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A comment on Ask HN: What advice messed up your life?. Parent comment

Re:Ask HN: What advice messed up your life? by nostrademons on Friday November 26, 2010 @07:01PM (#1943770)
I have heard that certain mid-size to large technology companies in Silicon Valley actually ding people on "culture fit" if they wear a suit to the interview. This was actually one of those pieces of advice my mom gave me that turned out to be bad advice.

Instead, I'd suggest "Know the culture that you're entering, respect it, and do your best to adhere to it."

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Re:Ask HN: What advice messed up your life? by aaronbrethorst on Friday November 26, 2010 @09:06PM (#1944041)
Frankly, I think that dinging a person for wearing one is just as capricious as dinging a person for not wearing one.

But, by and large, I agree with your suggestion. If that cultural fit is a bad one, it's best to skip it.

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Re:Ask HN: What advice messed up your life? by ghaff on Friday November 26, 2010 @11:31PM (#1944296)
FWIW,

When I interviewed for my current job, it was at a company where I knew a lot of people and was pretty familiar with th culture. I knew a jacket and tie would be overkill but it seemed respectful overkill. A suit would have been way overboard though I'd be surprised had anyone really dinged me for it. There is a matter of understanding norms but, usually at least, a degree of overdressing for interviews seems a reasonable approach.

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