Tips for your first day in a new graduate job...

I'd actually say the opposite... wear you what you want to start off with (within reason, i.e. no bow ties etc.) so they know the score straight away, if people make comments then you can always tone it down. If you start off as a plane Jane, people will find it strange when you suddenly start wearing 3-piece suits, fancy shirts etc. and will more than likely take the piss or think you're trying too hard.

Reply 7

Wearing a tie that matches the colour of the firm's logo/brand is also popular apparently, e.g. purple at GT, blue at Deloitte, black or yellow at EY etc. Don't know if that was a wind up but apparently its a subtle indicator that you're buying into the values of the firm :smile:

Reply 8

Original post by Tactical Nuclear Penguin

Wearing a tie that matches the colour of the firm's logo/brand is also popular apparently, e.g. purple at GT, blue at Deloitte, black or yellow at EY etc. Don't know if that was a wind up but apparently its a subtle indicator that you're buying into the values of the firm :smile:

Please don't do this. By all means wear the colour if you like it but not because it's on-brand.

Reply 9

Original post by Tokyoround

I'd actually say the opposite... wear you what you want to start off with (within reason, i.e. no bow ties etc.) so they know the score straight away, if people make comments then you can always tone it down. If you start off as a plane Jane, people will find it strange when you suddenly start wearing 3-piece suits, fancy shirts etc. and will more than likely take the piss or think you're trying too hard.

Agreed. I like sharp tailoring and three piece suits and it gets me noticed, but I don't wear because I like to be noticed, I wear because I like and am comfortable in them. It's good to show an element of your personality and that you take pride in your appearance, just keep it within the confines of professional taste, especially when at a client. Conformity is dull.

Reply 10

Original post by Tokyoround

I'd actually say the opposite... wear you what you want to start off with (within reason, i.e. no bow ties etc.) so they know the score straight away, if people make comments then you can always tone it down. If you start off as a plane Jane, people will find it strange when you suddenly start wearing 3-piece suits, fancy shirts etc. and will more than likely take the piss or think you're trying too hard.

Original post by Brotherhood

Agreed. I like sharp tailoring and three piece suits and it gets me noticed, but I don't wear because I like to be noticed, I wear because I like and am comfortable in them. It's good to show an element of your personality and that you take pride in your appearance, just keep it within the confines of professional taste, especially when at a client. Conformity is dull.

By three-piece I assume you mean waistcoats? I have waistcoats with my nicest suits but always wary of wearing them to work in case of piss taking or accusations of overdressing (considering many firms say ties are optional now). What do you think about wearing them, with or without "less plain" shirt/tie combos like pinstripes or something more jazzy?

Reply 11

M1011

19

Original post by Lily_2012

Are bold pin stripe shirts a big no-no?
I've had some people tell me that you should always wear white or a light blue in a trainee accountancy role.

I've never heard such rubbish.

Dark blue is also perfectly acceptable :smile:

Reply 12

Original post by Tactical Nuclear Penguin

By three-piece I assume you mean waistcoats? I have waistcoats with my nicest suits but always wary of wearing them to work in case of piss taking or accusations of overdressing (considering many firms say ties are optional now). What do you think about wearing them, with or without "less plain" shirt/tie combos like pinstripes or something more jazzy?

Yes, waistcoats. Why do you care about what other people think?

I generally only wear white shirts, occasionally sky blue, rarely pink and always plain. Ties are only optional in the office, you would always wear a tie at a client. Nobody cares what you wear, as long as you are dressed professionally. I don't know what you mean by jazzy, I tend to go for tasteful and understated but we're straying into fashion now and away from accountancy.

i.e.

Reply 13

DaneCook

13

Original post by Tactical Nuclear Penguin

Wearing a tie that matches the colour of the firm's logo/brand is also popular apparently, e.g. purple at GT, blue at Deloitte, black or yellow at EY etc. Don't know if that was a wind up but apparently its a subtle indicator that you're buying into the values of the firm :smile:

Hahahaha, what?!

Reply 14

Tokyoround

Original post by Tactical Nuclear Penguin

By three-piece I assume you mean waistcoats? I have waistcoats with my nicest suits but always wary of wearing them to work in case of piss taking or accusations of overdressing (considering many firms say ties are optional now). What do you think about wearing them, with or without "less plain" shirt/tie combos like pinstripes or something more jazzy?

If you like it, do it. But as said, best to let them see your eccentric streak early, otherwise you will have the piss taken out of you. I feel comfortable wearing whatever I like now because people have come to expect it and wouldn't bat an eyelid. Though I do get the occasional "are you going for a job interview" from our resourcing guy, but he's just winding me up.

Reply 15

Runninground

18

Do you wear the same suit each day? If so, how long do you go with the same suit? (Before everyone thinks you're a tramp who doesn't wash)

Reply 16

Original post by Runninground

Do you wear the same suit each day? If so, how long do you go with the same suit? (Before everyone thinks you're a tramp who doesn't wash)

On placement I swapped most days pretty much, especially when at a client

Original post by Tokyoround

If you like it, do it. But as said, best to let them see your eccentric streak early, otherwise you will have the piss taken out of you. I feel comfortable wearing whatever I like now because people have come to expect it and wouldn't bat an eyelid. Though I do get the occasional "are you going for a job interview" from our resourcing guy, but he's just winding me up.

That's the problem, don't want to be 'marked' early as 'eccentric' or similar. Could be better to blend into the crowd etc?

Reply 17

Original post by DaneCook

Hahahaha, what?!

A slight wind-up admittedly but I genuinly have heard people say this (and people remarked on it on placement, i.e. "ooh wearing the GT purple today I see" or whatever :smile:

Reply 18