Anyone who might be wondering how to dress for an interview with UBS, the Swiss financial services firm where entry-level salaries averaged nearly $60,000 last year, might wish to review a copy of that organization's newly published 44 page dress and grooming code. The code, which in fairness was written for temporary hires that interact with the public and may never be rolled out to the rest of the staff, is pretty dull stuff consisting as it does of such basic advice as "wear clean underwear" and "don't eat too much garlic" that could leave one wondering where UBS is finding its candidates.
The basics of dressing for success at UBS are, well, basic. They can be summed up by looking at the two men in the illustration and realizing that the guy in back is a banker and the man in front is a client. For the banker:
- black shoes with laces and a semblance of a shine;
- pattern-free black over the calf hose except that socks with ribs are OK;
- black belts (and no extra credit for trousers with side adjustors or worn with braces).
- suits in dark grey, black or navy blue, because these colors "symbolize competence, formalism and sobriety;"
- long sleeved dress shirts that show a bit of cuff;
- and a four-in hand necktie that may be tied in any of the three generally accepted knots using the instructions provided in case someone does not already know how.
Still, it is comforting to know that in these anything goes days a few are still trying to maintain standards.
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10 comments:
The guidelines on socks is a snoozer.
“the guy in back is a banker”
If the guy in back is a banker, why isn’t he wearing a mask and holding a bag of money? And might not the gent in the foreground equally be the boss, having instructed one of his minions to fetch water?
The guy in the front is dressed like the boss. If I came upon the illustration out of context, I'd think this is a Jeeves & Wooster kind of deal, with the guy in the black suit and the sour expression being the valet.
Perfect. What's not to like?
You beat me to it; I was planning a piece on this.
They are my client, and their top execs dress way more dully and shabbily than that
Is there an english version?
Good one Will. It is my understanding from Eutee's posts on the LL that this illustration is from AA Spring of 36' and here is what the editors said about these two ne'er do wells:
"The hard part is to apparently arrange an unavoidable business trip into the trout country at the right time. The broker, busily pouring himself a drink of water, at least believes in looking business- like and therefore wears a sedate outfit consisting of a dark Oxford grey double-breasted suit, a blue broadcloth shirt, white starched collar and dark Spitalsfield tie. The other loafer is wearing a two- button peaked lapel suit with the fullness left under the arms, made up in a very fine soft Saxony fabric of which the pattern is an arresting version of the old herringbone. In place of the conventional waist- coat he wears a short sleeveless Alpaca sweater. His broadcloth shirt is in a blue Glen Urquhart pattern with a, widespread collar to match. A dark blue Spitalsfield tie with a gold animal figure sporting pin completes his turn-out, except for the light weight wool horizontal striped hose and crocodile shoes."
No Sifis, the valet would never sit in informal manner in the presence of his employer.
Thank you, Will, for pointing us towards the UBS dress code, which makes very stimulating reading. Apart from a few style errors - like Derbies with dark business suits - most of it sounds very acceptable for the serious professional. I agree with MonsiourMonsiour that their sock policy is too narrow and more suited for undertakers - is that where their clients' money is heading?
According to recent news, a revision of the UBS dress code is on its way.
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