Clothing for a Civil Engineering Work Placement

tryagain on 02/08/2018 - 14:35

I am soon to start a 12-week work placement/research project in a civil engineering consultancy, The Uni has advised we should dress like the rest of the employees, going by my interview I think business pants/chinos and a check/business shirt would be about the standard.

As I don't know what the future holds job wise and what dress requirements will be, I am thinking stuff that there is more chance of me using socially in the future would be better so thinking more along the chino & gingham shirt type outfit.

So a quick look found me some shirts similar to what I am thinking here https://au.sportsdirect.com/pierre-cardin-cotton-long-sleeve… and some pants as well I didn't mind, https://au.sportsdirect.com/pierre-cardin-tape-chinos-mens-5… until I realised the tape bit down the side.

Also thinking some brown leather shoes.

So wanting something OK quality wise for as cheap as possible but as it's not something I normally buy, I looking for suggestions/input from those who normally do.

A couple of other factors, I am in my 30's and the 12 weeks will likely be all office (not site) based.

Fashion & Apparel

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 02/08/2018 - 14:44
    +2

    How about these pants for $16?

    https://www.kmart.com.au/product/business-pants/1078519 Sharp and elegant, these business pants are great to team with a formal shirt and shoes for office wear and other formal occasions.

    https://www.target.com.au/p/business-pants-charcoal/60227478 Style your formal look with our business pants. Great for formal or office wear. Match back with our large range of business shirts and dress shoes.

    I'm still wearing Marks and Spencers pants I got 10 years ago - I bought a few pairs and use them for work and formal occassions.

    • tryagain on 02/08/2018 - 20:48

      The Target ones look ok, I have always found the cut/quality of Kmart menswear a little wanting, but haven't really looked in a while.

  • t-money on 02/08/2018 - 16:35
    +1

    For an engineering office chinos and a shirt is appropriate.

  • Caped Baldy on 02/08/2018 - 17:46
    +1

    For an office go for the business pants and long sleeve collared shirt (can maybe roll up).
    I do remember a manager wearing shorts on more than one occasion when I was working in the city.

  • Randxyz123 on 02/08/2018 - 19:36
    +1

    Ok, I know this might sound bloody crazy but send an email to the recruiter/your new manager and ask what the dress code for the office is. Saying "dress like everyone else" is pretty useless. Some people in the firm might be out meeting clients all day. Some might be inside using expensive engineering computer software.

    Ask something like "Will I require a suit or is business casual appropriate". They'll see you asking as a sign of initiative.

    Chinos and a button down shirt with casual or formal shoes (brown or black). Not converse. Better to dress smartly for your first day then underdress.

    Also sportswear direct is not the right place to be buying officewear. Go to somewhere like TM Lewins https://www.tmlewin.com.au or Peter Jackson and get some decent clothing. https://www.peterjacksons.com

    • tryagain on 02/08/2018 - 20:46

      I have been and met a few of them when I went for an interview, A suit would make me quite overdressed, being that they do a lot of civil works, it involves them getting out onto dusty/dirty sites regularly, chinos/business pants and a long sleeve shirt is what was what I saw so happy to run with that.

      Thanks for the links though, I am not too worried about the name of the place where I buy something but quality and value are the main considerations.

      • Randxyz123 on 02/08/2018 - 23:06

        If you go somewhere that has quality items and I'm sorry but that's not sportswear direct or target, the trousers will last you for years.

  • 3beautboys on 02/08/2018 - 20:49
    +2

    If you have the time, go Op Shopping. My son had 2 weeks work experience and I was able to kit him out with 2 pairs of chinos and 5 long sleeved shirts for about $40-45….and they weren't all Target or Kmart either. One pair of pants were Sportscraft, and I picked up an M J Bale and Ben Sherman shirt too.

    • tryagain on 02/08/2018 - 21:17

      That's not a bad idea as it also avoids that "shiny new" look that has always amused me when someone has started at previous workplaces.

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