Sniffing out bullshit in dress codes

Joe Barrera (joebar@MICROSOFT.com)
Fri, 25 Jul 1997 21:38:47 -0700


> [ XXX ]
> First impressions mean everything -- ask youself how
> did you dress for your initial interview here?

Jeans and a tee-shirt.

> Why?

Because the only time I ever interviewed for a job wearing a suit (at
RIACS back in 1985), I was laughed at (literally) by my interviewers,
all of whom were wearing jeans and tee-shirts. (Luckily, they still
hired me.)

> What did you wear for your first day at work?

Jeans and a tee-shirt.

> You were concerned about how others perceived you
> and you wanted that first crucial impression to be a positive one.

That is correct. That's why I answered my interview questions with
careful, well-thought-out answers. I didn't act like a wise-ass and I
didn't assume that they would hire me just because I was smart - even
though my advisor/future-boss pretty much assured me that I had the job
anyway and that the interview was largely a farce.

So what the FUCK does this have to do with clothing?

- Joe

Joseph S. Barrera III (joebar@microsoft.com)
http://research.microsoft.com/~joebar
Phone, Office: (415) 778-8227; Cellular: (415) 601-3719; Home: (415)
588-4801
The opinions expressed in this message are my own personal views and do
not reflect the official views of Microsoft Corporation.