I was offered a new contract job, but I may have to wear a tie! Gasp!

[wienerdog]

I recently interviewed with a large financial services firm in the area for a contract job that's more related to web design than what I'm doing now, and I'm considering leaving my full-time marketing guy/graphic designer/web designer/"do it now" guy job for it. While it's not a full-time job with the company, I will be working 40 hours a week and was offered health, dental, vision and 401k benefits from the agency that would be paying me (based on an hourly rate, without holiday/vacation pay) that start on the first day of the job. The hourly rate is high enough that I wouldn't have to seek out additional freelance work on nights/weekends, and the wife and I can probably car pool to work, saving on gas and turnpike tolls.

The company is fairly well-known and would look great on my resume, but it's more buttoned-up than I'm used to. I'm currently required to do business casual, but this new place has a policy of khakis/button down shirt allowed in the summer, possibly tie required in the fall/winter months! So, do I totally "sell-out" for this gig? It may gain me needed experience in web design, but wow, never saw myself ever wearing a tie to work everyday. I was always hopeful to get work in a more casual industry, even maybe entertainment, but I think I'd need more experience to pull that off. It's one thing if I met with clients often to justify getting so dressed up, but just for a dress code? In the 21st century?

It sounds stupid, but I'm actually weighing "tie" vs. "up to over $1,000" in more expendable income per month. That tie could clear off a lot of debt quickly for my wife and I. But it's still a tie. :)

[frankster]

Well done on all the job offers! I think I'd be more bothered about the creative aspects of the job rather than the tie. You seem to like your fun lovin' GD and the word "financial" says to me corporate, straight laced, stick to the manual type design. Is it going to be like that? What's the minumum amount of time you'd have to spend at this job for it not to look bad? Could you do a short stint to pick up cash, get a good name on the CV and brush up the web skills, then move on to a more creative environment? Can you use the work you do for them in a portfolio? Would you want to use that sort of work in a portfolio?

[Red Kittie Kat]

umm ... for all the benefits you just described ... I'd wear the tie.

For better money and not having to do extra jobs .. I'd wear a gold lame' jumpsuit and white patten leather shoes.


:D

[Derfie]

You should consider taking the job, based on what you can gain from making the move. Especially if you can gain potentail web experience. My brother had the same issue, when searching for his first job our of college, it was between a really laid back company, and one that was more conservative. Ultimitaly it came down to the job function/pay/benefits. So he chose the job that he has to wear a tie, and he loves it.

Plus a contract job that offers Dental/Vision/ health on the 1st day is pretty great. Good Luck!

[PrintDriver]

You could work in a grocery store and still have to wear a tie.
It won't kill you.

[morea]

your thought process here is astounding. Really! :)

[MyST]

For better money and not having to do extra jobs .. I'd wear a gold lame' jumpsuit and white patten leather shoes.


:D

So would I!

[MyST]

It sounds stupid, but I'm actually weighing "tie" vs. "up to over $1,000" in more expendable income per month.

You're making this stuff up... aren't you?
Please tell me you are.

[morea]

way to rub it in the faces of people who are having a hard time finding work, by the way.

That's classy.

[The_Black_Knight]

Here's what you do:

Take the job that requires you to wear the tie. Then, find the ulgiest, least fashionable ties that you can. Make sure that the colors are obnoxious, and that the patterns are as near to vomit-inducing as possible. Don't wear any ties that have offensive pictures or phrases on them, and make sure they are clean, but do make sure that they are as ugly as possible. This way, you're following the rules, but rebelling at the same time.

And to even have to consider whether you should take a job where the difference in pay is $1,000 more a month really makes people in the graphic design industry look dumb, I'm afraid. All we need is managers thinking, "Hmmm, I can pay people a lot of money and make them wear ties, or I can get away with not making them wear ties and save myself a lot of money, because those dumb artists will work here anyway. I like this plan!" As if we don't already have enough stacked against us to get paid what we're worth. Thanks.

[panzer]

haha red

yes jeff i gotta agree with Red

for that money id wear a banana suit

[ЯЖR]

HAH!

Get some really unprofessional ties like:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/hats-ties/57ff/

The Anti-Tie Tie ;) i love it!

you also have

http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/hats-ties/9352/

that ones a clipon


or a nice sexy sequin bow-tie ;)

it's up to you, i've worn ties most of my life, and i own a few rediculous ones, aswell as a few good ones (i like solid colors <.< >.>). Just think of it as another piece of clothing you can use to show everyone how special... err unique you are.

[hewligan]

What's wrong with wearing a tie?

[PrintDriver]

Well, I wouldn't want to wear one in the mounting department...
:D

[hewligan]

Well, I wouldn't want to wear one in the mounting department...
:D

That's why they invented these (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clip-on_tie) :D

[budafist]

Go for it! I think that from all the responses, you have figured out for yourself already.

I went through a phase when I wore ties. I think it must have been a teenage punk/arty phase. I didn't wear them with shirts and pants though but with singlets and full length skirts. I was an odd child.

[hewligan]

When I was at university, I wore ties with ripped jeans and stuff quite often.

Now I'm in my thirties and, somehow, whenever I put on a tie, it never looks ironic.

[wienerdog]

HAH!

Get some really unprofessional ties like:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/hats-ties/57ff/

The Anti-Tie Tie ;) i love it!

you also have

http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/hats-ties/9352/

that ones a clipon


or a nice sexy sequin bow-tie ;)

it's up to you, i've worn ties most of my life, and i own a few rediculous ones, aswell as a few good ones (i like solid colors <.< >.>). Just think of it as another piece of clothing you can use to show everyone how special... err unique you are.

Oh, I love the Think Geek stuff. Great idea!

Seriously, this was a tough decision because my creativity is best suited toward bright, colorful entertainment, and I was hopeful that I could get a job like that, but it's hard to find in this area. I'm also losing potential job security, but in Corporate America, I've learned there's no such thing, really.

I've been successful at adapting it toward the corporate marketing world for over 3 years now, and that's often where the money is. That really varies, though. I interviewed with a company a couple weeks ago that was an independent but very buttoned-up IT consulting company (shirt and ties all around too) expanding into offering design/web design services to clients. It didn't go well, and the marketing director I interviewed with bluntly told me she doesn't make as much as I currently do! She advised that if I'm looking for a job where I'm not doing corporate marketing and expected to be a generalist jack-of-all-trades type, I can't expect the higher $. I guess that's true, unless you get in with a big-budget client doing a specialty that's highly valued.

I could be getting the higher pay because this is part of their IT department for their Intranet site (even though the work is graphic/web), and maybe their IT budget is higher than their marketing or general graphics dept.

This thread is in no way meant to brag. I've put up with being in a work environment surrounded by screaming CEOs and VPs on conference calls all day. I won't miss that part. And You'll find the salary/wage is significantly higher in major metropolitan areas (which we've discussed here before) due to higher costs of living, which, if you do the numbers, often don't equate. I recall Chris Gee speaking to a lot of that going on. It's the nature of the region you live, and believe me, the cost of living is DRASTICALLY higher in these areas. For instance, my wife and I couldn't afford our own house today if we were looking because the prices have skyrocketed so much in the last 2.5 years.

Anyway, wish me luck. I'll probably be blocked from being on this page during the day, but hopefully I can continue to use it for mutual feedback and to help out noobs with questions without giving them a hard time. :)

[Two-Toe Tom]

good luck! :)

[nyc_skater]

I like Ties and I like Turtles

[Danger_Mouse]

I have to say, if deciding wether or not to take a job over wearing a tie or not influences your decision, I think you gotta re-adjust your priorities.

Once you get use to a tie, you never even notice wearing it anyways.

Sounds like the money doesn't mean as much as the tie.
You could always turn down the job and just get a $1000 dollar tie!


Good Luck.

[captain spanky]

i could never do a job where you start the day by putting a noose around your neck.

[Two-Toe Tom]

they should make ties that look like nooses.

[vtwin_gary]

I'd wear a gold lame' jumpsuit and white patten leather shoes. :D
but would you wear a gold lame tie?

[Tea]

I'm curious to know why did you interview there if it's such a compromise to your philosophy?

Is it possible you can use this though as a reference when looking for that more "creative environment" of a job? and...maybe you are the one they want to make their place a bit more creative?

You basically laid out the pros and cons of taking the job. I think the job won out.

[Navian]

Are you serious?

A job that could make your life better than it is, and you are debating over a tie?

Give me a break.

It's not really that bad wearing a tie. Matter of fact, some people do their job with higher professionalism when they do wear a tie..

[wienerdog]

Are you serious?

A job that could make your life better than it is, and you are debating over a tie?

Give me a break.

It's not really that bad wearing a tie. Matter of fact, some people do their job with higher professionalism when they do wear a tie..

Sorry folks, I should have stated more clearly that that tie thing was really just a minor issue, a joke really, and the decision was made based on what I'm missing from my current position, and what the new one will offer. I made it based on thinking: "If the money were equal to what I'm getting now, would I take this offer?" Because the money means nothing in the long-term, really, especially if the work or environment make you miserable.

I'm just a little skittish going into a contract position, but like I've said, there isn't any job stability with any company, really, so I don't think it's as risky. And the effort the agency went to by offering me benefits from day one without drastically reducing the hourly rate they quoted really swayed my decision.

So now the challenge is, I want to give my two week's notice with my current company. Unfortunately, my direct supervisor is on vacation this week (but reachable), and the CEO who I also report to is out until Wednesday. We have a VP of HR, so I may give him the notice, and ask if he'd recommend I call/email my supervisor to notify them. I'm also going to offer my services on nights/weekends on a freelance basis to help the transition. I hate doing this while they're both out, but I didn't check their calendars before giving my availability for the new gig.

[Virgo Nightingale]

I had to wear a tie when I waitressed at an area chain steakhouse. And I'm female. I didn't like it, but since the uniform was part of the job, I dealt with it.

Honestly, just suck it up. Consider yourself lucky to have an opportunity for a better paying job in this field to begin with. There are many here who don't have that luxury.

PS: Wearing a tie doesn't mean you have to give up the colorful environment you feel most creative in. Ties come in various colors these days! ;)

[LeftBrain Artist]

I used to work at a factory that made plastic filters, everyone had to wear hairnets and safety glasses, that made for a fine looking group of people, I can tell you. Oh, and I was making 6 bucks an hour to boot. I also worked for a mall maintenance crew that had some real spiffy uniforms for us to wear - they even had patches with the "Operation Cooperation" logo that we were supposed to attach to our uniforms somehow (bolts, liquid nails?) - but unfortunately I never found the time to do so. That monkey suit netted me a cool 7.50 an hour.

Sorry there, got wrapped up in my own past miseries - what exactly was your beef, Wiener?

[wienerdog]

I had to wear a tie when I waitressed at an area chain steakhouse. And I'm female. I didn't like it, but since the uniform was part of the job, I dealt with it.

Honestly, just suck it up. Consider yourself lucky to have an opportunity for a better paying job in this field to begin with. There are many here who don't have that luxury.

PS: Wearing a tie doesn't mean you have to give up the colorful environment you feel most creative in. Ties come in various colors these days! ;)

Hopefully I don't have to wear a business suit, including jacket. That's an expensive dress code, with a good suit costing $150-300. I don't think that's the case, and a shirt, tie, and dress pants will be sufficient.

[LeftBrain Artist]

Hopefully I don't have to wear a business suit, including jacket. That's an expensive dress code, with a good suit costing $150-300. I don't think that's the case, and a shirt, tie, and dress pants will be sufficient.

Dude, you can score some sweet corduroy suits at your local Salvation Army outlet. And the prices are unbelievable. Really, you'll probably spend more on the cane and hat to accent your new suit than you'll spend on the suit itself. You're gonna like the way you look, I guarantee.

[wienerdog]

Dude, you can score some sweet corduroy suits at your local Salvation Army outlet. And the prices are unbelievable. Really, you'll probably spend more on the cane and hat to accent your new suit than you'll spend on the suit itself. You're gonna like the way you look, I guarantee.

That would be great, but this place is obviously very conservative. Retro probably won't cut it. :)

I don't have a real "issue" as much as I'm just surprised a department of any company that doesn't directly meet with clients would have such a strict dress code. I'm used to every place I've worked since college having a dress code that, at most, required a shirt with a collar and khaki or dress pants.

I'd expect a uniform with a name tag for those type jobs, but most corporate or office environments are business casual these days, especially in our industry.

[captain spanky]

while we're on the subjecct of corduroy... does ANYONE know where i can get some phat baggy cord trousers?!?!?!?!
I was at a festival a few years back and there was this guy selling retro/skater/alternative clothes and he had some really thick cords for sale... i bought two pairs there and then, one black and one dark brown... i've worn them pretty much every day since i bought them and as you can guess, after a couple of years, they're starting to fall to bits. I'm desperate to get some more but all searches have been fruitless... the cords were made by ROAD, had really wide cord stripes and were quite baggy.
if anyone has any ideas, i'd be muchly happy... :)
(they don't have to be made by ROAD btw... just want some more phat cords..)

[Patrick Shannon]

When I went to college, there was a dress code, which included tie and dress shirt. So as others suggested, I had a bit of fun with it on the rare occasion sometimes wearing outlandish things (hey, they weren't specific).

Not all that different than what Will Smith did when he went to that uppity school on The Fresh Prince of Bel-air ;)

[Logo-Mechanix]

Don't do it man! Selling out is selling out I don't care if it's for a million dollars more a month. Where exactly was this place located and whats the name of this evil corporated entity so I can appl...I mean send them a very strong worded letter.

[cornfed]

while we're on the subjecct of corduroy... does ANYONE know where i can get some phat baggy cord trousers?!?!?!?!
I was at a festival a few years back and there was this guy selling retro/skater/alternative clothes and he had some really thick cords for sale... i bought two pairs there and then, one black and one dark brown... i've worn them pretty much every day since i bought them and as you can guess, after a couple of years, they're starting to fall to bits. I'm desperate to get some more but all searches have been fruitless... the cords were made by ROAD, had really wide cord stripes and were quite baggy.
if anyone has any ideas, i'd be muchly happy... :)
(they don't have to be made by ROAD btw... just want some more phat cords..)

I have some that I got at old navy. I bought them a few years back after I had a baby. I thought I was at my final weight. Now, they're huge on me but I still love them and cinch them up with a belt if I have to. Good cords are hard to find.

Weiner, this is a no brainer.

[Manny]

Sometimes it opens doors to rooms with people that do not wear ties.

[LeftBrain Artist]

Don't do it man! Selling out is selling out I don't care if it's for a million dollars more a month. Where exactly was this place located and whats the name of this evil corporated entity so I can appl...I mean send them a very strong worded letter.


Hear hear! But don't give Logo-Mechanix any info, I want to be first to give them a piece of my resu.. er, MIND, piece of my mind. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[Satchel]

Are you serious?

A job that could make your life better than it is, and you are debating over a tie?

Give me a break.

I actually agree with Navian on this one!

[budafist]

I like cords but I haven't seen anyone round here wear them in years. I thought they were gone like anna nicole.

[cornfed]

They probably are. I don't care. I love cords!

[frankster]

Alas, my dark purple cord bell bottoms are now as weather worn as Iggy pop. I still have my two pairs of black flared cored turnips (turnups) to keep me going though. I can't wear non flared/bell bottomed trousers any more, because they feel uncomfortable. I've got used to feeling like I'm wearing shorts but my legs are still warm :D

[Logo-Mechanix]

Sorry, I look like a jackass in corduroy not sure why maybe I look like one regardless.

Weiner, don't LBA any info I think his motives may be nefarious.

[Drorain]

I’m thinking it’s pretty dumb to turn down simply for the necktie. Yah, definitely dumb, but I think you need to consider the type of environment. It's going to be boring as hell working with a financial services group, the product is simply…yawn…though that’s also why they pay so well. Might be good to get out of debt, but consider what it’ll do to your portfolio, will you put this stuff in your book? Seeing your site some of this stuff might balance out the other work, showing you can do both highly creative work and stuffy necktie work. Weigh your options in the end the choice is yours

[John G]

You can loosen your tie by a lot in your cubicle, eventually you'll get so good at faking it and only having to tighten it up at opportune moments, you won't even have to button your top button ever again.

Thank you jazz band for tie handiness.

[doubting_thomas]

I have to wear shirt, slacks and tie every day, and I work prepress, rarely seeing
customers. You'll get used to it. Besides, it's a means to get people to look up
at your face, or down at your... well, you know.

[Two-Toe Tom]

haha, reminds me of this:

carmen electra: my face is up here, homer.

homer: i've made my choice.

[frankster]

I've often wondered why ties are the norm. I mean they really are just a great big arrow pointing at your dong!?! WTF? People didn't even seem to realise in the 1970's when the kipper tie made it almost impossible to miss. I'll say it again, WTF?

I know there are a million things that women do to themselves that are even more bizarre, like the high heels and pained toe nails, but we all know girls are loopy ;)

[John G]

For the record when talking about your wang and ties, you have to refer to the wang as the "unit".

this has been a public service announcement #12
thank you

[frankster]

...and ironically, "dickie bows" are the ones that don't point to "the unit"!?!

[LeftBrain Artist]

With a little help from Google, looks like the necktie is decended from the cravat, which became popular in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe as various military companies adopted it into their uniforms. From what I can tell, it looks like it was actually used as a bib - so us sloppy menfolk could keep our doublets clean.

So not only is a tie a big arrow calling attention to your schlong - its a drool catcher too, for when VAWs come prowling around your cubicle.

What, me nefarious?

[Logo-Mechanix]

Thats it! Now I'm going to wear one even though I don't have to thanks to LBA.

[LeftBrain Artist]

I'm going old school - it'll be cravats and doublets for me all the way - take that you traditionalist scum!

[Red Kittie Kat]

that's sexy LBA :D

[Logo-Mechanix]

Yeah! Down with the man.