To tie or not to tie?

Working for a UK based sales recruiter for nearly 12 years and now working in our Sydney office, one of the biggest discussion points in our office is should the warm weather and more relaxed business attitude in Australia reflect in a no tie policy for our sales staff.

Often when I brief an applicant before their interview and discuss business attire we have the same discussion. “I don’t wear a tie to work, why should I wear a tie to an interview?”

Am I too old fashioned in my views that sales professionals should always wear a tie to an interview and in business?  Having spoken to most of my decision makers across a diverse range of industries from construction to corporate businesses the consensus is YES!

If you are selling a professional service, my opinion is that your attire should be fit for the business you are representing. We have had countless discussions, sometimes heated regarding ‘tie or no tie’.

We work mostly in an internal sales environment where only the consultants are interviewing and the sales team are selling via the telephone. The argument is always the same; if they are selling internally why is it so important to be in business attire. Whilst I see their point of view, I also feel that as we are selling a professional service to professional clients the team should reflect this from the outset. When candidates walk through the office they should see smart sales people in smart business attire.

Early in my career when working for a global corporate business selling internally, the dress code was very relaxed. I honestly felt the days when I wore more casual dress my sales process was more casual conversely when I wore a business suit I genuinely believe my whole attitude and sales process was more professional.

The Reuters/Ipsos Workplace Attire Poll in summer 2010 of more than 20,000 people across 24 countries has found that in Australia, 44 per cent of people believe that if you dress casually for work you will never make it into a senior management position. Seventy per cent of Aussies surveyed thought people who wear smart business attire are much more productive in their jobs. So it seems the consensus is that if you want to get ahead you need to dress more professionally.

In my opinion I would rather make a sales call to a client where I’m suited and booted with a tie on and the client is less formally dressed with an open collar – instead of making a sales call to a client who is suited and booted with a tie on and I am dressed less formally with an open collar. First impressions count so if your appearance doesn’t reflect the professional nature of your job you may present a poor image to clients.

What do you think? Does wearing a tie affect how you work? Would you ever go to an interview without wearing one?