According to a recent survey conducted by Robert Half Technology, when CIOs were asked, “What is the most appropriate interview attire for someone interviewing for an IT job with your company? ” Their responses:

Formal business suit - 35%
Khakis and a collared shirt - 26%
Tailored separates (e.g., skirt and blouse, jacket and dress pants) - 24%
Jeans and a polo shirt - 9%
Other - 1%
None in particular - 2%
Don’t know/no answer - 3%

This shows that even in those industries where work dress is a little more relaxed you are probably better off going for the smarter option when going for interview. With a greater than a third chance that you will be underdressed if you don't go in a formal suit it is not worth taking the risk and turning up in a pair of jeans!

The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. It was based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees.

“Employers want to see that job candidates have made the effort to dress appropriately for the work environment,” said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. “While a suit isn’t the best choice for every interview, it’s better to err on the side of overdressing versus appearing too casual.”

Lee added that, when in doubt, candidates should consult an insider who works at the company to get advice on the employer’s work style and preferred interview attire. “If you’re working with a recruiter or an HR representative, he or she can advise you on how to dress appropriately.”

Robert Half Technology offers additional tips for selecting proper interview attire:
Choose something comfortable. You want to look as relaxed as possible, so avoid uncomfortable clothing. If you buy something new, wear it a few times before your meeting to make sure it fits well and you feel confident in it.

Pay attention to details. Don’t overlook the less visible -- but no less important -- aspects of your appearance, like your shoes, socks and accessories. Make sure your outfit is free of wrinkles and stains, your hair and nails are well-groomed, and your shoes are polished.

Don’t overdo it. Ultimately, you want your experience and skills to be the focus of the interview -- not your outfit. Avoid any distracting clothing, big jewelry, or excessive perfume, cologne or makeup. Also, remember to turn off any electronic “accessories,” such as a cell phone or BlackBerry, before the meeting.

About the Survey

The national survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted by an independent research firm. The survey is based on more than 1,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. In order for the survey to be statistically representative and ensure that companies from all segments were represented, the sample was stratified by geographic region, industry and number of employees. The results were then weighted to reflect the proper proportions of the number of employees within each region.