I think one “step” beyond what your interviewer is wearing is appropriate (for tech roles).
Uber casual Santa Monica company where your interviewer is wearing sandals and board shorts? Jeans and a shirt without a collar.
Standard tech company where your interviewer is wearing jeans and a t-shirt? Chinos and a button down with dressier shoes or boots.
If you are interviewing for a hipper company, especially in NYC, you have to dress equally as well but not “too nice”. Don’t wear Levi’s and a cheap button down to a company where even the developers are wearing wing tips and broadcloth shirts. This is the trickiest scenario but luckily you can avoid these sorts of companies if it’s not your jam.
Of course the problem is you need to determine how the company’s employees dress prior to your onsite. Surprisingly a lot of recruiters will have no problem telling you the expected formality of dress during your initial screens — you can be candid with them.
Had to when I showed up to some hft onsites for swe, everyone else was dressed up too. In contrast, I remember my first Microsoft intern onsite there was one kid in a suit and he was like the only guy that didn't get an offer
I spent years in sales so i got really comfortable in a suit. I like using interviews as a time to kinda dress up. Nothing wrong with wearing whatever you feel comfortable in though. Im of the mind that what you wear can only help, not hurt (unless you're rockin' dong in the office)
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Uber casual Santa Monica company where your interviewer is wearing sandals and board shorts? Jeans and a shirt without a collar.
Standard tech company where your interviewer is wearing jeans and a t-shirt? Chinos and a button down with dressier shoes or boots.
If you are interviewing for a hipper company, especially in NYC, you have to dress equally as well but not “too nice”. Don’t wear Levi’s and a cheap button down to a company where even the developers are wearing wing tips and broadcloth shirts. This is the trickiest scenario but luckily you can avoid these sorts of companies if it’s not your jam.
Of course the problem is you need to determine how the company’s employees dress prior to your onsite. Surprisingly a lot of recruiters will have no problem telling you the expected formality of dress during your initial screens — you can be candid with them.
In contrast, I remember my first Microsoft intern onsite there was one kid in a suit and he was like the only guy that didn't get an offer