[OT] professional attire in london

[Shard O'Glase]

My sister is going to interivew in London in october for a financial services company anyone have any insight on the professional attire in london.

Thanks

 

[S'mon]

My sister is going to interivew in London in october for a financial services company anyone have any insight on the professional attire in london.

Thanks

Well assuming she's American, don't dress _too_ formal (unless maybe it's a US company with US dress codes). UK female business dress is more casual than in the USA, in my experience. I know my (American) wife over-dressed for one interview & prob didn't get the job as a result. Dress smartly, sober colours, not much skin. Makeup & any jewelry should be subtle. Understatement is best. As it's a private company a skirt might be best for interview, although the majority of businesswomen I see on the Tube (in the City area - Barbican/Farringdon) wear trousers/culottes. If she doesn't normally wear a skirt and would be uncomfortable wearing one, trousers would almost certainly be ok. In the UK women don't wear pearls BTW, certainly not to work.

 

[StalkingBlue]

Well assuming she's American, don't dress _too_ formal (unless maybe it's a US company with US dress codes). UK female business dress is more casual than in the USA, in my experience. I know my (American) wife over-dressed for one interview & prob didn't get the job as a result. Dress smartly, sober colours, not much skin. Makeup & any jewelry should be subtle. Understatement is best. As it's a private company a skirt might be best for interview, although the majority of businesswomen I see on the Tube (in the City area - Barbican/Farringdon) wear trousers/culottes. If she doesn't normally wear a skirt and would be uncomfortable wearing one, trousers would almost certainly be ok. In the UK women don't wear pearls BTW, certainly not to work.

Good advice, in my experience. (Hi, Simon.) I used to work for a law firm here that deals with investment bankers and financial services providers on a regular basis. I'd say, best to avoid browns and pinks. Navy / dark grey suit with white or light blue blouse would work well. No dangling or clanking jewellery. Tone down makeup a degree or two, compared to normal US levels.

Good luck to your sister for the interview!

 

[S'mon]

Good advice, in my experience. (Hi, Simon.) I used to work for a law firm here that deals with investment bankers and financial services providers on a regular basis. I'd say, best to avoid browns and pinks. Navy / dark grey suit with white or light blue blouse would work well. No dangling or clanking jewellery. Tone down makeup a degree or two, compared to normal US levels.

Good luck to your sister for the interview!

Hi Kerstin and good luck to your sis Shard!

(I agree with all Kerstin's advice above, natch - I've seen some people in the City wear brown, but it's a bit risky)

 

[Ferret]

Don't wear pinstrips and don't wear a Bowler hat.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

Don't wear pinstrips and don't wear a Bowler hat.

thaks for all the advice, and no bowler hats don't wreck my dream image man.

seriously thanks everyone, no one in my family has been to london for at least 7 years and we were there as tourists so what business people wore wasn't high on our lists of priorities anyways. And 1st impressions are important enough that it would be foolish to screw it up with something as easy to change as somthing you wear.