Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
kirkwylie.blogspot.com
Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
1–10 of 47 posts
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#2There's no justification for a dress code policy in this day and age if you view the primary function of a software developer to be the development of software.
I think dress codes are idiotic in most cases, but I understand them. This author does not.
Programmers always want their job to be slinging code in a cave somewhere where people slide a pizza and a list of features under a door and pure beautiful code comes out on a regular basis.
It never works that way, however. Programmers are social creatures, like it or not, and that means that all kinds of social stuff is part of working with other people. Things like dress codes, manners, good body hygiene, interviewing, and conflict resolution skills are just as critical as hacking skills.
I don't think dress codes help that much, but I understand why companies have them. I always say that it's the people that is so critical in this work. Everybody wants to focus on the technology, but that's a very, very small part of it.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#3I totally agree that dress codes are sort of silly but it's hard to turn down a job if you need one. I have a family that I need to look after and I can't really afford to put my preferences ahead of them having a nice place to live in and eating. I might turn down the offer if the economy was better but if I had to get a job and a financial services company offered me a job and I felt like my options were limited I'd have no choice but to take it. I'd leave that job at my first opportunity in all likelihood because I don't like dress codes much at all. It's possible though that the job is great apart from that silly policy so maybe it'd be worth putting up with for other reasons.
My mom is a CPA and she asked me why programmers always wanted to wear jeans and a t-shirt. The only reason I gave to her that made sense to her was that it's a culture thing.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#4I totally agree that dress codes are sort of silly but it's hard to turn down a job if you need one. I have a family that I need to look after and I can't really afford to put my preferences ahead of them having a nice place to live in and eating. I might turn down the offer if the economy was better but if I had to get a job and a financial services company offered me a job and I felt like my options were limited I'…
Actually, you've hit the nail on the head as to why I ended up at Big Bank B wearing "business casual" in the first place: I got caught up in one of the mass casualties of the Credit Crunch, and I needed to support my family, and they were hiring. It's totally understandable. Still a stupid policy on the part of the employer though.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#5There's no justification for a dress code policy in this day and age if you view the primary function of a software developer to be the development of software. I think dress codes are idiotic in most cases, but I understand them. This author does not. Programmers always want their job to be slinging code in a cave somewhere where people slide a pizza and a list of features under a door and pure beautiful code comes…
No, I actually think most programmers don't want the old-skool Microsoft approach of not emerging from their private offices more than once a week. I honestly believe that most programmers are social creatures just like any other human being, which explains why we're so active in online discussions of all forms.
I think you're right in that soft skills are massively important to working in any large organization, and for any organization where you're developing software for in-house users (like big banks). Communication, conflict resolution, good working habits (like good body hygiene), these are all critical parts of being effective in your job not just as a programmer, but as a member of a software development organization.
I just don't see "what clothes you're wearing" as factoring into that equation.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#6There's no justification for a dress code policy in this day and age if you view the primary function of a software developer to be the development of software. I think dress codes are idiotic in most cases, but I understand them. This author does not. Programmers always want their job to be slinging code in a cave somewhere where people slide a pizza and a list of features under a door and pure beautiful code comes…
No, I actually think most programmers don't want the old-skool Microsoft approach of not emerging from their private offices more than once a week. I honestly believe that most programmers are social creatures just like any other human being, which explains why we're so active in online discussions of all forms. I think you're right in that soft skills are massively important to working in any large organization, and…
Power. In a company where the programmers are not making the product, I wouldn't want to go to a meeting with the guy giving the specs underdressed. It marginalizes you even more. The guys in the suits view the programmers as support, them showing up in professional attire and you dressed like their 16 year old son won't help the matter.
I would say slacks and a button down shit, with no tie is fine. I think wearing a tie to work is silly at this point, but t-shirts/shorts/flip flops at a place where others are dressed up makes you seems lower on the totem pole.
That said, I work at a startup where everyone wears t-shirts and flip flops, so what do I know?
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#7It's important to note that even jobs without dress codes usually wind up having some sort of unofficial dress code. I personally would love to show up to work every day in a suit, but I can't really do that because my boss and all my coworkers are showing up in t-shirts (I work in academia).
Incidentally, the temptation of being able to wear a suit every day is one of the things that nearly drove me from physics into quant finance.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#8Another thing to keep in mind if you are working at, or considering working at, a bank or other financial institution is that the business basically hates their IT department. Not personally of course, but rather it seems to be viewed as very peripheral to their core business (of what, scamming people out of their savings and cashing large checks from their respective national governments?). Even as algorithmic trading becomes more important to their bottom line, tech seems to be a pain in the ass and something to think about as little as possible for a lot of people. Software developers seem lower on the totem pole than most, as well, though that might be bias on my part.
I have only worked for Japanese banks, so YMMV, but this seems to be the case even for the foreign guys pulled from overseas institutions, of whom we've got a lot.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, I actually think most programmers don't want the old-skool Microsoft approach of not emerging from their private offices more than once a week. I honestly believe that most programmers are social creatures just like any other human being, which explains why we're so active in online discussions of all forms. I think you're right in that soft skills are massively important to working in any large organization, and…
Power. In a company where the programmers are not making the product, I wouldn't want to go to a meeting with the guy giving the specs underdressed. It marginalizes you even more. The guys in the suits view the programmers as support, them showing up in professional attire and you dressed like their 16 year old son won't help the matter. I would say slacks and a button down shit, with no tie is fine. I think wearing…
If you work in an environment that views programmers purely as a cost of business, and doesn't value their input, you've found a bad environment.
The best firms that make massive use of software view their programmers as a key member of the team, because they know that they can't do their jobs without them. And some would argue that getting respect DESPITE your attire is the bigger indicator of power.
That being said, "I have to wear a suit because I have to meet with customers; therefore everybody else has to suffer" isn't a particularly compelling argument.
Re: Software Programmers Should Never Have Dress Codes
#10Another thing to keep in mind if you are working at, or considering working at, a bank or other financial institution is that the business basically hates their IT department. Not personally of course, but rather it seems to be viewed as very peripheral to their core business (of what, scamming people out of their savings and cashing large checks from their respective national governments?). Even as algorithmic tradi…
Really? If you decide to move to London or New York, I have a number of very tech friendly financial institutions I could introduce you to. And anybody attempting to do algo trading without A-list technical talent will soon find that they can't keep up.