thenewgreen and I have talked about this, and I think the caveat is that not all parts call for a suit. Most important to me, is someone that knows their business. I wouldn't buy a tractor from a guy in a suit. I would probably favor employing a male banker wearing a suit to one that wasn't, but if I were hiring a male coder, a suit would make me less, not more, inclined to hire him. I used to go to the American Stroke Conference every year, and it was interesting because the MD men were almost all wearing suits, and the male scientists were almost exclusively not. Male pharmaceutical reps were all in suits. As a scientist, suit-wearing doesn't give you credibility, if anything, it can do the opposite because you aren't selling for financial gain and a suit can give the impression that you are. Physics conferences are an extreme, you can find very successful people in sweatpants. I wear a suit for weddings, funerals, and banquets. I would wear one for some interviews, but if I were interviewing for a science position, I'd probably go with a suit but no tie, just so it's clear. I don't terribly mind wearing suits, and even enjoy looking smart in that way from time to time, but I would not long stay in a position that required me to wear one daily. Same goes for a cowboy hat. There is also the issue about suits and gender, which I am not a fan of. I wish guys could be considered smart-looking without such little variation.Dress the part.
I think the issue for me boils down to dressing yourself up to cater to an audience or to do it for yourself. What I wear does influence how I feel and how others feel about me, so the issue is finding a balance between the two. I tend to lean towards wearing what I feel like wearing, which is business casual. In general I also prefer the suit-but-no-tie. I think that's because I don't feel important or confident enough in most circumstances for a tie.
I agree. Also, the same clothes work differently on different people. Some people never look comfortable in a suit, and some people never look at home in jeans. I guess it all comes down to the role that you are playing, and what you are communicating. Clothing can give you an edge in some circles, but it's contextual and only part of the equation. In a meeting or presentation, I tend to wear black or dark gray with dark jeans, and never logos. I wear that a lot outside of those occasions too. By wearing dark colors and no logo, I am comfortable, and my clothing isn't so rebellious that it can't easily fade into the background. If someone is really hung up about it, then that's probably a good thing to get out of the way. A bunch of the richest financiers/bankers are known for wearing swatches. I don't know who started it, but it has become a trend. From what I have read, they wear cheap watches to communicate that they can. Also, I think it is important to point out how masculine this whole thing is. Woman have to approach it from a whole different and complicated angle, and I think variability in men's professional attire is a good thing from that perspective.
There is no doubt that I would expect a practicing scientist and the President of a company to present themselves differently. Interesting times ahead...
You always look professional. But you always look 19 too.
I can confirm the science comments. Wore a suit (and a clean haircut) to the first of my interviews and felt overdressed. Relaxed the garb for the next three interviews and felt much more at ease. Got into all but the first of the schools. Science people sway much more towards dressing "nice" (i.e. clean, what I would describe at attractive-, but not formal-looking) over business or even business-casual. No point wearing a $100 shirt if you're going to get drops of iron or acid on it.I wear a suit for weddings, funerals, and banquets. I would wear one for some interviews, but if I were interviewing for a science position, I'd probably go with a suit but no tie, just so it's clear. I don't terribly mind wearing suits, and even enjoy looking smart in that way from time to time, but I would not long stay in a position that required me to wear one daily. Same goes for a cowboy hat.