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Do you really wear suit & tie to in-person interviews?

Just want to be on the safe side. If yes, I'd soon order a tailored suit for future interviews. I'm only worried that I'd be overdressed.

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Top answer
Clara
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
McKinsey | Awarded professor at Master in Management @ IE | MBA at MIT |+180 students coached | Integrated FIT Guide aut

Hello!

I can talk for McKinsey saying: YES! 

First of all, consultants themselves most of the time wear suit & tie, and you don´t want to be less dress than then. 

Furthermore, even if you did not know this, it´s better to be over-dressed than under-dressed in these contexts. 

Hope it helps!

Cheers, 

Clara

Ian
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
Top US BCG / MBB Coach - 5,000 sessions |Tech, Platinion, Big 4 | 9/9 personal interviews passed | 95% candidate success

Yes.

Always remember this rule: it is better to be overdressed than underdressed.

Regardless, suit + tie is required in the regular consulting world, and even more so for an interview!

Vlad
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
McKinsey / Accenture Alum / Got all BIG3 offers / Harvard Business School

Hi,

Yes, I strongly recommend wearing a suit and a tie as a default option

Best

Gaurav
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
#1 MBB Coach(Placed 1000+ in MBBs & 1250+ in Tier2) | The Only 360° coach(Ex-McKinsey+Certified Coach+Active recruiter)

Hi there, you won't be overdressed wearing suit & tie! This is what most consultants wear most of the time. 

Cheers,

GB

Ken
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
Ex-McKinsey final round interviewer | Executive Coach

It really depends on the firm and location but being overdressed isn't so bad as compared to being underdressed. I would always wear a suit and at least carry a tie with me. More senior folks can be often be a little more traditional and so it's always best to play it safe. 

Deleted
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
Ex-McKinsey | Stern Stewart | SMP - Let me teach you how to nail the interview process

Hi there, 

first of all, a suit is not only recommended but almost a must for in person consulting interviews. When it comes to the tie, most consulting firms will not force you to wear one, but I would say it is good advice have it (it demonstrates professionalism). Especially in the European region, this is the go-to for interviews. However, I remember that for Oliver Wyman in Germany, they specifically let the candidate decide how they feel better (with or without tie). 

If you have a connection in the company you're applying to - maybe you can ask them to clarify for you. 

Best

Jonas

on Feb 03, 2021
McKinsey | NASA | top 10 FT MBA professor for consulting interviews | 6+ years of coaching

Hi, it strongly depends on firms and geography. What firms are you applying for?

Best,
Antonello

Deleted user
on Feb 03, 2021

Will be too much in my view but please follow the norms in your local country/city. Being overdressed is better than being underdressed. Tailored suit is not required as long as you have couple of decent readymade ones altered to fit your structure. Dont buy cheap/rental suits.

Maybe wear a suit and keep the tie handy.

7
Deleted user
on Feb 03, 2021

Probably depends on the firm you're interviewing with.

I've done many interviews since the lockdown and never saw a tie on any of the candidates. And I didn't think they were underdressed.

7
Florian
Coach
on Feb 03, 2021
1400 5-star reviews across platforms | 600+ offers | Highest-rated case book on Amazon | Uni lecturer in US, Asia, EU

Hey there,

I agree with the others. While for online interviews firms specify that they don't expect you to dress up fully, suit and tie are still the standard for in-person meetings.

You won't be overdressed, no worries!

Cheers,

Florian

Luca
Coach
on Feb 04, 2021
BCG |NASA | SDA Bocconi & Cattolica partner | GMAT expert 780/800 score | 200+ students coached

Hello,

As general rule: better be overdressed than Underdressed.

As a consultant you will be required to wear a suit 90% of your time (sometimes also in the office). Policies applied to tie can instead vary between different companies.

Best,
Luca

Raj
Coach
on Feb 21, 2021
FREE 15MIN CONSULTATION | #1 Strategy& / OW coach | >70 5* reviews |90% offers ⇨ prep-success.super.site | MENA, DE, UK

Absolutely, a suit and tie would be table stakes for the interviews