A client confronted me that most web designers don’t were ties. Is it important that we wear ties to meetings just to make it 'FORMAL'?

Tunde

Is it important that we wear ties to meetings just to make it 'FORMAL'?

What exactly do you want to make FORMAL??

It depends.

1)
The hidden rule of thumb (at least in the US) is to always dress formal during your first meeting with a client and one step above the client on all subsequent visits. First impressions count. Although I have no stats to prove this, I dare say that dressing formally could add a buck or two more to what you intended charging the client.

2)
There is a proverb which goes something like this: Dress for what you want to be and not for what you are. If you see yourself in a position other than coder, by this proverb, you shouldn't follow the stereotypical example of fellow "geeks" and wear Tshirts and Jeans. This of course doesn't mean you must wear a 3-piece suit either. I would imagine you could wear a decent traditional attire and still look professional and responsible. Please proceed to #3 below.

3)
Weather-wise, is this really a good call? By dressing formally, I imagine the implication is a shirt and tie with maybe a suit to match. I remember one time visiting a bank while in Nigeria. This man came in dressed in a suit. Temperature as always was at least 30 Celsius. The guy was dripping sweat so badly, yet he wouldn't take off his suit. I asked myself, "regardless of what this guy does, is it really worth it?"

So how do I dress at all times? Semi-formal - Golf/dress shirt with a pair of trousers.

As always, my 2 cents.

If you work in a company, unfortunately you don't have the freedom to wear things that the company policy forbid.

As long as you abide by the company policy the next most important thing is for you to dress smart and for you to be comfortable with what you put on.

As My2cents pointed out why would someone be in suit and sweating at the same time? What's the point?

However, if you are not working for anyone you are free to wear anything as long as you remember that what you wear and how you dress one way or the other will affect how you will be valued (loosely speaking).

So, if you look smart in jeans and T- shirts go ahead.

If ties and suits are your preferences by all mean go ahead as long as you don't keep wiping sweat from your face and looking for shades, fans or A/Cs anywhere you go to.

It all depends on what one chooses as a way of dressing. And I recommend being decent, neat and maybe corporate too. But in all your dressing may I remain you that;

You Are Addressed The Way You Dress.

So appear the way you want people to look and regard you!

I dont think it is important that a webmaster needs to wear ties, but it is nice to be corporate and formal at the same time.

Majority of the companies I have worked for and I have seen friends work for do not impose corporate wear on the members of its IT department. IT people are usually seen as nerds and comfort is one of the key and should not be abused. I wear my teeshirt and jeans most everyday to work. I have always been this way even though I try to be as casual corporate as I can for my own personal preference but I have never been told to wear a suit, even to interviews ( for those it is best you consult the company on what is acceptable or not). I would hope I never have to live in a world where I get to work in an IT department that demands I wear ties , Aaarrrrrgghhhh!!! that would be a nightmare!!!

Working for myself, I am not under any obligations to dress with a tie. I dont have a single tie.

Most of the jobs I have done, have been through references and its usually the client who contacts me after hearing from someone or a client.

This removes a lot of pressure, and most times they are not really interested in whether am wearing a tie or not.

You dont have to wear a tie to look good.

Simply be clean, decent, and well dressed.(Tie is not an issue).

Bill Gates doesnt wear a tie always. But people listen when he is talking about computers.

Bello Osagie(Former UBA boss), hardly wears a tie( am not sure if he has changed), but people listen to him when he is talking about business. There are many others.

Its all about what you know .

You could wear a tie and suit to the meeting and still not get the contract if you dont know what u are talking about.

And just to add that not wearing a tie is not the only thing that webmasters have been accused of.

A client also said webmasters dont like to sign their contract papers/proposals.

So when you are sending your proposal to corporate outfits and organised businesses, remember to add your signature to the proposal.

Yes, some of those companies are soo professional that they will look at such things.

Dressing determines who you are!

I was once talking with a colleague, a web designer (not much good though) - but he had never design a site lessthan 1 Million! - Do you get it? ONE MILLION Naira

He was telling me, even though I am much better than him interms of web design and developement ( he know nothing of php, mysql or even html. Only WYSIWYG) he earns multiples of my earnings!

We begun discussion and he pointed out Dressing as one of the prior determinants of your project. Example, If you dress in Shirt and Jeans while pulling a contract of N500,000. Your chance of winning the contract is just 10% even if you know it? - Because the people you are going to work for might think you are just gooing to "doop" them and dispear. Hope you understand me!

But when you dress fully corporate and use a flashy car - You stand 90% chance of winning a contract of 1 Million Naira! - because they will believe you are already developed and you cant run away for just 1 million!

Well, I hope I am explanatory enough and your dress really matters,  At the same time, that doesnt mean you should be too extreme.

Just be corporate on meetings with your clients and know how to talk corporately - The sky is your limit!

Where i used to work, ties or dressing bla bla bla did'nt determine anything for web masters. we did'nt attend any meetings. the only meetings were in house meetings and since there was no one to impress or look good for, its always just another day. We had a head of IT department. He was the one who always worried about buying new suits with his salary because he followed the MD and PR guys to every meeting. We were the framework.

For Freelancers or Self employed guys, this is different. And u should listen to mycents post it'll help.

mine for an instance, i went to sheraton hotel to pursue a job worth N500.000 and you think i should dress on jeans and shirt just like that huh ? when the security alone is on Suite. hahahaha make i tell you the first time i went there for the deal,  i didn't put on tie, when i saw everybody looking good on their shirt and tie thing, 

The next time i was  suppose to be there i was wearing a tie looking smart and with my laptop,  infact the IT manager was impressed i saw it in his face,  the way u are dress, thats the way you will be address,  one Software developer like that an elderly man ,  intimidate me. asking me if i'm from 21st Century Limited  i guess you know that company !

Maybe why he asked was because of the dress nobody knows,  but it always adviceable to look good when going for a big contract even if it is 80k jobs,  you don't know who is who

Secret to making money - you shall wear whatever makes your customer drop the dollars.

ok o!
Webmaster and im dress code, i don hear!

no none is going to trust a shoe maker who walks bear footed!

especially if you are on direct marketing!

I will be going for a meeting with a bank, how should i dress?

Well where i work, ur only required to dress formally if you are going to be in contact with any of the clients, asides that ties are not necessary. If you are posted to a client's site then,heck yes u must wear a tie and represent the company well

Hi,

You see, a webmaster a technical guy and normally does not need to tie up his/her nect with ropes.

But in certain circumstances, e.g where he is required to show a DEMO to corporate clients and people, then he also needs to be corporate so as to win the job or whatever.

But basically this is not compulsory, it is the admin or marketing guy that needs all the efizies, you know.

Have a nice career


To your success


Bello Ahmed
www.netserveafrica.com

I don't think a webmaster should wear shirt and tie, Where i work as assistant web developer we don't wear suit or tie.
my believe is wear anything that will be comfortable if you are comfortable in jeans and T shirt fine put it on

The next time I'll put on a tie is on my wedding day.

Tie ko, tie ni.

Akin Alabi

Here where I work, all IT staffs must come in a shirt, trouser, tie and jacket Monday to thurs

Personally, i'd rather love to dress casual everytime but i guess the dress code depends on where you work! which shouldn't be so. . . . for a webmaster, i guess theres no bones if you have to suit and tie up to work everyday c'uz the work doesn't involve you having to roll all over the floor, now does it

way back when i was working at National Oil's IT/Helpdesk dept. . . . . . they were always telling me to try and dress corporate, but how could i, when every 15mins i was in the ceiling chasing network cables up and down the length of the building - if it wasn't that i'd be up on the roof checking out radio masts or carrying pc's up and down a 17 flr building - how on earth was i s'posed to suit and tie up and do all that

in a nutshell, i'm just saying that the dress code should be determined by the job at hand. . . . . . and maybe enforcements for special occasions!

it depends, Webmasters in my office go to meetings and consulting is all about image

How interesting!!! wake up in the morning the next thing is start thinking what colour of rope/tie to commit suicide with , if only we can stop copyin them white peeps

Builder:

How interesting!!! wake up in the morning the next thing is start thinking what colour of rope/tie to commit suicide with , if only we can stop copyin them white peeps

you bi really olodo, if they ask you to start wearing tie at your office refuse and be fired .wearing does it tell us that we copy white. huh ? if i employ u and i tell u put on tie when coming next week and you objected twice

i no go look uche face ooo i go fire u striaght

I dnt think so,

Hi All Developers & Coders

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Our project is built on the following Plaform:

- ASP.Net 2.0
- MS SQL DB 2000
- Windows 2003 Server
- VB.NET

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Thanks

I guess it depends. On this end, besides the first interview, no need to wear tie. It's good to make that first impression. I last wore a tie to work in 1997. I think I have worn a suit a total of may be 10 times since then. Pretty much all the firms on this end, it's business casual. This particular client I am with (A major health Insurance company in downtown Chicago) did not even require tie on my first and only interview, they called me while I was at my other gig if I could come for an interview the same day, I told them that I did not have a tie/suit, and they said just come on down.

Now, exactly what/who is a webmaster?AFAIK, you are either an application developer or not. And, that may or may not involve web development.

Webmasters should just see themselves as a businessperson, especially if you are running your own biz. Even if you are working for a company you will have to dress formally when meeting clients.

Sure learn't a thing or 2 in here

it is good for a webmaster to wear tie, because the way you dress determines the way you would be addressed and again first impression matters

it is good for a webmaster to wear tie, because the way you dress determines the way you would be addressed and again first impression matters

Mumu oyinbo mentality. Who says a tie makes people to address you better?