r/firefighter • u/Yessir1130 • 11d ago
What should I wear for the interview?
I have an interview for a firefighter recruitment where they put you through and pay for fire academy. The email says business casual but the quotations are throwing me off and ChatGPT says it could be a trick and to wear a full suit but I already bought a button up shirt, dress shoes and some slacks. What would be some advice you guys have as to what to wear based on what the email says?
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u/paints_name_pretty 11d ago
Thereās no trick. You can go looking sharp with a suit and fill every check that shows you care about your appearance and the job or do the same and dress in business attire without a suit. The suit is definitely more professional and leaves no doubt. Thereās no such thing as over dressing for a professional job but there is āunder dressedā. Everyone should own a suit.
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u/Bagoflays22 10d ago
This! My dad always told me itās better to over dress than to underdress for an interview
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u/BigZeke919 10d ago
If itās says business casual- then do that. If you showed up to our interview process in a suit and we specified business casual- we would assume you cannot follow directions. Some departments do not specify- those are the ones you need to wear a suit. Some departments tell you to bring $.37 in change- they want you to be able to follow directions. We interview well over 150 people for a 25/30 recruit Academy- not following directions is the easiest way for us to trim the hiring pool. You would be better off asking your point of contact with the department than polling the Internet- the Admin Assistant that does all of our correspondence with potential recruits is a very sweet lady and she would clear this up if you applied here- it wonāt hurt for you to ask.
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u/Yessir1130 10d ago
Thanks I appreciate the answer! The interview is with the main chief and based on the screenshot above do you think dress pants with a button up shirt and dress shoes with a belt are appropriate? Or would you add more? Thanks for the feedback!
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u/BigZeke919 10d ago
I say ask them. We donāt do Chief Interviews- we have interview panels with multiple members and HR. Every Dept operates differently. If it says business casual- I would do that. But I would also ask them to clarify since you are not sure.
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u/AndrewSwells 10d ago
I completely disagree with this person. Especially for a chiefs interview. Jacket and tie. You can dress a suit down, but you cant dress up casual. I get wha theyāre saying about following directions, this is a chiefs.
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u/OpiateAlligator 10d ago
Seriously. If a FD wants to play games like that then I wouldn't want to work there. Suit and tie has been the standard in the fire service for ever.
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u/Wannabecowboy69 10d ago
I totally agree with your statement, additionally dress to impress and business casual are basically oxymorons
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u/LeftHandedScissor 10d ago
Its never bad to be overdressed. I wear a shirt and tie to a "business casual" office everyday and nobody bats an eye. I'd recommend at least a dress shirt w/tie if you have a sport coat or suit to go over that it doesn't hurt. Dress to impress and leave a lasting impression. If they interview 10 people for this job, 2 show up in unwashed jeans and a t-shirt, 2 show up in khakis and a polo, 2 show up with slacks and a dress shirt, 2 show up with a full suit and tie, which ones do you think will leave the best and more memorable impression?
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u/trapper2530 10d ago
Thats how id go. Suit pants and shirt tie. Bring the coat if you change your mind last minute.
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u/TacitMoose 10d ago
TL/DR: probably not a trick. Suit fine. No tuxedo. Khakis and a blazer/tie also likely fine. Donāt have zombie breath.
Like everyone has said itās not a trick. Can you go wrong with a suit and tie? No. But donāt overdo it. Dress in a manner that shows that you care about the job.
Also, there are tons of guides out there on what constitutes business casual. If you get the feeling from your process so far that this is an organization that specifies business casual in order to see how well you follow instructions, just go with the most dressed up business casual look that you can find. But itās likely not a trick. Again, you likely canāt go wrong with a full suit and tie, but if your experience with this organization so far leads to believe that you would be better served by the old classic khaki trousers, blue button up, navy blazer, and muted tie, then go for it.
This is completely anecdotal, but I wore khakis, light blue button up, a maroon/burgundy tie, navy blazer, brown oxfords, and a matching belt. Iāve been number one on three different hiring list now. Obviously are significantly more variables factor into that, but I feel like my attire is not holding me back, as that makes sense.
Like a couple of other people have said grooming is equally as important. Get a fresh haircut, shave well, take a shower right before you get dressed, where deodorant, Russian floss, your teeth, etc. Present yourself well. Even if youāre introverted and uncomfortable walk in there with your head up and your shoulders back. Look people in the eye, shake hands firmly, and speak clearly.
Iāve been on multiple interview panels and you would be shocked how often people show up unkempt, poorly groomed, with their head hung down, shuffling their feet and mumbling. Obviously we hear them out, but honestly most of us know from the moment you walk in if youāre NOT going to make it on the list.
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 11d ago
āChatGPT says it could be a trickā
is that for real?
It says what to wear. Every part of the testā¦ is part of the test. Wear business casual. Itās not uncommon (although it is irritating) for people to misuse quotation marks. It doesnāt make it āa trickā. Can you imagine getting there dressed in business casual and they say āoh you didnāt get the job because you couldnāt solve the riddle of the trick dress codeā
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u/Yessir1130 11d ago
Well it basically said they could say it to see if I dress too casual or what not, I bought slacks a belt, dress shoes and a button up shirt but the comments are saying to wear a suit so idek what to do now lmao
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 11d ago
Well, I guess you have a choice to make. While deciding how to dress you can listen to
the place youāre interviewing
chatGPT
people you donāt know on Reddit
The choice is yours. But Iāll tell you again, every part of the process is part of the test. We need new firemen to be able to follow directions. Not receive a directive and decide they think something else is better.
Your call though! Good luck!
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u/Yessir1130 11d ago
Yea I bought the outfit I named but then people are saying you can under dress but not over dress so it kinda has me worried about other people getting it over me because they wore a full suit especially since the email says dress to impress
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u/No_Zucchini_2200 10d ago
Thread the needle and do both.
You could add a blue blazer/sport coat and a solid tie.
That would put you on the dressier end of the ābusiness casualā spectrum, while dressing to impress.
That way you show that you can both follow instructions and will separate yourself from some of the other candidates by dressing to impress
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u/Holden_Hiscauk 9d ago
I bought a $400 suit at Dillard and returned it the next dayā¦ āit didnāt fitā
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u/TheFireBrief 8d ago
I was on the new hire team for my department for over 10 years. And here is my take.
Business casual is fine. It is what they told you. We didnāt specify and as long as the applicant was clean, neat and dressed appropriately that was fine. Some people canāt afford a suit but well fitting, clean business attire from Goodwill never cost one of my applicants the chance at a second interview (initial interview was to weed out the chaff).
With this said, your behavior and answers in the interview are what really mattered to us. Make eye contact. Donāt fidget. Be prepared. Donāt lie, we can often see through the BS. Have good answers to the standard questions, but not standard answers, be real. If you have screwed up in the past, be honest and explain what you learned from the experience. Criminal activity (recent and unexplained), DUIās, bad driving records, being disrespectful and showing up dressed in shorts and flip flops were an immediate no-go!
If you can, schedule a ride a long with the department. If you have time, ask limited questions to learn about the job youāre applying for. This is also part of a good answer to the standard question āWhat have you done to prepare for this job/process?ā
Good luck.
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u/Alphab8a 7d ago
At a minimum a suit without the jacket. Dress shirt and tie, dress pants, and dress shoes. This is what I wore and I got hired over guys wearing a suit. The biggest portion is how you answer the questions. I did a ton of research on the department. I read the 150+ page strategic report. I probably knew more about the department and history of the department than most of the board lmao. This is probably overboard but I got the job and that was the mission. So take it for what it's worth.
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u/OIlIIIll0 11d ago
You have to show you want the job. Part of that is dressing well for the interview. A suit is ideal, however, dress shoes, slacks, belt, button down shirt with a tie and jacket are acceptable. And make sure your hair is cut. Anything less and you are not giving the interviewer the respect they deserve.
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u/fooeyzowie 11d ago
Just do whatever ChatGPT says.
Then report back.
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u/Yessir1130 11d ago
Iām just asking for help bro and multiple people are saying suit but my outfit is currently just slacks, dress shoes and a button up but idk if I should return it and try to get a suit instead
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u/Strict-Canary-4175 10d ago
Unless the multiple people saying to wear a suit are the hiring fire departmentā¦..why would that matter?
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u/aLonerDottieArebel 10d ago
I wore a power suit. (Female) Was it embarrassing to walk past the bays in front of the on duty crew? Yes. Did I mean business? Also yes. Did I get the job? Yes.
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u/Yessir1130 10d ago
What is that exactly lmao? Is that business casual or is it more formal? But congrats I hope to say the same in the near future!
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u/idontgetitohwait 10d ago
In the end an interview is an employer wanting to make sure you fit the job/culture. We forget it is equal parts for the candidate to really decide if they fit the job/culture in equal measure. If itās a trick, guess what working to there is going to be like? Probably not pleasant.
Itās easier to dress down a suit than it is to dress up a polo shirt. It sounds like they are looking for business casual+. Iād do slacks and a blazer. Bring a tie but donāt wear it unless thatās the vibe.
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u/OneSplendidFellow 10d ago
50" length rubberized coat, 5A or Senator, (as beshitted as possible) 3/4 boots, and an outsized mustache, preferably that connects to your sideburns without becoming a beard.
Or a decent suit, matching if possible (same material vs blazer and slacks).
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u/strewnshank 10d ago
You have options, but having it fit well and adhere to style "standards" is way more important than exactly what setup you go with. I would be more impressed with a person wearing pants and a polo that were clean, pressed, and fit well than I would be with a person wearing a suit that didn't fit right and a wrinkly shirt. For the record, suits are not business casual, a suit is "business attire."
Options:
-Polo shirt and pants (best option, basically the exact definition of business casual)
-Jacket, Button up shirt, tie, and pants. Make sure the jacket is not the same color as the pants. This is confusing, but the only time a jacket and pants should be the same color is when it is an actual suit and made of the same material. A jacket without a tie is OK in most settings, but I wouldn't do it in a job interview. It's hard to explain. A tie without a jacket could work
-Suit, though if it doesn't fit well OR you aren't comfortable wearing it, don't wear it.
Tips:
Shoe color should match the belt. Tie should be darker than the shirt, undershirt should be lighter than the shirt, and the jacket should never have the bottom button buttoned. Wear basic colors; nothing bright except white or a light blue shirt.
Make sure you take out the threads for the jacket tail and open the breast pocket and side pockets so that they are useable.
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u/Impulse4811 10d ago edited 10d ago
Department buddy! Iām also intervewing with them and wondering the same.
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u/Yessir1130 10d ago
Nice bro good luck! The comments are saying to follow the directions but other ones are saying just wear a suit so it got me all worried lmao
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u/Forward2Death 10d ago
I'd wear a suit. If that is cost prohibitive, can you add a sport coat to your current outfit? It's the little things which can decide whether you land a career job.
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u/18SmallDogsOnAHorse 10d ago
Jean shorts and a cutoff, show them you're a chill dude that knows how to have fun
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u/HackedThenShdwBanned 9d ago
Full suit. Youād be surprised how many wonāt and how much it will help you stick out.
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u/CheeseSteak17 6d ago
I find it wild to have ādress to impressā and ābusiness casualā in the same instruction.
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u/Yessir1130 6d ago
Thatās whatās throwing me off lmao
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u/CheeseSteak17 6d ago
Slacks and button down. Tie because of the ādress for successā part. No jacket/suit because thatās the opposite of ācasualā.
Good luck!
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u/No_Zucchini_2200 11d ago
If it says ābusiness casualā Iād say follow the instructions.
We donāt specify. Iāve been on interview panels where candidates of equal ranking where the tie went to the guy that was dressed in a suit.
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u/No_Zucchini_2200 10d ago edited 10d ago
TLDR: 1. Follow the instructions if they specify what to wear. The instructions here were ābusiness casualā. 2. If an interview does not specify how you should dress, then wear a suit and tie. 3. There are clear instructions in this case to wear ābusiness casualā. So you should wear business casual.
If it says ābusiness casualā Iād say follow the instructions and wear business casual. The ability to follow instructions is an important skill in this line of work.
We (not your interview addressed above) donāt specify. Iāve been on interview panels where candidates were ranked equally. The deciding factor went to the guy that was dressed in a suit and tie. Absent instructions that state otherwise wear a suit and tie. Such as if you were to go to an interview for a different department and that department doesnāt have instructions that clarify what you should wear.
Edit, clarified and elaborated upon my original answer.
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u/Yessir1130 11d ago
Well if thatās the case then isnāt it kind of contradicting you saying follow the instructions of the tie went to the guy in a suit?
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u/legion_XXX 11d ago
Your instructions are dress to impress buisness casual. Follow the directions.
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u/Yessir1130 10d ago
Thatās what Iām thinking but the comments saying to wear a suit and tie have me second guessing but Iāll try not to over think it
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u/VXMerlinXV 10d ago
These comments arenāt hiring you. Itās more impressive to show your ability to follow their written instructions than to simply be the owner of a suit who canāt follow written directions. š¤£
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u/No_Zucchini_2200 11d ago
How so? The poster has instructions on what to wear. I said being Abe to follow instructions is important. So follow instructions.
Our department expects adults to dress appropriately for a job interview. Appropriate unless otherwise specified is a suit and tie. Absent any instructions wear a suit and tie.
The clarifier creates a clear separation and makes the statements non-contradictory.
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u/Yessir1130 11d ago
Well because business casual usually doesnāt include a tie and is different than a suit
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u/No_Zucchini_2200 10d ago
Which is why I said āfollow the instructionsā.
āWe donāt specifyā¦ā so absent any clear instructions to the contrary then always wear a suit and tie.
- Follow Instructions.
- Absent clear instructions wear a suit and tie.
One statement is different than the other. They are two separate statements that differentiate from one another based on a clarifying difference. The clarifying statement and difference means they are non-contradictory. They are just different.
Statements that contradict are by definition in conflict with each other. You know like a BOT or yourself, which could be one and the same. Therefore not necessarily contradicting each other but just others. You know because they canāt help themselves.
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u/AndrewSwells 10d ago
Overdress. Dark suit (black, navy, or gray) paired with a conservative shirt and tie. Match your belts to your shoes. Skip all jewelry and be clean shaven. They say business casual, great. You want to show up in a Walmart polo, or do you want the job?
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u/FuturePrimitiv3 11d ago
Full turn out gear including SCBA. Go on air when called into the interview room. This shows initiative and proves you can handle difficult and challenging situations.