Hi there, I am starting a new job on Monday and the starter information kit just says business attire. It is a full time job.
I am not sure if I should wear a suit /blazer with tie or just formal shirt with tailored pants and shoes?
I read it is better to be overdressed than underdressed. I can always take off the jacket and tie.
no, just confirming whether i have the right wardrobe.
@smartazz104: Yes, whilst you my woke fiend calls to collective authority - a strong independent victim.
Dan has my warobe, including my North Face jacket for winter.
Wait for Albo photos from Mardi Gras :)
@smartazz104: That was being cooked for Dan who was coming over for another free feed paid for by our taxes.
Better go shopping for a suit and tie (2 at least) TODAY!
You left it until Friday night to ask this question? Really?
OP will fit perfectly into a Gov job
Only if they buy half a suit, 2 years late and for 3 times what they budgeted
ohsnap.gif
Depends on which gov department and position, For many now smart casual or just shirt and dress pants is more than adequate as business attire.
If its call centre, you need a full hugo boss outfit complete with hat and glove. They always want to glorify call takers. Make sure nails are cut hair in natural colour only and let the lip dry no chap stick.
Just one glove ?
Sounds like you figured out your own question. Full suit dress for the first day and suss out the general atmosphere.
^^^^ This. Always start day 1 in a suit, you can 'remove' things like tie/jackets to blend in as the day goes on, but you can't add them if you started out the day without them.
99% of the time I rock up in a tie/jacket and its like, no need for a tie!! So you can take it off in the first hour.
Dont be silly no one wears tie anymore unless you are serving tea to the minister
Don't disagree, but it is poor form to show up to an office job without one in my books. As I said, they can be easily removed.
@JimmyF: Form, poor or otherwise, depends entirely on the circumstances. I work in the head office of a large multinational (40,000+ employees) and know of only one person that routinely turns up in a suit and tie, although I'm sure the executives do. In my division there's no real expectation that anyone turns up in any particular attire and I could turn up in jeans and a t shirt if that's what I wanted.
@twjr: Preach brother, im in similar boat and i reckon half the company would riot if they were told to suit and tie it.
If youre meeting with externals sure throw on the extra if the wind blows that way, but you gotta work in what you're comfortable working in
@JimmyF: Man am I glad I work in tech. Never showed up to the first day in suit and tie and nobody ever batted an eyelid. Even for interviews that's overdressed these days.
Varies according to climate, city and seniority/aspiration
Precisely. Worked in a federal government job for many years and a jacket was never needed unless you were upper management and attending a special meeting. Nice business shirt, tie and trousers should be fine.
NSFW
Lol i think i got the same search as you
Zafia maxi dress? I'm not sure what "office" that's suitable attire for?
Depends on the agency as well..? The ABC and Maritime Museum in Pyrmont are both Commonwealth entities and their business attire is pretty relaxed.
After 5 dinner formal.
It's a government job.
They all go home at 4:45.
4.15
Clearly not an insider, it's 4:51
not anymore, standard hours have been 7hrs 30mins for a long, long time.
Personal opinion but I'd probably go with formal shirt/tailored pants/tie/shoe for first day especially if the weather is hot. Though if you have a suit jacket you can kind of throw on so it becomes more suit like may help incase you need to be that bit more formal.
I'd probably go the suit/blazer if I was in a senior role (director/manager?) or a very front facing/customer facing or politician facing role.
and I'd probably wear a hoodie and cargo pants for a developer role
Then after the first day or two it would depend on everyone else.
What did others wear when you interviewed there before getting the job?
Personally, I would just go with a standard shirt and business suit with no tie. Nobody wears a tie in corporate / business environments anymore realistically.
Jacket you can take off depending on formality / weather / comfort when you get there, so it's no loss to bring.
My standard work attire in summer is just a business shirt and "suit" pants. In winter, I will add a suit jacket for formal meetings, a trench coat for a "standard" day, or a puffer jacket for a more informal look.
What did others wear when you interviewed there before getting the job?
online portal video interview, recorded myself answering 3 questions
and what did you wear?
business shirt and tailored pant. it was not a video call.
@AlanHB: I find that shirts don't fall nicely if I don't wear pants even during video calls so I would do the same haha but maybe just with chino pants/jeans, definitely not trackies.
Dan Crush ❤️💋
More like obsession.
it's what you wear under your clothes that is most important.
If it's an army job, he could go commando.
Wow them all with a tuxedo.
Really wow them with a tux that you can rip off stripper style!
And make it a white one!
Tie is unnecessary. Shirt, open collar, pants (tailored or chino style).
Better to be slightly above the pack than in it. Guarantee youll see people wearing tshirts and shorts. Bosses might tolerate it but they are noted and dont particularly go anywhere.
The key is to dress well when it reflects well on your boss. Day to day, who cares. But if you're in a meeting with higher ups/clients/etc then you switch, dial up the charm and that way you can spend the rest of the time in shorts with cheese stains on your shirt and your boss won't care.
Guarantee youll see people wearing tshirts and shorts.
Really?? I don't work in gov, but have worked in professional offices for more than 20 years. Other than myself during Covid lockdowns when I was usually the only one there, I can't recall ever seeing someone wear tshirt and shorts as their office attire.
You’ve never seen that IT support guy that wears shorts and a “tactical” tool belt?
At a major bank we have tshirts and jeans with sneakers well worn just get promoted to Senior Manager.
As Gen Z and millennials become a larger bulk of the workforce attire is changing.
Yeah I would go suit with tie for the first couple of days at least, and see how others dress.
Which Agency? Im with APS nearly 20 yrs and never worn a suit. Only worn them for job interviews
I wear pants and business shirt.
ATO, they just said business attire.
Id just wear pants and a shirt. Maybe wear a tie for a while. At least take one and see what others are wearing.Some of my colleagues wear ties but i never do.
Most people just wear a business shirt, no tie, chinos.
(works there)
thank you very much.
Business in 2023 is not the business when ato was setup in 1945
Steel caps for debt collection.
Unless you are upper management, just a business shirt with tailored pants should be enough.
Nice pants and a business shirt. You'll rarely see a tie, except if the minister is visiting but wear one if you feel more comfortable, no-one is going to judge a new guy trying to make a good impression and you can always take it off.
Get some non iron shirts (Charles tyrwhitt are good and have good sales) and most importantly good shoes (rm williams boots are expensive but are very comfortable and will last for ages.), Good luck.
Same, just business shirt and pants- wrinkle free stuff, which I never iron.
I have a blazer hanging around the office if I need to put it on for meetings. A tie in the draw but never used.
You may not be aware, TM Lewin ceased their operations in Australia during the COVID period and stopped shipping to Australia. It's only been the last few months when they announced international delivery is coming soon.
Get yourself a pair of rmw comfort craftsman in dark tan or chestnut - I don’t want you getting bullied on day 1 op for wearing no name boots
Is he working for Young Liberals?
A long time ago, I rocked up in a suit on the first day of a government job and looked so out of place. I came from from a law firm so wearing a suit was very standard. Over time, I ended up wearing chinos and a nice dress shirt.
I just think it's easier to look sharp in some nice chinos and shirt than it is to pull off a suit. I think the latter needs the right build and well selected colour and fit in order to avoid looking like a bit of a stooge.
What are everyone's go to chinos fo this kind of setting?
Just bought 3 pairs of MJ Bale. But they are slim fitting and low cut.
Just don't buy anything too slim and tight. Common workplace faux pas. Nobody cares what you're packing.
Nobody cares what you're packing.
Not even the ladies?
Nothing worse that saggy ass pants
Very true. I purchased these for a teen starting in a grad program who could pull them off (string bean).
However, if you're more like a middle-aged tree trunk, the answer is avoid these at all costs.
Go for RMW or similar.
How much were they?
$139 but buy 2 get them for $110 ea. However some colours and sizes were being tossed out.
That being said, Myer were tossing out the slate/black colour during the sales for $75.
Id also check out Target. Their chinos arent half bag
@Benoffie: Wow and here I was thinking $60 or whatever at Uniqlo was pushing it lol. I guess Uniqlo quality is quite worse though.
I've seen a couple of department secretaries who looked like they were wearing $99 Reuben F Scarf suits.
When you went for the interview, how were the interviewer(s) dressed? This is your answer. In my experience, dress varies in public service depending on your role, workplace, tasks etc.
interview was where I had to answer 3 questions and record it.
havent seen anyone but I remember my friend who works there in a different department wore suit.
I spent 33 years in the APS and never, ever wore a suit. Apart from my very first day, I only wore a tie when either being interviewed or being on the interview panel, or when representing the department at outside events (conferences, etc). However, it really does depend on your department and often whether it is a "public facing" role. In my situation we had guards, high fences and fancy locks to keep the public away :-)
No suit or tie necessary. Just open collared business shirt and nice slacks or chinos.
Welcome to 2023 post covid and remote work viola!
I would say these days even a suit with a tie is a bit OTT unless you're in investment banking or something unless my standards are too low lol.
Button-up shirt, slacks, nice shoes/boots, a decent looking belt is fine.
If you work in gov might as well rock up in a singlet, shorts and thongs.
Suit and tie and jacket.
You left it until Friday night to ask this question? Really?