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Post by AndrewPSSP on Jan 30, 2018 7:09:55 GMT
Good morning 
During February, I'll be going to TfL's offices at Stratford to meet up with the person who will be supervising my Work/Ex. "First impressions are key" (or so they say) and I was wondering if anyone here would know if there was any sort of dress code in place, or could give me some recommendations.
Thanks in advance! 😁😁
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Post by jetblast787 on Jan 30, 2018 9:30:10 GMT
Smart casual should be fine |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2018 16:44:42 GMT
Although some parts of TfL have been gradually getting more casual I would personally recommend at least a proper shirt and tie. Smart casual to me would be chinos and polo shirt and I think that's a touch too casual for a first meeting. If you can indicate which department you're going to I might vary that suggestion one way or the other.
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Post by superteacher on Jan 30, 2018 16:50:45 GMT
Although some parts of TfL have been gradually getting more casual I would personally recommend at least a proper shirt and tie. Smart casual to me would be chinos and polo shirt and I think that's a touch too casual for a first meeting. If you can indicate which department you're going to I might vary that suggestion one way or the other. I would agree. You can't go wrong with a shirt and tie, and it's better to err on the side of formality if in any doubt. |
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Post by peterc on Jan 30, 2018 17:05:11 GMT
I would say leather shoes, smart trousers, with a crease, jacket, button collar shirt and tie.
If you feel overdressed you can take the tie off and a button collar still looks smart where a standard business shirt will just look as if you forgot your tie.
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Post by MoreToJack on Jan 30, 2018 17:53:07 GMT
Endeavour Square is definitely at the shirt and tie end of TfL's empire.
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Post by philthetube on Jan 30, 2018 20:48:04 GMT
overdressed is deff better than under.
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Post by AndrewPSSP on Jan 30, 2018 21:21:04 GMT
Thanks for your replies! From what I can see, a good idea would be to wear a shirt, tie and trousers. Got it! |
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Jan 30, 2018 21:49:11 GMT
Thanks for your replies! From what I can see, a good idea would be to wear a shirt, tie and trousers. Got it! Definitely remember the trousers Andrew!  |
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Post by jetblast787 on Jan 31, 2018 8:55:03 GMT
Although some parts of TfL have been gradually getting more casual I would personally recommend at least a proper shirt and tie. Smart casual to me would be chinos and polo shirt and I think that's a touch too casual for a first meeting. If you can indicate which department you're going to I might vary that suggestion one way or the other. Sorry if I wasn't more specific; smart casual in my books is dark jeans and a formal shirt with smart shoes, formal for me would be to add a tie to that combination with a blazer and/or waistcoat  |
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Post by peterc on Jan 31, 2018 9:23:15 GMT
Although some parts of TfL have been gradually getting more casual I would personally recommend at least a proper shirt and tie. Smart casual to me would be chinos and polo shirt and I think that's a touch too casual for a first meeting. If you can indicate which department you're going to I might vary that suggestion one way or the other. Sorry if I wasn't more specific; smart casual in my books is dark jeans and a formal shirt with smart shoes, formal for me would be to add a tie to that combination with a blazer and/or waistcoat For first impressions definitely tailored trousers, with a crease down the front, rather than jeans. It never hurts to dress for the job that you want to be promoted into rather than the one that you are doing at the moment. |
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Post by ducatisti on Jan 31, 2018 9:37:32 GMT
It's horses for courses on these, but in my experience (professional services office jobs), I would never wear jeans as "smart casual" in a business context.
You don't say how old you are or what stage you are in life (there are many different places/times/reasons you could be doing work experience at). Whatever your own personal views on dress etc are, I think you are right to keep it conventional on your first day.
I do dress-down Friday and wear chinos, Chelsea boots (black) and TM-lewin (other shirt providers are available) not-white shirt. But then I am old and boring and have a wide range of dull clothes. If I had the OP's invite I'd go with something like that, probably with a tie in my pocket.
Do you own a suit? If you don't own a suit and have appropriate means, I'd think about buying one - it may well not be the best solution, but for an office job a non-fashion dark blue/grey suit, white shirt and black shoes will never be wrong. And you can wear it for interviews/weddings/funerals/court cases/masonic inductions/whatever formal events life throws at you. going off on a bit of a tangent now, but being comfortable in a suit is a really handy thing and will make said formal occasions much easier.
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Post by brigham on Jan 31, 2018 9:40:17 GMT
Sorry if I wasn't more specific; smart casual in my books is dark jeans and a formal shirt with smart shoes, formal for me would be to add a tie to that combination with a blazer and/or waistcoat I'd love to see your idea of 'black tie'! |
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Post by ducatisti on Jan 31, 2018 9:42:49 GMT
“There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, 'Do trousers matter?'"
"The mood will pass, sir.”
― P.G. Wodehouse, The Code of the Woosters
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Post by jetblast787 on Jan 31, 2018 9:53:19 GMT
Sorry if I wasn't more specific; smart casual in my books is dark jeans and a formal shirt with smart shoes, formal for me would be to add a tie to that combination with a blazer and/or waistcoat I'd love to see your idea of 'black tie'!
Bow tie, bowler hat and blazer waistcoat combination of course 
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Post by brigham on Jan 31, 2018 9:56:07 GMT
I won't ask about 'Dark Jeans, White Tie and Tails', then...
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Post by AndrewPSSP on Mar 12, 2018 20:32:29 GMT
I meant to mention this earlier, but the people upstairs (i.e. Mother and Father) decided that a visit during Easter would be better. I'll post how it goes then!
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Post by Chris W on Mar 13, 2018 7:11:58 GMT
Maybe a stylish walking stick.... 🤩
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Post by whistlekiller2000 on Mar 13, 2018 7:37:45 GMT
Maybe a stylish walking stick.... 🤩  |
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Post by AndrewPSSP on Jun 7, 2018 18:59:35 GMT
I went to TfL's new offices in Endeavour Square last Thursday, and it's all looks very posh! I ended up wearing a shirt and a tie, with dark trousers. The first meeting went well, I was shown around the building and introduced to the people who I'll be working with during the placement.
I quite like the building, it still has that new look and smell to it; although it was a tad bit empty when I visited. The person that will be supervising my Work/Ex says that they've all moved out of Templar House and that things are changing around in terms of jobs and all that in TfL. Understandable really, with the amount of money they're losing and their ~£1billion deficit. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Post by peterc on Jun 8, 2018 16:54:14 GMT
A little off topic but I am suddenly reminded of a guy that I used to work with. He used to run to and from work and change into clothes that he left in the office all week (at least). There were no shower facilities.
The people who sat near finally made a formal complaint about because of how ripe be became in the second half of the week. The official response was that there was no issue because he wore a suit and tie.
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Post by AndrewPSSP on Jul 17, 2018 13:14:24 GMT
I have finished my Work Experience with T fL at Endeavour Square, and it was an absolute blast! To be honest, that was probably mainly because of the two other people I was with - I can imagine how boring it would be if it was just me on my own. Within the space of only five days, we sorted out the inventory; sorted out old minutes of meetings etc (there was one about the design of the 1996 Stock!); did some CAD and all in all had an excellent week, all rounded off by a cab ride and visit to Northumberland Park and Osborne House. I had an insight into how the Victoria line operates during "quiet" times and during not so quiet times. An experience I will certainly never forget. Highly recommend it. (It turns out that just wearing a shirt and dark jeans is fine. Nothing to worry about!  ) And that, as they say, is that! |
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) And that, as they say, is that! 
