"This is a personality job, not a resume kind of job"

ANTVGM64

Howdy, so I have a job interview tomorrow for a really fantastic opportunity working for a guy who seems pretty new age. We're meeting, he told me not to dress up and not to bring a resume. It's for a production assistant kind of job - calling people, making spreadsheets, organizing events, and so on.

Question 1) Is this a trick?

When he says don't dress up, and that he won't be either...should I still dress up? When he says don't bring a resume, should I bring a resume? iPad filled with my video work?

Question 2) Wait, you did *what*?

It turns out this guy used to run a really cool game-related company that I'm a really big fan of - but I am unsure of how it ended for him. Do I bring up my fandom for his former company, or keep it in check?

Question 3) Is this a trick part 2?

I'm getting "too good to be true" vibes. The business is in the heart of the city, in an awesome building, and seems to be so far up my alley it could balance a bowling pin on my nose. It's good to be cautious, but I keep getting vibes of "This can't be for real". The guy says he's legit, and he has a real profile and everything on the internet, but any tips on what I should ask the guy when I get there to make sure I'm not talking to a crazy person from Craigslist?

Question 4) New Age-y things.

Seriously the idea of a job interview where I don't need to dress professionally is throwing off my mojo, any tips for these kinds of 'non-traditional' kind of interviews? Especially for a small tech company that seems to be making some quality money?

Powerpuppies

do you already have a job?

if not, doesn't cost you much to go to the interview

ANTVGM64

I do already have a job haha. I just guess I'm ultimately curious if there are any unwritten rules for this sort of interview, like there are for like, normal, professional ones? I'm also probably psyching myself out.

Wassermelone

If he tells you not to dress up, don't dress up. If he did work in a game related sector... dressing up could actually be a very bad thing. But also you don't have to be 'dressed up' to look put together.

A casual button up, rolled up sleeves, and well fitting jeans is basically the interview uniform in the games industry.

If you feel naked without the resume, bring a digital version on your ipad.

LostNinja

1) I'm usually of the opinion that you can never overdress for something like an interview, but if he said not to dress up, don't, but still wear something nice along the lines of khakis and a polo or nice jeans and a button down shirt. Doing something like taking in your ipad with your video work seems like a cool idea though.

2) I wouldn't bring it up until he does. He will probably start the interview by telling you about himself where he will probably mention the other company that he used to work for, this should give you a good indication about how it ended and if you should bring up how big of a fan you are.

3) no harm in going to the interview and finding out, just walking through the office should tell you if it's a place that people actually work at or not.

Powerpuppies

yeah, "well dressed" and "dressed up" don't interact that much... how much to dress up changes but whether you should dress well doesn't.

davidsdurions

It might be an active interview where you have to move around and do things? I've had one of those, and if I had dressed up, I'd been a sweaty mess and never gotten the job. Just a thought.

Wassermelone

LostNinja wrote: »

1) I'm usually of the opinion that you can never overdress for something like an interview\

You really really really can. I work at a video game company and if someone showed up too dressy to an interview here it could actually be taken as a mark against you. A suit would all but brand you as a weirdo... and I love a nice suit. Its completely against the grain of the culture.

Angel_of_Bacon

Yeah, I'm also in the VG industry. When I tried wearing a suitcoat to one of my first interviews (poorly fitted/looking since I know nothing about dressing in a 'respectable adult fashion' and I bought it in a hurry just for the interview), and the interviewer flat out said, "Why are you wearing that? This is the game industry dude."

I have not worn that suitcoat, or any suit-type apparel since, at interviews or otherwise. It's not a trick, calm down. Khakis and a button-down are more than adequate.

LostNinja

Wassermelone wrote: »

LostNinja wrote: »

1) I'm usually of the opinion that you can never overdress for something like an interview\

You really really really can. I work at a video game company and if someone showed up too dressy to an interview here it could actually be taken as a mark against you. A suit would all but brand you as a weirdo... and I love a nice suit. Its completely against the grain of the culture.

There's an exception to every rule, the VG/tech industry is apparently that one.

ANTVGM64

Wild. Thanks everyone!

Bendery It Like Beckham

Call his bluff, wear a tuxedo.

Also, just keep a resume handy on your phone or be ready to email the guy a link to your portfolio on your awesome smart phone cause you're hip like that.

schuss

Probably not a trick, as he will likely want you to do it "his way" and be compatible with him, as it sounds like you'll be his gopher/right hand man. For jobs like that, it's more important to be adaptable and have a good personality fit than it is to necessarily be well-qualified.

zepherin

I have always been of the motto try to dress slightly better than the person interviewing you. Most of the time that has worked out, because being better dressed rarely cuts you out of a job, being under-dressed can and will cut you out of a job.

I once went to an interview where I was in a suit and I was being interviewed by a guy in jeans. I knocked out the interview. I wasn't chosen because I asked for too much money and we couldn't agree on a sum, but being better dressed didn't hurt me.

However you should be dressed down because that was his instructions. One of the things that they do in interviews is see if you can follow instructions.

Bowen

davidsdurions wrote: »

It might be an active interview where you have to move around and do things? I've had one of those, and if I had dressed up, I'd been a sweaty mess and never gotten the job. Just a thought.

For people new to the "game": Don't ever do free work, even if you really want the job.

Tox

Drop $2k on a tux. Handmade, custom tailored.

When he calls you out on dressing up, scoff and say, "this ol' pile of rags?"

No but seriously, I'll echo what others have said. There's a difference between dressing and dressing well. Be well put together. I'd go with a button down and khakis, with a decent blazer or nice jacket (because it's actually cool enough that you might want one). Just skip the tie and pocket-square.

If you're feeling daring, go with a polo. I wouldn't, but that's because I did go to an interview once in khakis and a polo, and the guy ended up being dressed nicer than me.

davidsdurions

bowen wrote: »

davidsdurions wrote: »

It might be an active interview where you have to move around and do things? I've had one of those, and if I had dressed up, I'd been a sweaty mess and never gotten the job. Just a thought.

For people new to the "game": Don't ever do free work, even if you really want the job.

It wasn't free work, it was walking around a campus on a hot summer day which was part of the job but not the work. If I'd worn a suit and tie I might have perished. But I followed the instructions of the interviewer and lived. And got the job. And his job a year later!

Bowen

davidsdurions wrote: »

bowen wrote: »

davidsdurions wrote: »

It might be an active interview where you have to move around and do things? I've had one of those, and if I had dressed up, I'd been a sweaty mess and never gotten the job. Just a thought.

For people new to the "game": Don't ever do free work, even if you really want the job.

It wasn't free work, it was walking around a campus on a hot summer day which was part of the job but not the work. If I'd worn a suit and tie I might have perished. But I followed the instructions of the interviewer and lived. And got the job. And his job a year later!

Good, just covering the bases there in case someone got the wrong idea.

Khavall

Yeah I've always heard "Dress one step up from the job you want during an interview" They're in T-shirt+Jeans? Wear a polo+Khaki's. They're in Polo+Khaki's? Button-down and slacks, maaaybe a tie. They're in button-down+tie and slacks? Throw on a blazer too. Etc. etc. until the job requires you to be in a tailored tux after 6 at which point just wear that. And down to the point where if they're in stretchy pants and a stained hoodie then put on a nice t-shirt and jeans or something.

Sure, you don't always know what your interviewer will be wearing, but you can guess in the industry and position normally.

Madpoet

I have several friends in the games industry, and while it's not universal, there are many people there that despise traditional corporate culture. If he told you not to dress up, you're risking "not fitting in" even with the polo+jeans. They may even want to see what T-shirt you show up in to know where your fandom lies. You didn't say this job was in the industry, so outside it's probably not a big risk.

People like to know you prepared for an interview, so your knowledge of his past company is probably a plus. Drooling fandom probably not.

Awesome jobs exist - it's worth trying for them. Cautious optimism is a good thing.

As for mojo - relax, don't harsh anyone's mellow. New agey doesn't mean dumb, it just means they may have slightly stupider reasons to give you if their gut says no. Nothin you can do if your forehead throws off the feng shui of the place.

CelestialBadger

bowen wrote: »

davidsdurions wrote: »

It might be an active interview where you have to move around and do things? I've had one of those, and if I had dressed up, I'd been a sweaty mess and never gotten the job. Just a thought.

For people new to the "game": Don't ever do free work, even if you really want the job.

Depends how paranoid you define "work." In this interview, you might get something like "How would you plan a launch party for our new product?" Don't get worried that they will steal your ideas for their real launch party. Ideas are cheap.

As for mentioning you are familiar with his work, do so at an appropriate time (ie not fanboying him right after the handshake.) Employers like to know you really want to work for them and that you didn't just spam your resume to them because you are desperate for a job, any job (please God, any job.)

Dress nicely but not formal. Clean clothes without holes. Dress like you would dress to go to the job.

Don't come on too strong. I once interviewed for a company that I adore, and the interviewer was kind enough to give me feedback that I seemed a little too desperate!

Marty

Also you're interviewing for this job, not the job this guy used to do. So if that comes up, just mention you're a fan and move on. Don't make a big deal out of it.

yukon-cornelius

Dress like you're going on a date ... button-down shirt, good jeans/chinos, comfortable non-sneakers, and clean-shaven/groomed. You still need to make a good first impression, and this guy won't be the only one you meet, or who'll have input on your hire decision. Apparently, you're probably going to do "a little work" to prove you can do the job, so you still need to be prepared to do some office-app tasks, as well as filing, running around the office, and other busy-work. Most importantly, this job is about how well you "integrate" with others, so be cheerful, enthusiastic, outgoing, and positive ... regardless if anyone comes up to you with a "negative vibe" or tells jokes at another person's expense. Yes, keep the fandom in check, because the past is long gone, and you're there to do work today. As for preparation, obviously know your MS Office apps (particularly Excel), get background on where that business has been & where it's going (not the guy himself), and how your skills & experience apply to the job. He said don't bring a resume, but that doesn't mean you can't have a Word .DOCX or .PDF ready to display from a publicly-facing website or Dropbox/Box/SkyDrive file-sharing site.

In short ... be prepared to be the awesome office assistant who keeps the entire office moving forward & doing what they do best.

nexuscrawler

Khavall wrote: »

Yeah I've always heard "Dress one step up from the job you want during an interview" They're in T-shirt+Jeans? Wear a polo+Khaki's. They're in Polo+Khaki's? Button-down and slacks, maaaybe a tie. They're in button-down+tie and slacks? Throw on a blazer too. Etc. etc. until the job requires you to be in a tailored tux after 6 at which point just wear that. And down to the point where if they're in stretchy pants and a stained hoodie then put on a nice t-shirt and jeans or something.

Sure, you don't always know what your interviewer will be wearing, but you can guess in the industry and position normally.

I totally follow the same rule.

a PA job is probably a t-shirtand jeans job. So wear a polo shirt and a nicer pair of jeans or khaki's.

davidsdurions

Oh jeez, this just happened:

http://xkcd.com/1293/

Cog

nexuscrawler wrote: »

So wear a polo shirt and a nicer pair of jeans or khaki's.

Nobody should ever wear polo shirts. Well, maybe golfers.

Nija

Disagree'ing with Cog so hard.

Bowen

Yeah there's also athletes that compete in polo.

Cog

There are exceptions here and there. In an office environment? Yeah, disagree all you want, but polos are terrible.

kaliyama

So how'd it go?

Comahawk

a little late with this advice, but anyways: If the guy is trying to trick you by giving you instructions and then revealing later that said instructions were bullshit, do you really want to work at that company?

Personally, that sort of "leadership" would drive me insane.

PixelMonkey

You'll be fine buddy.

schuss

Cog wrote: »

There are exceptions here and there. In an office environment? Yeah, disagree all you want, but polos are terrible.

Polo's are great. Comfy, not too hot, and have collars. Great for general office wear in the summer.

Darkewolfe

In the end, I don't think I'd take a "personality job not a resume job" unless I wanted to be a celebrity handler.

All jobs have some personality components, but most folks want a job that rewards them for being good at accomplishing tasks, not for being bros with the boss.

Enc

Cog wrote: »

There are exceptions here and there. In an office environment? Yeah, disagree all you want, but polos are terrible.

Polos are generally accepted in any southern clime as acceptable office wear. Not something to wear when meeting a client or presenting to another unit, but for day to day work they are typically acceptable. If you ever plan on being a manager or above you will need to dress the part and get out dress shirts and coats where relevant.

Some fields, like finance and sales, probably need dress apparel every day. But most white collar jobs aren't those.

zerzhul

Every engineering environment I have ever seen is almost all polos for day to day work. For a job interview? nah... but for every day? Super common.

Deebaser

As a finance, polos are boss

Wassermelone

What cog is alluding to is that pretty much every occasion you could wear a polo (and are not required to as part of a uniform) you would look better with a button up.

schuss

Wassermelone wrote: »

What cog is alluding to is that pretty much every occasion you could wear a polo (and are not required to as part of a uniform) you would look better with a button up.

True, but for general work, polo's are more comfortable and there's a 90% chance your coworkers do not really care or notice.

Cog

Wassermelone wrote: »

What cog is alluding to is that pretty much every occasion you could wear a polo (and are not required to as part of a uniform) you would look better with a button up.

Precisely. I don't feel that polos are inappropriate office attire, I feel that polos are just fucking awful looking.

zerzhul

Is this a fashion thread? ....