5/25    Hi I'm looking for a job and I want to look really old and mature
        so that I'll have a better chance of getting hired. What are some
        ways to look more mature?       -graduating senior desperately looking
                                         for a job and still looks like a HS
                                         student
                                         \_ mail me, my company is still
                                            hiring. - rory
        \_ The old and mature guys have trouble getting jobs because they
           cost too much.  A cheap smart young thing they can abuse is all
           the rage right now.  Much more important is not coming across as
           desperate.  I interview here and there and the reek of desperation
           is a huge turnoff for any candidate.  Be yourself, don't make shit
           up, stay calm, *THINK* about the questions.  I've asked several
           people to write a simple script that at one point requires they
           loop from 1 to 50.  Most people write a 0-49 loop.  *THINK*.
           \_ people don't have budgets to train newbies anymore, "old and
              mature" ppl are being hired over new people because of this.
              check how many ads nowadays are for senior eng's as compared
              to entry-level.
              \_ Training?  Since when did anyone get trained?  The job ads
                 for senior guys are mostly crap.  Most job ads today are crap.
                 This kid isn't applying to those anyway.  He's applying to
                 jobs that are clearly non-senior so what you're saying doesn't
                 apply to his case.  He still needs to write the 1-50 loop,
                 not the 0-49 loop which these so-called senior guys kept
                 writing for me.
        \_ Assuming this isn't a troll; ever heard of the saying "Clothes make
           a man"? Dress maturely; NOT suit & tie if you're applying for
           technical post but a nice button-up shirt (long sleeves if it
           isn't too hot; or polo shirt and slacks). NO JEANS. Get nice black
           shoes (not the cheap kind, please); if you lack facial hair, grow
           some. Wear cologne, but not too much. That's a start.
           Then start talking like a mature person and stop using immature
           words like 'Like...', 'Duh', 'Dude', etc. Start watching CNBC and
           see how those guys in the corporate world talks. Pay attention to
           issues and the haps in your community.
                \_ why not suit&tie for a tech job? people do that all the
                   time (e.g. ever been to the Career Center?)
                   \_ I've interviewed nearly a hundred engineers and nothing
                      says newbie quite like a suit & tie left over from
                      your highschool prom.
                      \_ You don't want to get this interviewer.
        \_ Or, you could be yourself. That'd be mature.
        \_ Set yourself a reasonable budget for clothes.  Go to a good men's
           clothing store (I like Brooks Brothers--do not even bother with
           Macy's or Nordstrom or the likes.)  Say 'here's my budget, I don't
           \- i like brooks brothers too [for a non-white person] but what
              is wrong with macys/bloomingdale/n'strom ? assuming this Q is
                \_ The problem is that the sales clerks are far less trained
                   than at the specialty men's clothiers (Barney's, BB, etc.)
                   They earn less, so they're more commission-driven.  Mind
                   that this is a generalization.  Also, I've often found
                   them incapable of offering creative suggestions, and
                   unwilling to send me somewhere else if they haven't got
                   something I'm looking for.  -John
                             \- ok fair enough, although usually i am not
                                asking too much of the sales staff.
                                barney's is insanely expensive. dont the
                                staff there make like +$150k? --psb
                                \_ Barney's is very expensive, but less so
                                   than most comparable European stuff.  And
                                   their clothes are generally very durable
                                   and classic.  But yeah, the price is why
                                   I like BB (plus last time I was in Barney's
                                   the staff were snooty, which I won't ever
                                   put up with.)  And if you spend above
                                   a certain amount of money (I include
                                   Macy's/Nordstrom prices in this) you should
                                   get expert advice.  If you don't want/get
                                   it, find a good tailor and get your suits
                                   mail order.  Much cheaper.  -John
              in earnest [which i sort of doubt given the phrase "old and
              mature" ... or at least that makes me question OPs ability
              to pull this off] i think you would do best dressing reasonable
              and spending some more time thinking about/researching the
              company. if i were interviewing you and asked at some point
              "do you have any Qs for me" and you said something reasonable
              that would count more than how well you accessorize. dressing
              up shows that you are serious ... i think for tech jobs you
              either are trying or not. i dont think people look too critically
              at whether you are wearing $100 "nice shoes" or Bruno Maglis.
              i dont do a lot of interviews what the thing that probably
              annoys me most frequently is when people waste my time. this
              means "don be late" and "dont babble" or make things up. --psb
           know much about clothes, I need to look good for an interview' and
           maybe the kind of look you'd like.  The nice uncle salesman
           will help you.  Never use the phrase 'um'.  Don't fidget.  Don't
           talk too much--never interrupt, and think before you speak.  Shave.
           Look the interviewer in the eye at all times.  And don't believe
           anything you read in the motd.  -John
        \_ When I hire fresh grads I'm more interested in the fact that they
           have taken the time to put together a decent looking resume and
           that they can tell me what courses and projects they have worked
           on rather than how they look or what they are wearing. Its okay to
           wear a suit to a interview for a coding job, but most people don't.
           Just wear a clean business shirt and slacks (even something like
           dockers will do), make sure to shave, comb your hair and remove
           any body piercings.
           If you want to make a good impression find out something about
           the project the group you are interviewing with is working on
           and ask one or two intelligent questions about that.
           \_ when in doubt, wear a suit/tie. even better, call the company
              and talk to hr or the receptionist to see what they prefer.
              \_ I always ask, they always give some vague bullshit reply.
                 I've never once been told anything more than "we're a really
                 casual place but whatever you're comfortable in".