I love my job...

[NewKilt]

Phil,

It's wonderful that the wearing the kilt has been completely supported by the college were you teach. Congratulations on being chosen for the steering committee to help select your boss's boss. I think it was a wise decision to wear a kilt to the candidate inverview process.

I'm also glad to see that several members work for employers that recognize that the kilt as acceptable clothing for men to wear. I'm fortunate. I no longer work, so I can wear a kilt everyday - which I do.

Darrell

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Phil, congratulations to you. As another person who wears a kilt full time to work (for the 3rd largest bank in the world), I can say it is very liberating. Some angst the first time, but nothin but support from HR and my colleagues since the beginning. One of the ladies I work with loves to see when I get new kilts (I often have them shipped to the office), and always helps me with coordinating them with shirts, hose, belts, and shoes.

I also just hired somebody to my team and interviewed all candidates while wearing my kilt (since thats all I wear). The person I hired had no problem with it.

[bangkok kilt]

Awesome Man, congrats on the steering committee too.

I work in the NYC Board of Ed as a teacher and wore my first kilt on St. Pat's day. I now have two UK's and more on the way. It was remarked that I now go to work kilted "more often than not" and was then congratulated upon the size of my "heart". (I work in the south Bronx)

I was then asked "Has any of the administration said anything to you?" and I was able to answer "No"

My Principal has seen me kilted on several occasions, in fact one day called me into her office so she could observe me in my Black Watch Sport Kilt (ugh) on Tartan day. So, my "Big Boss" is cool with it, and my boss, or Assistant Principal mentioned in an aside yesterday that she was unhappy with what some people wore on her floor. She could have been talking about me, but since I always dress well when kilted (and how can you not really?) I wore a kilt again today.

It is truly a great experience to have the freedom to be free at work. PD, I salute you!!

BronxKilt,
Are you working in the New York public school system? If so, that gives me hope for going kilted while teaching! I am looking to make a move to teaching at the university level one day and hope that I can do so at a place openminded enough to allow the kilt. Until then. . . we'll see.

[bangkok kilt]

Oh yeah, congrats on the steering committee pdcorlis, that's a great opportunity, but labor intensive I'm sure!

[Tartan Hiker]

I was in a hurry yesterday and didn't have time to go home and change before class at the local Comm Coll. My students haven't seen me in trousers in weeks. One young lady told me that it just didn't seem right to see me in trousers. Administration is totally fine with it.

[Alan H]

I used to be a Road Scholar at four C.C's around here. While I enjoy the income I make now, those were in many ways, very good days. I'm glad the environment is supportive of you!

Besies, you WERE born to wear a kilt!!

[UmAnOnion]

Kudos to you my good man for working for such a great place ... I have a similar story in the making but will hold off on saying anything more until its offical... just please all keep your fingers crossed for me over the next few days...

[Chris Webb]

Man, Phil, what an encouraging thread!

Fortunately for me I'm self-employed. I wear kilts, work and play, every day. My being kilted has even become part of my business 'persona' and was a mayor factor in my getting my biggest contract yet.

I'm an owner/operator of a waste haul-off rig (21 yard dump truck, 16' trailer with skidloader (often called a bobcat)). I rolled up to make a deposit at the bank, climbed out of my truck in a tartan SportKilt, and walked into the bank. Everybody in the bank new me and was as friendly as always. You just don't forget a guy in a kilt. Little did I know this was all being observed.

In the parking lot stood the Facilities Manager for the largest Hospital in my area. He saw me pull up, climb out and followed me into the bank. Observing the warm welcome of both the workers and customers he went back outside and wrote down the number on the side of my truck.

I got a call the next day and was asked to come to the Hospital for an 'interview'. My hands shook as I realized what was at stake ... this was a big time contract for me to get with an organization that I'd thought was impossible to get into. I thought about dressing up Texan: boots, jeans and hat.

Thank God, instead, I was true to myself and went into the interview dressed as I always dress on the job: SportKilt, white sleeveless t-shirt and workboots with rolled down socks - the same thing I wore to the bank.

It wasn't even an interview at all ... I walked in, the Facilities Manager shook my hand and said, "Lets go outside so you can tell me what it'll take to get you to stay." We walked outside to survey what amounted to 15 years worth of dirt, rock, grass, trees and trash that had been pushed to the back of the Hospital property.

I quoted him the normal commercial rate, he said, "How soon can you start?" I was at a total loss as to why this 'interview' was going so damned well. Finally, walking back into the Hospital to sign some papers I asked him, "How in the world did you get my number?"

He told me about the bank. He said, "The moment I saw you climb out of your dump truck I knew you were the guy I was looking for."

I made 3 months wages in 4 weeks ... and they were so pleased with my cleaning and grading that I've been promised work from them from now on. Even folks who work in the Hospital have heard about the new Contractor in the kilt ... it's a joy to walk through the hospital to the cafeteria for lunch, everybody smiling and talking with me.

I know that wearing a kilt didn't get me the job, but wearing the kilt said something about me that made someone take a longer, closer look. What it said about me was good, interesting ... different. To my knowledge I have never lost work because of wearing a kilt and not a single Customer has ever been anything but encouraging to me.

Family remains the only real detractors I've ever had regarding wearing kilts and, you know what, even family has come to realize that kilts are just part of who I am and that who I am is someone they can be proud of.

Thanks again, Phil, for sharing your story.

Kilt On.

Chris Webb

[Livingston]

Chris, I would say that the kilt did get you that job. Step one in getting a job is to be noticed, favorably. (you were followed into the bank) Step two would be the references (the warm welcome of the staff and customers at the bank) Step 3 is to close on it (in this case showing up for the interview AND wearing your kilt). Just think, if you had not worn the kilt to the bank that day he probably wouldn't have noticed "just" another dump truck driver. Good job.