Job Interview No Suit

[cms989]

I sort of stumbled into a job interview but hadn't planned on staying/working here in Bangkok. As such I have very travel friendly clothes (causal pants, short sleave shirts, tennis shoes, etc.).

The way I see it I have a few options. One is to buy some cheap collared shirt/slacks combo on the street and find a cheap pair of shoes. Another is to spring for the full tailored suit, which will be somewhat useless to me the rest of my travels (I'd been vaguely thinking about picking up a TEFL gig someplace but probably not). Lastly I could just be honest and ask if I could show up in casual attire. The HR manager is Thai, she is my contact, but I will be meeting with the head of the company who is British. The company itself is probably full suits all around

Really tempted to go with the last option.. as for my interest in the job, I'm more just going to listen what they have to say. But I see a very high upside. At the same time I'm sure we've all been to interviews and had our time wasted.

Tips? thanks for reading

[FritsSikkink]

Buy a suit, it won't go to waste.

Reminder you can't work on a tourist visa.

[cms989]

Thanks. It's a legit company so they'd get me the visa.

Really hard for me to justify $300 for a job interview, ugh.. especially the last couple I had before I came out here. Those ones I was pissed I wasted the time just driving out there. Where I'm from the guy would laugh it off and meet me for coffee wearing casual clothes himself.

I think the suit will get ruined otherwise because I'm living out of a backpack indefinitely. And I have enough nice business clothes back home.

But you're probably right

Edited March 15, 2013 by cms989

[nidieunimaitre]

Do you want to work for a Suit?

I never did!

Screw the Suits.

[RabC]

Simple, Do you want the job, if so you know yourself what the answer is......

Yes I am British but if you can't be bothered to dress for an interview why should they bother interviewing you?

Edited March 15, 2013 by RabC

[Puyai]

I don't think you really need to go all out and buy yourself a suit, quite easy to make yourself look presentable without spending 300 dollars!

I really don't understand why you are asking what you should wear to an interview. Have you ever had a job interview?

[Swiss1960]

Talk with the HR manager, tell her you would normally come in suit, tell her why you don't have any and kindly ask for advice

Why ask strangers in Thaivisa when you have a direct contact into the company who can also tell you how this british guy might react on your non-wearing suit????

[nidieunimaitre]

Simple, Do you want the job, if so you know yourself what the answer is......

Yes I am British but if you can't be bothered to dress for an interview why should they bother interviewing you?

Have you seen the Monty Pythons in "Silly Olympics"? Suits were compulsary!

And suit-able too.

[cms989]

I'm more familiar than most with job interviews. In my experience if you're honest (I didn't expect to come across this opportunity when I packed, and don't have a suit..) would be the much better option that going out and buying one. It would not be surprising at all given my resume that I did not pack a suit.. I'm pretty obviously a professional who just happens to be in Bangkok

And I have no idea if I want the job. It's sales so you never know until you meet the people and see if they are any good at what they do. More often than not it is a complete waste of time and I expect doubly so in Bangkok

Edited March 15, 2013 by cms989

[cms989]

Talk with the HR manager, tell her you would normally come in suit, tell her why you don't have any and kindly ask for advice

Why ask strangers in Thaivisa when you have a direct contact into the company who can also tell you how this british guy might react on your non-wearing suit????

Usually i'd do this but not familiar with Thai business culture, didn't know if this was some sort of huge no-no with the HR manager. Thanks

Actually I should just ask if it is any different here than elsewhere. If the answer is no, I am completely confident simply asking the question. Back home I would've done it instantly and it would have been fine

Edited March 15, 2013 by cms989

[cms989]

Simple, Do you want the job, if so you know yourself what the answer is......

Yes I am British but if you can't be bothered to dress for an interview why should they bother interviewing you?

If you told me in an interview that it cost you over $100 to arrive at the interview I'd think you're desperate. So I'd have to disagree.. if someone just happened to be in Bangkok and didn't have a suit with them I'd say 'Don't be silly, I understand let's just meet and talk for a bit and see if there is a fit'

[FritsSikkink]

http://th.careercross.com/en-gb/article/what-to-do-or-not-in-a-job-interview

[cms989]

Thank you.. I appreciate the feedback but I apologize I should have asked a better question. Is this an especially big no-no with the Thai HR manager or not? I'm very familiar with interview processes and in my experience being honest about the situation would not be an issue, so my question is more related to Thai business culture being any different or not.

[NanLaew]

Smart pants like Dockers or Savanne, long sleeve, plain dress shirt, a tie and some clean shoes. You don't need a jacket or a suit per se. Just look presentable as you would for an interview back home. The OP is quoting suit prices as advertised in the tourist traps. The above dresswear (apart from the tie and shoes) can be had for less than 1000 baht at Export 77 shops in the malls (farang sizes). Bata will have shoes for another 1000 baht. Belt can be less than 300 baht. Make sure the tie is bold colored (make a statement even if you aren't too enthusiastic), another 500 baht if you avoid the overpriced silk ones in tourist traps. I reckon you can be very presentable for around $85.

If you are normally clean shaven, shave! An expat professional I know went to an informal interview in Bangkok; a formality as it was generally assumed he would be hired, dressed as described above but hadn't shaved for a couple of days. Almost didn't get hired as his boss's boss, a particularly anal been-there-done-that old farang that had been in Thailand for years had a real hard on for stubble.

Edited March 15, 2013 by NanLaew

[cms989]

Thank NanLawue, I can justify $85.

Shaving.. you know I was introduced to the safety razor here, when I lived here a number of years ago, and ironically I brought one here but have not been able to find any razors for it. thai disposables are criminally pathetic

Edited March 15, 2013 by cms989

[Farma]

Another option would be to look in a wedding studio and see if there are any suits suitable to rent. You'll still need to buy shoes.

[isawasnake]

I would seriously decide of I was traveling or working and then decide accordingly. I have never had this problem, traveling and working are two totally different things. But, if I decided I wanted to work, I'd get a suit, and not a cheap one.

[Bluenose BKK]

Surely in this climate a pair of nice trousers,shirt and maybe a tie also has to be enough with a decent pair of loafers or suchlike,why bother with the expense of a suit jacket?
Personally,unless it's for a bank/finance/CEO job I wouldn't even bother with the tie!

[Bluenose BKK]

I would seriously decide of I was traveling or working and then decide accordingly. I have never had this problem, traveling and working are two totally different things. But, if I decided I wanted to work, I'd get a suit, and not a cheap one.

I remember a guy telling me a story about how he bought a suit from one of these Indian tailors.It turns out they had just glued the seams of the trousers together and after not very long the glue came undone and they turned into some strange open flares/Samurai or Kendo uniform/Cowboy chaps type of affair walking down the street!

[fletchsmile]

If you want the job, it's a good job, and you can easily afford it, buy the suit. Then you know you'll be appraised based on whether they want you or not - or is that deep down what you're afraid of

The other options may or may not work in your favour or may be irrelevant. While Thais often behave collectively, and more according to social norms, Thailand like other countries is still full of individuals. You've no idea how the HR manager or the Brit guy will react to you even asking - positively or negatively. The answer to your Thai culture bit, is that culturally Thais generally attach a lot of importance to appearance, so err on the side of caution.

Why ask strangers in Thaivisa when you have a direct contact into the company who can also tell you how this british guy might react on your non-wearing suit????

Usually i'd do this but not familiar with Thai business culture, didn't know if this was some sort of huge no-no with the HR manager. Thanks

[\quote]

Personally:

If I was interviewing you and you rang me up or I found out you'd asked what to wear, I'd just think what kind of guy can't make a decision. Perhaps OK for a junior level guy, first job, and I'd appreciate the freshness and honesty. For a senior executive you've probably just lost the job.

If someone managed to subtly work into the conversation at interview that they'd been caught short while travelling, but bought a tailored suit specially for the interview, that would show professionalism and keenness to me that they want the job rather than desperation. It would also show that they can make decisions and take action to achieve their goals.

Not sure how I would take to you showing up in casuals - depends how you act. It could work in your favour or not. Problem is you've just drawn attention to your appearance instead of your credentials. You know risk becoming apologetic and weak at one extreme or overconfident and arrogant at the other, but may have the charisma to get it exactly right. Again why take the risk if you're good enough to get the job on merit?

Just look at the different posts and views on here already - why take the risk?

Edited March 15, 2013 by fletchsmile

[cms989]

I appreciate the advice guys you all raise some good points. In terms of the traveling/working question I am working but not in a way that should ever require me to need a suit (this isn't a 2 week vacation that turns into a job interview, I plan on being based out of SE Asia anyway).

As far as asking being a bad idea.. I can see how it can be a coin flip. I think my goal was just to diffuse any awkwardness if I walked in the door wearing casual clothes. And depending on the HR manager's role, and their interest, it may be more her role to manage the process between me and the head of the company rather than be critical of me (i.e. if I get hired she has done her job so she is happy to give me advice).

I'm going to go ahead and go business casual, collared shirt tucked in to slacks and shoes. I never see anyone wearing full suits here so I really doubt they are. If it ends up I'm underdressed I'll crack a joke about it at the interview

[TommoPhysicist]

Here is some help with one of the interview questions.

Interviewer: What do you think is your greatest weakness?

Your: My honesty.

Interviewer: I really don't see honesty as a weakness.

You: I don't give a damn what you think.

[Beetlejuice]

I do not see any problems.

Usually when I travel or go away on vacation, I always carry a smart attire of clothes for socializing or dining out and so on. Depends on your personality and pride of appearance.

Go and buy yourself a smart pair of trousers = 600 baht, ready made in Tesco Lotus or other big stores.

A decent casual tee-shirt of shirt = 400 baht.

Pair of socks and shoes = 600 baht.

Total - 1600 baht, maybe less.

Depends on how keen you are to get the job and whether the sort of job you are applying for is worth the effort?

[MrFrank]

I have been in this situation a couple of times before and I have also interviewed people who have found themselves in this position.

I firmly belive that the following two rules apply, regardless of which country you are in:

1. If you explain your situation beforehand to the HR person or hiring manager they will always tell you that it doesn't matter - you should just come along.

2. You will always be judged on your appearance, regardless of what has been indicated in advance.

I would always advise against buying whatever suit you can obtain easily, as the low quality is likely to show through, even at a subconscious level.

It's better to go in presentable "smart casual" (e.g. chinos and dark coloured polo shirt) and carry it confidently. When intruducing yourself, say something like "I apologise for my lack of formality; I am actually here on vacation, and not really prepared, but I didn't want to miss this opportunity". Delivering this confidently will reassure them that you can behave properly in a potentially awkward situation, demonstrate self-confidence and lead neatly into why you are all there.

Based on your responses, it sounds as if you are sensible enough to have worked all of this out for yourself, so good luck and please let us know how it goes.

[Grumbles]

Simple, Do you want the job, if so you know yourself what the answer is......

Yes I am British but if you can't be bothered to dress for an interview why should they bother interviewing you?

If you told me in an interview that it cost you over $100 to arrive at the interview I'd think you're desperate. So I'd have to disagree.. if someone just happened to be in Bangkok and didn't have a suit with them I'd say 'Don't be silly, I understand let's just meet and talk for a bit and see if there is a fit'

As above. If after the explanation they don't want you because of the lack of a suit, they're not worth working for.

If you go neat and casual (no shorts & singlets), you should be right.

[h90]

nice and neat should be enough.

No shorts, no flip flops, a shirt with long sleeves, should be OK for most jobs.

Of course depending on which job. A sales guy need better clothes than a technician.

[RabC]

Simple, Do you want the job, if so you know yourself what the answer is......

Yes I am British but if you can't be bothered to dress for an interview why should they bother interviewing you?

If you told me in an interview that it cost you over $100 to arrive at the interview I'd think you're desperate. So I'd have to disagree.. if someone just happened to be in Bangkok and didn't have a suit with them I'd say 'Don't be silly, I understand let's just meet and talk for a bit and see if there is a fit'

As above. If after the explanation they don't want you because of the lack of a suit, they're not worth working for.

If you go neat and casual (no shorts & singlets), you should be right.

Your last sentence says it all, you appear to be an Aussie and hence from a more laid back country. I am not saying either is better than the other but as Mr Frank eloquently put it no, matter what you say beforehand you will be judged on your dress.

[NanLaew]

Thank NanLawue, I can justify $85.

Shaving.. you know I was introduced to the safety razor here, when I lived here a number of years ago, and ironically I brought one here but have not been able to find any razors for it. thai disposables are criminally pathetic

The only disposables worth anything in LOS are the Schick Exacta range; everything else manages to tear my skin up or pluck my chin!. Green handles/packaging and you get 2+1 free in the pack. They are sold in the UK as Wilkinson Sword and they kick Gillette and BIC into touch!

[dave111223]

I think it really depends on the context of "I sort of stumbled into a job interview"

If you mean that someone you met here specifically asked you if you were interested in a job, and would like to come to an interview. Then obviously they know you are traveling as a tourist and would not expect you to show up in a suit (in fact they'd probably think it was pretty weird that you went out and bought a suit)

But if you mean that you happened to pick up a Bangkok Post and look at the job offerings..then yeah that would be pretty strange if you showed up in casual-wear.

Edited March 16, 2013 by dave111223

[isawasnake]

I think it really depends on the context of "I sort of stumbled into a job interview"

If you mean that someone you met here specifically asked you if you were interested in a job, and would like to come to an interview. Then obviously they know you are traveling as a tourist and would not expect you to show up in a suit (in fact they'd probably think it was pretty weird that you went out and bought a suit)

But if you mean that you happened to pick up a Bangkok Post and look at the job offerings..then yeah that would be pretty strange if you showed up in casual-wear.

Serious? I would think showing up in a suit would say nothing but good things.... unless the guy came off as never being offered an interview before, which is possible I guess.