The suit and tie.

[thecomputerguy]

I've almost always idealized the suit and tie, I always thought of it as the pinnacle of professionalism, and I think I am going to make the step towards that direction.

Most of my income comes from business clients, and as I go to more and more networking events (mostly related to my local BNI chapter), I have the feeling that if you want to be taken more seriously, first impressions are a good place to start, dress more seriously.

I am only 28 but I have been in the industry about 10 years, 9 of which were spent with a computer shop in which I was the person in charge of all of our higher end business clients. The owner decided he was done with the business, closed up shop, I ended up starting my first year on my own with an incredibly large customer base.

This first year has been great (2012), I don't want to get into numbers but I am looking to do pretty well for myself in 2013 as long as I ramp up the networking.

Does anyone have any bad experiences as in clients assuming you are out of their range by wearing a $150-$200 suit? I almost have my mind set on dropping some cash on a couple of suits to rotate throughout the week. I am in the L.A. area so suits aren't terribly uncommon here.

(this isn't about what's comfortable and uncomfortable, this is about any and all negatives dressing in a fancy pantsy suit. I personally love them, they exude confidence, they advertise professionalism, and lets be honest, what guy doesn't feel his best in a suit?)

EDIT2: This also isn't about where else I could spend my $500 on two suits that I could possibly spend on some sort of marketting, or business growth, it's in the budget, don't bring it up.

 

[bwhatley87]

I would like to hear everyone's take on this as well. I always try to dress in khakis, but would love to step it up.

 

[thecomputerguy]

In addition to my first post, the best piece of advice I have for people is to network. It has single-handedly been the best experience helping me develop personally, and professionally. I've realized if you can talk, network, and build relationships, you'll bring in more work than you could possibly handle, regardless of your industry.

The only problem with it is, you only get out what you put into it.

But it hands down beats any money spent on business cards, polo shirts, phone book ads, money saver ads, cold calling etc. etc. you get the idea.

 

[tarik]

depending on the type of work you do I agree a suit would be best. However its not much good if you have to go climbing under a clients desk checking cabling or a new install in a dusty warehouse etc etc. Im sure you get the picture. I would agree that for your networking events, meetings and when in your office/store then you need to look the dogs bollocks but i think you also ned to have that change of clothes just in case.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I used to always shirt 'n tie...sometimes a suit. Frequently the classic white shirt.

Slowly settled into more casual...old style casual. Frequently in jeans and some form of short sleeve oxford type shirt. In the warmer weather I'll be in my Carhartt carpenter jeans and black boots because I ride my Harley to onsites.

It's your personality and skills and reputation that count...not appearance. To me..it's "be real, be natural, be yourself".

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

case of swings and roundabouts as to what to wear.


We use company logo polo shirts and dress shirts. Really depends where tech is going to as to which is required. upmarket companies where the tech will be seen by their clients a shirt and dress trousers are compulsory (so not to stick out with clients dress code). Any other place it whatever the tech feels comfortable in be it our shirt or or polo it not matter as long as they blend in with clients workplace and are presentable.

 

[RazorJack]

I wear company supplied shirts. 95% of the time, I'm dealing with dirt, dust and who knows what else. A $300 suit is not ideal in my situation. A big chunk of our business is financial institutions and they don't seem to care if I'm in a nice pair of jeans and a tshirt. What matters to them is getting back up and running quick. But then again everyone's situation is different. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.

 

[nlinecomputers]

I think it is entirely up to the market you are in. The town I live in is both laid back and high income. And most summers are HOT so only bankers and lawyers(and only if they are going to court) are in suits. A computer tech showing up in a suit would be considered overpriced. But that is here. Your area could be considerably different. This town also has lots of dust and going under desks and into server closets would ruin good clothing. For sales presentations and network events I might go that route but not for general on site work.

 

[samfrees]

Deciding what to wear is sometimes a tough call. Over-dressing can rub people the wrong way just as much as under-dressing. It depends a lot on the clientele and what their perception is of how others dress.

Here's a good example. My ex-wife was earning her business degree and was taking a sales and marketing class. Her instructor was adamant that NO ONE should EVER wear jeans and that he never allowed his sons to wear jeans, even in a casual setting. Based on that and some other things she told me about him, this guy obviously had a huge ego and made it very clear that he looked down on anyone who wore jeans as if they were lower class people than him. At the time, I worked with my father in a successful manufacturing business. I explained to her that if a this guy ever came into our shop wearing a suit and tie trying to sell us a welder or tool, we would perceive that he probably had no idea how to use a welder, or had ever done any sort of skilled or physical labor (which may be totally untrue) and would just tell him we were too busy and send him out the door. We would scoff at him as being a “dandy” just as he did at those of us "low lives" who wear jeans.

For my tech work I wear nice, clean jeans, black leather shoes and a nice button up shirt. I feel it puts me somewhere in the middle and fits well with my clientele. Personally, I can't stand polo shirts or khakis. I don't like how they look, how they feel...I just don't like them at all. That is totally my own opinion and fashion; I mean absolutely no offense to anyone who does like and wear them.

Anyway, I think one should dress in a way that relates to the clientele they are seeking and dealing with, but also wear what is perceived to be the right attire for the business they are in. As mentioned earlier, a suit and tie does not suggest that one is ready to crawl under a desk or get into an attic to run cables, but it might suggest that the person is somehow “higher up” and has technicians to do that work.

 

[PCX]

You should where:

black shoes
black dress pants
black belt
white collared t-shirt
black ties with orange circular pins (very important)

 

[Rosco]

Slowly settled into more casual...old style casual. Frequently in jeans and some form of short sleeve oxford type shirt. In the warmer weather I'll be in my Carhartt carpenter jeans and black boots because I ride my Harley to onsites.

It's your personality and skills and reputation that count...not appearance. To me..it's "be real, be natural, be yourself".

I am more business casual also. I wear nice jeans or khakis and a white polo with my logo on it. Shoes i wear nice sneakers or boots.

I started this business to be my own boss. i hate suites and they are unnecessary. I move around a lot onsite crawling under desks, going to the basement to check the wiring, sitting on the floor of a tiny closet using a server. That is not suit work. I also have a full bushy head of hair and a caveman beard. No one has ever turned me away. The knowledge is what they are after, not my hair style or clothing choice. As long as you are clean not in shabby clothes you will be fine. I even go to business mixers/event and i find about hour dress like me and the other have suites. It doesnt matter IMHO. I just got to be me!

 

[FoolishTech]

I would wear a suit at networking meetings, yes! I wouldn't wear one onsite to swap out a dusty power supply and crawl under a desk.

EDIT: Also the money you spend on your suit once you start wearing one will be noticed by others experienced with suits. I don't think with a $250 suit you would give the wrong impression, I think you would only appear as someone who cares about their appearance / professionalism, and not about the money they make.

 

[SuffolkComputers]

I wear:
White collared shirt with my logo, dark blue industrial jacket with my logo, black slacks, and a nice looking belt. When you look professional, its easier to act professional. When you act professional, you gain the customers confidence! Its all about the first impression...i think if you walk into a job wearing a teeshirt and jeans they are going to think you are some craigs list bum and treat you as such.

 

[mraikes]

Are you really asking if it's OK to wear a suit in circumstances where everyone else is wearing a suit?

This is a fairly common question, usually more generally addressed like "what should I wear" rather than so specific to $200 suits.

The answer is to always dress appropriately for whatever occasion you're facing. Sales calls and networking? Dress up for the occasion (whatever "dress up" means in your locale). $1,000 suits? Sure if others are dressed similarly. But not if the person you're meeting is likely to be in cut-offs and flip flops.

Suits
Dockers & logo-polos
Jeans & t-shirts
Other stuff

They're all appropriate if conditions warrant it.

But I differ from a few others regarding expressing your personality or lifestyle through your clothing. If you know everyone will be wearing expensive suits, don't arrive in your hiking boots, cargo shorts and tank top just because you consider yourself an outdoors-man. Less extreme contrasts are also no-no's.

So . . . dress to either win or conduct work. Don't dress to make a statement about yourself. The customer will get to know you after you start doing great work for them and cash their checks. Don't risk missing out on the $$$ just because you insist on dressing a certain way. Unless style is more important than money.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I am more business casual also. I wear nice jeans or khakis and a white polo with my logo on it. Shoes i wear nice sneakers or boots.

"polo" is what I actually meant! No oxford...I'll have to go back and edit that.

I like wearing embroidered polos of vendors we work wit...like we have some nice blue oxfords from DattoBackup, and Cisco, and Linksys (LOL), Microsoft, ..uhm...can't think of other swag brands at the moment.

 

[andcorptech]

I wear standard business pants and polo shirt. While i love the suit and tie, and wear it whenever i can, its just impracticle to work in. Im dealing with alot of rural and industrial clients, and often have to climb under desks, inside cavities, inside equipment and generally dirty areas. I ruined a $150 pair of dress shoes in the first week and have learned what not to wear, no matter how "dressed down" you might look.

Does anyone here wear a suit and tie to work in the above types of areas ? Id like to know how they handle it

 

[nonchalant]

I always wear shirt/tie on my first visit to a new customer. Always.

On returning their PC (particularly if its just a quick drop off of a laptop for example) I might wear a polo shirt with my logo and jeans.

 

[PCSupportGlasgow]

You should where:

black shoes
black dress pants
black belt
white collared t-shirt
black ties with orange circular pins (very important)

He's an IT Tech and not a ninja with a sXXt taste in ties

 

[kwest]

I work in a beach town of 60k. Everyone is in flip flops shorts and surf shirts. CEOs, lawyers and everyone else. So that is what I wear.

 

[jbartlett323]

Personally wouldn't be caught dead in a suit, and I do not "Feel My Best" in one! Considered buying one for interviews before I opened the shop, but really decided against it! Its just not what I see most techs wearing.

Actually, I tend to stay away from people in suits. They have gained the moniker of "Suits" in my life, and I have very rarely been disappointed in the assumption of them being the classic "Suit".

I tend to be myself. I wear a nice polo and jeans. Khakis and a black button-down Dickies shirt if I have to dress up. I have found, as stated above, being myself gets me farther than clothes. Again it might just be my area of the world, but I have also found that I get more respect being an "Average Joe" than a "Suit". But Professionalism can shine through either way!