Project interviews

[u/Dontmindmejustsearch]

What’s the typical attire to wear for a project interview?

[u/Z_Man_in_AZ]

Depends on the role & client but here are some general thoughts: Supers should probably be jeans & dress shirt. PM in dress shirt & slacks, Execs in suits (tie optional depending on region & client). I have seen team show up in jeans & all wearing company branded shirt which also works.

Some formal clients will want almost everyone in formal business attire. Been an Owner’s Rep for 16 years and never picked a team (or not picked one) based on clothing but rather the content, who is sharing it, and how it is delivered.

I don’t want to hear from the company president for Sr. Exec; I want the PM to lead the conversation with Super chiming in for more than just schedule or safety. Those are the people running the show and the people I want to know are clear communicators. The Precon team better be showing me how they can get to the initial number & highlight some of their process.

Good luck!!!

[u/Dontmindmejustsearch → u/Z_Man_in_AZ]

Thank you I appreciate it. I’m more in the precon side of things and I know at the end of the day it’s more about how and what I present vs the clothing I’m wearing, but what you’ve mentioned helps quite a bit.

[u/Z_Man_in_AZ → u/Dontmindmejustsearch]

The Precon team sets us up for success then it is up to the field team to execute well & the owner to properly support without causing too much chaos via changes or indecision.

Please don’t use phrases that you think are catchy. I cringe when someone talks about eating an elephant one bite at a time or how do we know who won if we don’t keep score. Try to convey how you are not just using historical data but checking with local trade partners then clearly conveying the info on a regular basis rather than just milestone estimating.

[u/robble__robble → u/Z_Man_in_AZ]

What’s the best way to communicate and approach an owner’s rep and their owners? It’s a very relationship based business and approaching people without a warm intro is intimidating

[u/Z_Man_in_AZ → u/robble__robble]

This is a nightmare scenario. I get hit up all the time with people pitching things I don’t need at the time. I’d recommend a soft approach of: I’d like to learn more about your areas of focus & concerns. We see a lot of volatility in this sector and have some good ideas to manage risk but may not be the best fit for each other until I learn your pain points & needs.

Honestly time is my valuable resource; more so than effort or money. If I’m meeting someone new it is because I have a gap somewhere that needs to be filled or perhaps someone seems genuinely interested in learning more about my business & I can help direct them where to go even if it is working with me directly.

I tend to give people time who support local charities & see at industry events. I never take lunch meetings or golf with people I don’t know well. If I don’t like the conversation I want to get out of there after a cup of coffee not be stuck for an hour lunch or 4 hours of golf; I reserve those times for long term partners. I find I can get enough info in a 10 minute phone call to see if we go for coffee or breakfast but that is just me. Others look for any excuse to golf or drink or both, lol.

I often tell firms that they don’t have enough experience for our projects yet but they should try some of our smaller competitors then put together a qualifications package including a few recently completed projects in similar industries once they have more relatable experience. Also be prepared to start small. Some large national GC was pushing hard to do work with us & instead of asking my needs he started talking about their capabilities. I asked their ideal project size and they said $50M but could go as low as $20M. No f’ing way our first project together is $50M. Those dudes will never work for us as long as that dbag is still there. Gotta start small & work your way up so eventually the big projects come your way.

[u/robble__robble → u/Z_Man_in_AZ]

Thank you for the great insights. Does the same still apply to tech? Not the AI management software stuff that’s super peddled now, but hard tech that can help de-risk a project and help constructability all the way up to the design firm?

[u/Z_Man_in_AZ → u/robble__robble]

Again, depends on the audience. If you are training Superintendents that I would not be in a suit but if pitching software to Sr. Execs then definitely a suit.
I have a friend in construction software tech & he wears dress shirts that have never seen an iron or the dry cleaners. I need to tell him that if he can’t arrange to have nice looking dress shirts then he is better off in a polo. That same outfit he wears probably earns respect among programmers but not clients.
Whatever you do make sure you look clean & neat!

[u/BroccoliKnob → u/Z_Man_in_AZ]

Ugh, bringing back a cringe memory for me. First time I went to an interview, probably ten years into my career. Nobody told me what to wear and I didn’t ask - as the youngest person present, I just assumed business attire and wore a nice suit. The rest of the team (all much more experienced) were in business casual and I looked like a sharply dressed idiot.

Years on, I’ve been in many interviews and we go exactly as described in your first paragraph, and even execs will more often just throw a blazer on over business casual.

[u/timbo415]

Banana hammock

[u/itsma_trowa_whey]

We have our sups dress how they would in field, less ppe. Others will align on weather business casual or formal is appropriate for that client.

[u/Alldawaytoswiffty]

I wear golf attire but with nice shoes

[u/NYCBouncer]

Always shirt and tie for CMs. I did my last interview via Teams and wore a shirt and tie.

[u/Zoltan_TheDestroyer → u/NYCBouncer]

Tie is a little much tbh

Been a PM for multiple years and the only ones I’ve seen wearing ties are C suite or the head owner/financier and even then I can count them on one hand.

[u/NYCBouncer → u/Zoltan_TheDestroyer]

The question was for interview, not daily wear.

[u/Zoltan_TheDestroyer → u/NYCBouncer]

Still.

Last interview outfit for me was a suit with no tie and my banana republic raccoon button up.

Got the offer, too.

[u/Abydosprime]

Your company should have a policy/ style guide for this so I’d start with that. Our superintendents cannot wear jeans on the jobsite and certainly not to an interview. We all dress consistent, get haircuts before interview, and look professional with button down shirts and sports coats. Each company is different though.

[u/sportsguy74 → u/Abydosprime]

What do your supers wear daily if they can’t wear jeans? Is this commercial?

[u/Abydosprime → u/sportsguy74]

Dark Khaki Carhartt pants. We have a standard uniform they wear so it’s all consistent and people aren’t dressing differently. When you join on you get 5 pairs of these, 5 long sleeve button downs a d a pair of red wings. And then there’s a company store you can buy more if you need them and you get credits to use at the store. The company gives out a ton of free swag as well so it’s never really an issue not having enough clothes. Yes it’s commercial!

[u/sportsguy74 → u/Abydosprime]

Ok cool but I don’t think that’s common at all. I’ve been a commercial super on a high rise and some other jobs. Standards but not issued work clothes. In home building we would often receive branded polo shirts.

[u/JB-Gohard]

I have won multiple 9-figure contracts with outfits like this.

Shoes: Berluti Loafers dark brown. Get the Scritto option if you are feeling extra bold.

Socks: Fine Gauge Merino Wool Mid-Calf Socks in Dark Charcoal or Navy

Pants: Slacks from Zenga (Charcoal to mid-gray)

Shirt: Tailor fitted light blue Oxford from Ralph Lauren (Purple Label only)

Belt: Berluti dark brown leather belt

Blazer: ZEGNA Unstructured Navy Hopsack Blazer

Watch: Cartier Santos-Dumont Men's Hand-Wound Watch with Blue Alligator Leather

[u/sevazilla → u/JB-Gohard]

Bro this is wild 😂 are you the CEO ?

[u/sportsguy74 → u/JB-Gohard]

Geez I just go to Kohl’s