Job Discussion Forums

[Qaaolchoura]

So now that I'm in Istanbul, I've been trying very carefully to observe how Turkish men dress.

I asked about this before and got basically got the following answers:

1. A beard isn't a serious issue, as long as you keep it trimmed, unless you are a Turk. Then shave the damn thing.
2. Dress nicely, at least to the point I already dress: slacks, belt, button-down shirt. A suit and tie are better.

Since I've been here, observed the following:
1. Turks dress better on average than Koreans, Hong Kongers, or Americans, but there seems to be less variation.

2. Only foreigners wear shorts (which I already assumed, that's true every non-USA/Canada place I've visited and I didn't even bring a pair). Most Turkish men wear jeans, but those who are at work mostly wear slacks (or trousers as they call them).

3. Most Turkish men wear button-down shirts with short or long sleeves, whether at work or not. There's plenty of Turkish men who wear polo shirts at work, but like the jeans, they seem to be jobs that don't see much dealing with people.

4. Almost all Turkish men wear dress shoes, or black sneakers. I sort of assumed this (again, counting on the poor fashion sense of Americans relative to the rest of the world, and bought a brand-new pair of dress shoes, which I then forgot at home, so I'm assuming I'll have to replace them before any interview).

5. No Turkish men wear suit jackets, except old men with beards and hats. The one person I wearing such turned and spoke English to his companion. But there's plenty of Turkish men who wear unbuttoned vests.

6. A lot of Turkish men wear ties, but fewer than the US or East Asia perhaps 1/3 of the ones I see at work, and 1/6 of the ones in dress shirts.

7. Few Turkish men wear beards, but most who do are about my age. Older Turkish men wear mustaches, and younger Turkish men wear goatees or stubble (Being blond, neither is a look I can pull off). Those who do wear beards (except the old men with flowing white ones), have a very high neckline, coming about to the bottom of the jaw.

So yes, that's my observation, but I'd like some confirmation:

What should I wear to an interview?
I got a full suit--jacket, trousers, and formal vest--tailored when I was in Hong Kong, but I'm thinking trousers or slacks (from my perspective trousers are very nice slacks), dress shoes, and shirt. No vest (much as I love it, it's farm more formal than anything I've seen, and no jacket.

As for the ties and beard: I don't own any ties, and would rather not buy any (seems like a serious waste of money for something that only looks good on women) but if they're a serious necessity, I'll buy one.

And the beard I'd rather not shave--I think I look better with a close-cropped beard. have a very thick beard and have never been able to get a close shave, but again, if need be I will.

Thanks and regards,
~Q

[cartago]

These days I see lots of Turkish men wearing shorts and T-shirts and I live in Eastern Turkey. Of course I'm not talking about work clothes. Most of the shorts are below the knee but I have seen some shorter ones. I don't see as much of the Eurotrash apache look as I did last year. Maybe that's finally going out of style.

[_smaug]

Qaaolchoura,

Thanks for the update.

No jacket, you say?

Darn. I've had good success getting around some schools' prohibition against wearing jeans by simply throwing one on over a dress shirt � with business-casual shoes, of course � and calling it good.

[coffeespoonman]

The beard will never be a problem and the full suit will never be necessary, but a tie always looks good, no matter where you're interviewing. Not necessary though. Actually, your outfit sounds just fine.