Hi there, I am starting a new job on Monday and the starter information kit just says business attire. It is a full time job.
I am not sure if I should wear a suit /blazer with tie or just formal shirt with tailored pants and shoes?
I read it is better to be overdressed than underdressed. I can always take off the jacket and tie.
A suit at the minimum seems to be quite common from what I’ve seen for consulting.
It's not WFH, I guess that's why you got the job.
Have you calculated your annual carbon footprint for your daily commute?
Dress in a full suit and tie and everyone will know it’s your first week. Can work to your advantage as people will probably go out of their way to say hi and show you around.
Since my first job I already had a pretty good idea of the acceptable dress, so rocked up in casuals on my first day and fit right in
Dont overdress makes you old and frumpy nowadays the emphasis is light lean and agile adaptable and sharp gone are days of formality seniority frumpiness and heavy and slow think AMP
Are you client facing?
Metro office?
Branch office?
I would say you will be safe with business pants, shirt and shoes, no tie,
Gucci canvas at $600 a pair is highly acceptable over k mart false leather
Paul Smith t shirt at $245 each is better than crap Big W work shirt
Don't forget the face and hair well groomed face and hair makes you likeable even if you have no skills it's all about appearance
In my experience, legal wear suits and everyone non-customer facing just wears chino's, shirt and leather shoes. Nothing extreme just tidy and comfortable
how are you guys wearing suit jackets in this heat lol
Don't go outside
Thanks OP. Starting a government job end next week as well. Anyone seen good deals on shirts/suits ect lately? Would prefer to get some new gear rather than op shopping.
I meet with many local and federal governent employees. Ones in management roles just business shirt and pants. C level tend to wear suits with a tie. Normally employees can be anything depending on the agency. For you like many people said just a dress shirt and pants. Shine those shoes as well.
I started out in a suit, DoD, ended up in chinos and a shirt. These days I mostly wear RM polos untucked, super comfy. Nobody cares. As others have said, varies a lot by department and even work area.
Empty suit and brown cardigan I reckon.
Kelly Country
Wear a business shirt, pants, and shoes. Take a jacket and tie in your car.
Get there 15 minutes early and see what everyone else walking into the building is wearing and add jacket and/or tie as appropriate.
Its quite variable in lots of offices. There is that guy that aleays wears a full suit jacket and tie, the one that feels like he needs to wear a tie to keep up with the first guy, people like me who have a shirt with sleeves rolled up and sports shoes for comfort, then that dude that just wears a polo shirt.
Any chance you are starting at Vic Big Build ??
I've worked in state and federal government.
Attire depends on your seniority and how much credibility you are trying to build
Dressing a little sharper than your boss is a good approach to get ahead
That said, unless you are taking a senior manager/director level role or above you will look out of place wearing suit/jacket and tie.
Inclusiveness means ethnic clothing will score you bowie points
The more primitive the louder the applause
As a local government employee, I’d suggest wearing a semi-formal attire for your first week and then just slowly changing it to a smart casual attire over time.
For your first week - dress shirt, dress pants or chinos, tie and dress shoes.
After your first week (or after you notice that no one in government really wears professional clothing unless they’re in a public facing role or in a senior position) - dress shirt (or smart clean polo tshirt), chinos, business shoes.
Of course no two offices are ever the same, but having dealt with a lot of colleagues at other local, state and federal government agencies, it seems to be the norm across all three levels of government.
Just remember to groom yourself and keep yourself tidy. Make sure your clothes are properly ironed, and your general appearance looks professional.
Thank you very much.
Lol don't be one of those guys APS 1-6 who wears a suit, it's cringe.
Day 1: suit
Day 10: shorts & tees
Chinos or dress pants, suit shirt, leather shoes.
Ha
Government wouldnt expect anything more than chinos and a collared shirt (long sleeve)
Suits and ties are a thing of the past
Worked at state gov, after 1 weeks wore denim shorts and polo and sneakers. What I have worn to work for 25+ years
I push boundaries I don’t see the need for males to wear long pants in raging heat nor to be uncomfortable, and if women can wear skirts men can wear shorts.
Suits and ties r totally pointless, even long sleeved shirts pointless, wear shit that makes you feel comfortable and aerated
Work in IT / Data, I've been wearing whatever I want for years haha. As they say dress for the job you want ;)
My son wore dress shorts at the ato, no issues - was only a non customer facing casual job though. He got hot walking to work. He was willing to wear a skirt if anyone said shorts were inappropriate but that never happened. When he wore shorts other men started wearing shorts too.
speedo and shirt you be fine number of people i see so big
Probably wouldn’t worry about the dress code, make sure you know how to jam up the photocopier before 10.30 so everyone can stop work. Then you will really fit in.
my tip is if working from office, spend your first week locating the most obscure toilet on a hidden level to minimise bum to bum contact
This right here is the real advice.
Don't go naked and you'll be fine.
Well, how was your first day or work, darling?
That's Captain Darling to you.
it was good. finished by 4:21pm.
i wore business shirt, tailored pants and leather shoes.
nobody really wore suit except the directors.
Flanellette shirt, jeans, and a pack of winnie blues
Im a consultant in Canberra and work across many departments/ agencies, but in the commercial area (so not IT, not customer facing ). I reckon 80% of men wear a suit but no tie, about 10-15% wear a suit with a tie and the remainder wear a polo shirt and chinos or equivalent. Most of the latter are usually older and don’t give a shit anymore about anything or are ex engineers or ADF
the suit no tie and the suit with tie people work next to each other and it’s simply a personal preference rather than a requirement
Agree with everyone else- suit with tie to start and then see what it going on. Suspect day 2 it will be suit no tie, unless you want to wear it