[Stonehenge]

Just interviewed a guy today - wanted a good chunk of $$ by my standards ($15-$16/hr), but if he's qualified enough to be worth it, I'll pay it.

However, his dress when he showed up for the interview troubled me a bit, and I wanted to bounce this question off of you good folks here.

What kind of attire would you expect to see from someone who is showing up for an interview for a laborer/foreman position?

[Bexter]

I feel a nice pair of jeans & button up shirt would be appropriate. I would also wear work-boots incase you were to show me around the yard/equipment.

[Nebraska]

I am always impressed when there is some effort to dress 'nice' for the interview. Nice for this type of work would be what Bexter describes.

[Stonehenge]

Yeah - this guy was very high energy and talkative, but had on a worn and dirty, untucked flannel shirt, over a worn and dirty t-shirt. In my discussion with him he clearly had very specific hardscape knowledge, but he also worked 'doin' it with his wife' into one of his sentences. Not a turn on, if you pardon the pun. So the knowledge seemed to be there, but a few pieces of the puzzle seemed missing.

[Rex Mann]

Jeff,

I would expect whatever they choose to wear was at least clean and wrinkle-free. I would understand if they were coming from their current job. I have several theories as to why most laborers and foreman dress poorly.

The first is, that they do not see our profession as professional

Second, their 'tude is someone will hire me

Thirdly, maybe the guy is real good and what you see is what you get.

BTW: The wife comment would have DQed with me.

Peace,

Rex

[Nebraska]

Sounds like a rough character. Based upon the information I would move on.

[site]

I would hope a foreman would wear good looking clean work clothes. I would hope a laborer would wear clothes. I don't know about you guys, but I get dirty just walking around the yard- bumping into grease fittings, helping a guy load a compcator, etc. I would assume a smart foreman would anticipate this while still attempting to dress to impress. Ripped clothes wouldn't cut it, nor would wing tips.

[dan deutekom]

For the interview I would like to see clean work attire in good repair. As for demeanor a foreman should speak in a manner that could not possibly be offensive to a client. If during the interview "'doin' it with his wife' " came up I think I would pass in hiring him.