Would you wear a kilt to an Interview?

**ChattanCat** · 20th February 09, 06:17 PM

As the economy worsens, the amount of unemployed is growing. The normal attire for an interview is very conservative, dress shirt, suit, tie, and brogues. What if one were to wear a kilt? For sure he would be remembered, but what would the prospective employer think of a kilt wearer?

just wondering...

**Rex_Tremende** · 20th February 09, 06:56 PM

I'd say that for any job that requires a suit and tie for the interview, the kilt would be a poor choice in most cases, though it would have to depend on the job. Wearing a kilt to the interview may mean one thing to the candidate, but something else entirely to the interviewer. The point of an interview is to make the case that you are the best candidate for the job. The kilt would probably interfere with transmitting or receiving that message, unless the position clearly requires out-of-the-box thinking, in which case it still might be viewed as a stunt. Remember the interviewer is always thinking: "Is he a good fit for the job? For our team?" One risks presenting himself as not very astute and a non-conformist - and by extension, a bad fit - if one doesn't consider first the culture of the organization he his trying to enter.

On the other hand, if you have plenty of time, patience, and don't mind being rejected a lot in order to land the perfect job where people look past the package, wear the kilt and accept the first reasonable offer you are given.

If the dress code is loose - say a high-tech job where people wear shorts, or jeans and sandals with untucked t-shirts and the employee lounge is decorated in bean-bag chairs and a foosball table - then a nice shirt, Utilikilt and boots might get you noticed.

My advice? Don't rely on the package to get you noticed. The package should be above critique and unremarkable. Your potential contributions should be the thing that people remember. And if you DO have something out of the ordinary to be remembered by, make sure it is the second-most outstanding thing.

Regards,
Rex.

**Bugbear** · 20th February 09, 07:18 PM

Only if the job required that one wear a kilt. For example, a kilt modeling job, or some kind of stage performance related job that included being in Highland attire.

Other than something like that, nope, never, no way. Stick to the navy blue suit.

**JohnQ** · 20th February 09, 08:06 PM

In tough economic times, companies tend to be more restrictive than less restrictive. I would never wear a kilt to an interview, even though I wear a kilt every Friday at my job.

That said, If I'm interviewing someone on a Friday, they get me in a kilt.

**Highlander31** · 21st February 09, 12:26 AM

I agree with Rex. I spent the last part of my career running ops and branch offices for several large companies. I have done hundreds of interviews. It would take only ten minutes to determine whether a person would fit in with the team, or not. While I could appreciate the reasons for wearing a kilt, it would not affect my decision on the suitability of the applicant. However, in certain cases, it can be a detriment. As a branch manager for a company in Northern California, it was made very clear that kilts were not acceptable. The CEO threatened to fire me if he saw me in a kilt during business hours again (and he was of Scottish descent himself.) The clients liked the kilt, and the CEO being a pragmatist, never followed through on his threat. Unfortunately, if an applicant were to show up in a kilt for an interview in the corporate office or the other branch offices, it is a sure bet they would not get an interview.

In tight economic times, it is better to change the company's thinking after you have been hired and show your value to the firm before wearing the kilt. IMHO.

**OFCJAX** · 21st February 09, 12:32 AM

I want to do this, just once. I have a feeling I wouldn't get the job however.

**English Bloke** · 21st February 09, 01:07 AM

Would I wear a kilt to an Interview? Only if I didn't want the job. Better to keep my eccentricities to myself until I've tested the water and got better aquainted.

**Larry124** · 21st February 09, 01:27 AM

Originally Posted by English Bloke

Would I wear a kilt to an Interview? Only if I didn't want the job. Better to keep my eccentricities to myself until I've tested the water and got better aquainted.

I agree.

**ThistleDown** · 21st February 09, 01:43 AM

You are in Kentucky. What is the norm there for an interview in the job for which you are applying? That's what you should wear. The quality -- and the benefit -- of the interview will then depend on what you offer, and not on how you appear. Dress as if you can start work immediately.

**JamieKerr** · 21st February 09, 07:36 AM

Definitely not. People under 30 have the highest rate of employment of any age right now. Reasons include applicants having too high expectations from their potential jobs, lack of experience, and many employers holding the view that this age group will job hop (According to some study I was reading a few weeks ago). The study suggested that people over 40 are the most hireable as they have experience, track records of being reliable, and that they know how to dress and behave appropriately in the work place. The study went on to suggest that now is not the time for older adults to dress "trendy", and that they should stick to "basics" so as not to be lumped in the same category as younger applicants. Not saying I think the kilt is "trendy", just that rocking the boat in today's job market is potential job suicide.