Can I Go Professionally Casual

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
1
Dear guys,

I have an upcoming meeting with a corporate president of an international company this coming weekend in Geneva and wanted some reassurances that its okay to dress professionally casual to the meeting as it will be in the afternoon and the place is a respected public venue.

I wouldn't want to sent the wrong message as this meeting could turn out to be a major deal maker. Any thoughts on this?

2
As long as professionally causal means shirt, tie, sportscoat and slacks.

3
I was thinking all of the above except the tie and maybe sport a different colored sportscoat to the slacks..

4
All I heard was

and

I would look sharp if I were you.

5
financial or not?

6
I would say to keep the tie and stay smart as this is the first meeting.

Remember that first impressions always count, and you never get another chance,

I go to a lot of meetings and am surprised how a lot of people are more casually dressed now. The tie is often omitted.

Good luck

7
Thanks for your comments. This isn't actually the first meeting. We are doing a followup.

To Lob: It is a potential financial deal.

But I guess I'm better off playing it safe than trying factor in the kind of day we're meeting?

8
I'm thinking that you can never be too smart. Suited and booted - you can always drop the tie.

9
If this was a company offsite you'd all be wearing smart casual, especially in the financial field. But this isn't an offsite and I agree with Lob - suit maybe without the tie. That way you can't go wrong even though Swiss dress codes are notorious for being relaxed. Interviews are all about impressions. If I were interviewing you and even if I turned up in casual, it would show me that you care about the impression you are making, that this interview matters to you and you are taking nothing for granted.

Some years back I hired a college grad in Zurich. On his first day at the office he turned up in black jeans, white shirt, white socks and no tie. He had no money so we took pity on him and gave him some cash to buy some "appropriate office attire. He came back with black slacks, black leather jacket and a leather tie!

10
Nail on the head.

However casually you may think some Swiss (and any other nation for that matter) office workers may dress - clothes matter .

One of my favourite saysing: "If you want to be the boss - dress and act like the boss."

Whether you admit it or not, dress sense is very important and gives the beholder an impression - whether they want to be impressed or not.

I knew of a lost promotion in the Swiss insurance industry because a man used to turn up the sleeves of his suit (very fashionable amongst young blades here in the 1990s). It was felt that he was not suitable for a higher position as long he did this - yes really!

11
I would recommend a suit, and tie show them you are making an effort.

Goodluck

12
A suit. One that fits, is freshly pressed and clean. Nothing else will do.

To be honest I am surprised. Why do feel the need to ask this question ?

Until they visit you , and you are calling the shots, dress to impress.

dave

13
Is this "corporate president of an international company" Swiss, or is he flying in from another country for the meeting? Depending on where he is from, he may have different expectations on how you should be dressed for this weekend meeting. For e.g., if he was British, you might be ok with slacks, a nice shirt and a sportscoat. But if he was Japanese, this might call for a full suit and tie.

The "respected public venue" may also determine your dress code.

Also, is this just a meeting, or are you meeting for a drink, lunch or dinner?

But given that it is the weekend, I think you may be over-doing it if you show up in a full suit and tie. When I see people wearing such attire on weekends, I either think they've forgotten it is the weekend, or they're going to wedding or funeral.

I think a safe bet would be a suit (not black) with a nice shirt (not a plain colour), but no tie. And remember to polish your shoes ...

Ultimately, though, you want to be comfortable with what you're wearing. As you've already met the guy, you may already have an idea of what he might wear.

14
This meeting is work-related, as such you should wear the appropriate attire for work.

Do you see airline crews turning up in slacks and trainers just because they fly on a week-end?

15
As this corporate president is probably leaving his office to meet you off site then he will most likely be in a suit and tie. of course you should definitely dress the same.

16
IMO its never a bad thing to be overdressed. However the reverse can have a negative effect. Dress to impress son. The right clothes send the right message

17
Since you are in doubt you should err to the side of caution. As it's the weekend I think a suit would be OTT, but I would go for smart jacket and trousers, with tie.

Daniel

18
I see plenty of suit and tie folks walking around on Saturdays. I have yet to feel over dressed in Switzerland. As a few have mentioned, you can always loose the tie.

Good luck!

19
Is that "lose" or "noose" the tie, or does that depend on how the interview went ?

dave

20
Suited and booted.

Matching jacket and trousers, of course.

Sober, sensible colours (includes tie).

Plain shirt/pattern tie or vice versa.

Plain shirt if heavy stripe on suit.

Black socks and shoes.

Your call. Do you want the deal?

No pink shirts, no homer simpson ties, no check patterns, no brown shoes .

Jeans and shoes generally look bad together. Jackets with jeans are worse.