston is way more casual than it was when I moved here in 1980. Kind of on a par with the rest of the world I think.
Slacks and dress shoes, tie and a dress shirt are fine I would think for first appearance, then see what's happening. Most places I see are chinos or even jeans these days.
You will certainly need a winter coat, it's winter here, cold this year, and we will be having a blizzard tomorrow into Saturday. 18-36 inches of snow, 60mph winds. Hopefully all straightened out by the time you get here.
Best of luck cowboy. Welcome to New England.
People talk fast and drive faster.

[Cliff Schecht]

Hey that's cool, the job I'm looking at is in Framingham! I feel like I'm giving it away at this point, but considering that I'm trying to get hired there I figure it's best to leave the name out until I know more.

I appreciate the advice and well wishes fellas.

[rp]

Half my friends are engineers, you could show up in a $100 Men's Warehouse suit with a ski jacket over it w/ a pair of dreadfully sensible shoes, you'd be the best dressed guy there by far. My friend hasn't bought clothes in 20 years, he just wears all company swag. He's working in Spain now, wonder how the cheap American dork look is working w/ the Spanish girls?

Boston's awesome, go for it. But sadly the metro area is all expensive for housing. That's why they made New Hampshire into a bedroom community for MA and why it's not cheap anymore either.

Good luck.

[ampmike]

Hey Good luck to you,You will do fine!!All I know is Boston is a place where they Paark caarz and eat things out of jaarz.Dont worry about the coat,Mikey

[Phil_S]

Cliff:
I'm old school on this sort of thing. That is probably because I'm old enough to be your father, maybe older. Err on the side of caution. It is better to be overdressed than under-dressed. If your judgment is that a suit is overdoing it, that's completely understandable. Business dress has gone much more casual over the last decade.

I suggest you are safe with a jacket and tie and slacks. Wear the tie. Wear leather shoes (black or brown, even if they have rubber soles). Make it reasonably conservative. Leave your pink shirt at home -- white or blue is what to wear. Remove face piercings if you have any -- this is something that some people find so revolting you are finished when you walk through the door.

Most of all, aside from dress, come prepared. Find out all you can about the company and the people. Have good questions ready. Don't under any circumstances raise any discussion of compensation or benefits until they do. Focus on the job. Remember, this is not about you, it is about what you can do for the company. You are meeting their needs, not the other way around.

Get enough information to determine if the job is a good match for you.

OK, well that's more than just what to wear. I hope it's not overbearing.

Good luck!

Phil

[NickC]

I'm in Syracuse, about 5 hours west of Beantown.

It's winter. It's cold. It's gosh darned bone chilling cold.

Beg/borrow the loan of an overcoat for the duration of your trip. Someone you know must have one hanging in a closet they can spare for a few days.

If you relocate to Boston, you'll be needing a new wardrobe. This climate can be brutal this time of year.

Good luck with the interview. I hope you get the offer.

[amplifiednation]

Cliff,
Framingham, eh? That's right next door to me. I was there yesterday!

Do your research on the company, do they have pictures of the execs on their website? I would try to guage what the culture is there before heading in. If you can figure out how formal or informal the company is, that should help you decide what to wear.

I can tell you that it's pretty much the rule to wear a sports coat or a suit to a job interview. I would also be willing to bet that other candiates will be dressing that way, especially if they are from the Northeast. Do what you can to borrow a sports or suit coat from someone if you don't have one, and focus more on nailing the interview.

No one is going to notice if you have a coat on, but they will if you don't.

[cbass]

I Don't know much about jobs but Good luck with your interview!

[Structo]

Good luck Cliff!

[vibratoking]

I am sure that business casual is fine. You don't want to be the worst dressed or the best dressed, IMO.

And please, if you get the job, find a way to put some bass in those damn expensive speakers. But don't mention it during the interview.

Have some chowder and lobster for me please.

3 feet of snow might get in the way. Best of luck.

[MCK]

Congratulations on this opportunity. I am sure you will do great once you are in!

Great suggestions earlier on coming prepared, reading about the company etc. I would suggest getting a [free] account on LinkedIn if you don't already have one and checking out people and the feeling of company culture you can skim off the top. http://www.glassdoor.com/index.htm is also a great resource to get a feel for a prospective employer, see salary ranges etc. Having a great knowledge of the company and their products and current market challenges etc will help you in the interview process.

Good luck!

[boots]

When I attended ITT Tech in the early 90's, they made a big deal out of how to dress for interviews, and made sure that everyone knew to wear a sports coat, a conservative tie (NOT a "power tie") and polished shoes. It's generally better to overdress, as someone said.

Some of the feedback I got after doing interviews was that some interviewers will consider the sports coat overkill. Mine had gold colored buttons on the slleves, and they said it wasn't appropriate (!). I would definitely wear the sports coat. I don't know about an overcoat. I think if you could get from the car to the office without getting drenched, then leave it behind.

Since I went back to work in the geology/engineering field, a sports coat is definitely considered overkill, and actually nice slacks and a polo shirt is considered fine.

I really hate neckties.