Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett has ignited a fiery debate after advising jobseekers to avoid wearing suits to job interviews. The business tycoon, worth over £71 million according to Forbes, shared his views on his podcast Diary of a CEO while discussing interview attire with English-American author Simon Sinek.
Bartlett's Controversial Advice
Bartlett recounted an encounter with a young candidate who arrived dressed in a suit. In a clip circulating on YouTube and TikTok, he said: "I flashbacked to an interview I had in our company where a young kid walks in wearing a suit and I thought you have no idea who you are, because that's not you. I know that you don't wear a suit. You're 22 years old. You do not wear a suit, so I have no indication... I have no clues as to who you are and therefore I have to figure out if you fit in here. What he tried to do there is show up perfect, how he thought perfect was and in some ways, to hide who he actually was."
Public Backlash
Bartlett's comments quickly drew criticism online. One person remarked: "It's called professionalism and respect, good kid." Another added: "He's a 22-year-old wearing a suit - he's clearly got ambition and goals. Why shame him?" A third commented: "I am on the side of the guy in the suit. He is not pretending to be something he is not. He takes this interview seriously and showed you and the company respect. Good for him." Someone else noted: "If he'd turned up in jeans he would have been called disrespectful." Another user said: "A suit is what you normally wear in an interview. Give the guy a break. You should have specified not to wear a suit or to come smart casual?"
Defenders Weigh In
Despite the backlash, some defended Bartlett. One supporter suggested: "It sounds like he felt his outfit was too flashy and not authentic. Many people have been in that situation. It's perfectly fine to wear an affordable suit from a store like Primark or M&S for a first job. However, showing up in a £5,000 Armani suit and £10,000 crocodile leather shoes can come across as trying too hard and might give the impression that someone isn't genuine."
The debate highlights the tension between traditional interview attire and modern expectations of authenticity in the workplace.
