[rejschaap]

When people say "dress one level above the job you're applying for", I can't help to imagine what the levels are. I came up with something like this, from high to low:

- 3 piece suit

- 2 piece suit with tie

- 2 piece suit, no tie

- suit pants and dress shirt

- khaki's and dress shirt

- jeans and dress shirt

- jeans and t-shirt

- shorts and t-shirt

- stained shorts and wife beater shirt

I always wonder where the bow tie fits in though, or are they just always inappropriate?

[electronvolt]

Bow ties are generally considered formal evening wear, not business attire, much like tuxedos.

I'd also actually put the 2 piece suit with tie over a 3 piece suit (with or without tie) in terms of formality/business-attire-ness: 3 piece suits are also not traditional business wear, while 2 piece suit+tie is the IBM/'50s iconic business look, and what you'd see most CEOs/etc. wearing.

[tjr]

http://homepages.inf.ed.ac.uk/wadler/Pics/philtiebig.jpg

[hnal943]

I think they mean one level above you in the hierarchy. What are the managers in the company wearing?