[LMB] Advice Please

[Agnes Charrel-Berthillier]

On Dec 14, 2007, at 6:28 PM, Zoe Brain <aebrain at webone.com.au> wrote:
>>
>>
> Or "are you going to a job interview?", yes. That has been my exact
> experience.

There is a Dilbert strip that nails this one pretty well.

> Now... I'm going to ask for some advice
<snip>
> "tame geniuses" doing pre-sales support are expected to look out of  
> place in a suit, it adds street crew.

<snort> True. And less true if you are a woman, but still true. You  
can show more of a fashion sense than the average male engineer, but  
the only true fashion diva it was my pleasure to work with stuck to  
dark colors and a more subdued style when at work/visiting customers.  
That said her fashion sense was less of an obstacle to her street cred  
than being female, Asian, and looking like a (very cute) 16 year old.  
Although it never took her more than 5 minutes to convince her  
audience that no, she wasn't a misplaced marketing intern, she still  
avoided jeans and T-shirts (the local uniform for engineers) since  
those really made her look like she was 12.

I am a software engineer. Started my career in Paris doing software  
products for banks. Currently working for a net startup in the Silicon  
Valley.

Jeans and somewhat dressy T-shirts, a few short skirts (not since I  
left Europe). Black pantsuits or short skirt and jacket when visiting  
customers, especially when doing presales in Europe or on the US East  
cost. Locally, if the customer is also an IT company and I have  
visited beforeI can get away with jeans.

I only wear make up when going to parties.

> But now... I have no idea, There are so few women in the industry here
> that I have no role models.

The advantage is that you can bsically define the look of female  
industry workers in your little corner of the world ;)
>
> Smart blouse, calf-length skirt and heeled boots sound OK? Just  
> enough makeup so people wonder whether I'm wearing any?

It would be OK around here. Dressier blouse and more formal materials  
for the interview version.


Agnès