Does Dressing Up Matter More Than Skills in Job Interviews? Seeking Your Thoughts on My Experience

Hi all

I will not start this discussion with the standard opening lines by saying I have a friend who happen to visit………

NO! It's not about my friend. It's about ME. I am into HR & Training field from past 12 years (4 in India and 8 years in GCC). We all are in some or the other way is struck by a disease called Idiosyncrasy.

What is Idiosyncrasy – The Oxford dictionary says it's a mental constitution, view or feeling or mode of behaviour.

We tend to do or act in some ways which when we are in sane / senses we know it is not correct but unknowingly we do act upon it again and again knowing it that it is not very correct, atleast in some cases. But still we happen to do it, attempt it.

In my case, I have this habit of applying for jobs and attending interviews. I have attended several of them, even though I am working and doing things which I like to do, but I am always fascinated by those wooing advertisements of vacancies and glamorous positions which attracts me towards them and I keep on applying, answering recruitment agents and attending interviews.
In the same spree last evening I attended one interview. It was for a Realty dealer / owner. Dealing in Billions. I finished my work at 6.00 and had my interview at 6.30. Without changing (we wear uniforms, right from MD to Technicians all in same attire) though I had carried a good executive looking shirt and a tie. But could not do it hence landed in the same uniform.
I was welcomed, Introduced to the meeting room and left alone for 5 minutes. As I could make out from the company profile that it's a company built with dreams. Rags to Riches kind of story. But as a matter of fact they are dealing in Billions now. Obviously the management is from one point, top to bottom. So the CEO himself was conducting interviews for an HR manager. In 5 mins he wrapped up the interview asking routine questions such as Noc, availability, salary previous experience etc. In 5 minutes I was out of meeting room on my way.

Does appearance count so much ? So much that irrespective of your expertise, knowledge, capabilities if you look bad or dress simple (Not Bad of course) will affect so much.

Of course I had planned to change, but did not got a chance. Instead of missing an interview I thought I will apologies for not being in very formal outfits.

What was this ? Poor management and leadership qualities in a CEO or mismanagement and unorganized approach towards future prospects by the interviewee.

Is it that only Jelled hair, shining suits, long nosed boots will justify my talents without me giving a chance to speak/ask what I can do as core HR activities?

Please advise !

As far as my understanding goes, the answer is there in what you wrote. Remember the key word "Idiosyncrasy." Who knows, the interviewer wanted to behave in a fashion he behaved. Maybe he did intentionally because he might be doing it all day. For him, it might be obvious when a person is not serious about presenting himself, especially to a CEO. He might be more non-serious in his attitude as well.

No hard feelings towards you. You are talented and competent, no doubt, but you must be aware of a famous saying: "The face is the index of the mind." Unfortunately, nowadays, when we say face, it includes almost everything - clothes, shoes, ties, even mobile phones. This is what happened. Actually, people are more interested in seeing us as a package rather than just an experienced and competent person. I think we should always keep in mind that wherever we are going for an interview, the dress should be appropriate for the position applied for. Therefore, complete formals are the best fit.

Dear Sajid,

Thank you for bringing up this interesting topic. These days, everything counts. Not that it was not the case during earlier days.

Now, in your write-up itself, you have mentioned that you presented yourself for an interview with a CEO who is handling a Billion-Dollar business. The moment zeros increase, the status of the person also rises automatically. Knowing you personally, we all know very well your capabilities. However, it is not the same for the interviewer in this particular case. He has presented you with an opportunity to be part of a billion-dollar business, where the clients and the daily interaction groups will also be within that range and status.

Being an active participant in various cultural events and a mentor for children in many talent shows, I always insist that the children participating in stage shows practice in full costume one or multiple times before the actual performance. It always helps them to see and feel the costume, its convenience when they walk on stage, any loose points, or the feel they get, as well as how they and their opponents and mentors feel during the practice. This way, when they go on stage in real-time, they are at ease and have already addressed any gaps or missing links when it matters. Many times, this practice has helped incredibly talented children to have the right feel and generate sufficient confidence.

The case here is almost similar. On paper, he knows what you possess. But in reality, he has to see and feel it himself, along with you, to move around in that kind of platform. Another important point I noticed is scheduling. Knowing that you have an important interview ahead, it is your priority to schedule your time in advance to present yourself in the best possible manner. If not, we cannot dismiss the questions and concerns in the mind of the employer or the interviewer in question. It should also be noted that, in most cases like this, we, expatriates from the sub-continent, are competing with candidates from Arab countries who take very good care of their appearances and present themselves in the smartest way physically (although not necessarily intellectually) and secure top jobs.

I can also share experiences I've had when, many times, female candidates from South Indian states present themselves for job interviews in sarees and traditional jewelry (making jingling sounds). Also, when male candidates present themselves sweating after walking in the hot summer weather. The atmosphere this creates in a corporate office surrounded by people of all nationalities is noteworthy.

So, prepare yourself, give yourself ample time next time, and we will surely witness a success story from your end very soon.

All the best.

Ramesh Menon

Hi Sajid,

The nationality of the person who interviewed you makes a difference in this part of the world. Where we come from, I think we have a more tolerant attitude, i.e., dressing 'DECENTLY' is enough, and it is the actual stuff that makes the difference!!! An example of this image is Narayanamoorthy!!! The simple image that he projects speaks for itself!!!!

At the risk of sounding prejudicial, the reality is - in this part of the world - 'APPEARANCE' seems to be given a lot of importance. As Ramesh has rightly said:

>> we, expatriates from the sub-continent, are competing with candidates from Arab countries, who take very good care of their appearances and present themselves in the smartest way physically (although not intellectually) and walk away with cream jobs.

This is 100% true!!! From a woman's perspective, I can tell you that for the Arab women working with me, their week is incomplete without a trip to the beauty parlour!!!!! and I am viewed as a strange apparition for not doing it even once in six months!!!!! :) :) Respect is given to me for the work I do, but I had to gain it over a period of time and have put forth the same questions that you have asked to myself!!!!!!!

What you can do in core HR will be viewed only after you have gained that FIRST GOOD IMPRESSION!!! and that first GOOD impression rests on the perfect grooming in this part of the world!!!!

Geetha

P.S: Future topic for discussion in CHR meet??

Dear Pinkii, Ramesh & Geetha,

Thank you so much for sharing your insights regarding the issue of "Appearance." Being in the corporate world and a "Trainer," of course, I do understand the vital role of appearance towards presenting oneself. As said by Ramesh, Pinkii, the first appearance itself demonstrates the rest of the story.

But still, I fail to digest the fact that so much importance is being given to appearance. A major job responsibility of an HR Manager is not just to have paperwork in an office setup. He has to be on the shop floor with people, among people. Unless he mingles with people who he can, or rather employees can, relate to or have a sense of belongingness.

Take, for example, a Manufacturing environment (where I work at present), you have thousands of employees. As per the normal scenario in a Manufacturing setup in the MEA region, 90 percent of the workforce is hard labor, and 10 percent is in an office setup. You have subordinates in your department to whom you delegate tasks. Each role is taken care of by a responsible specialist. You have experienced people under you who carry out various roles such as Recruitments, Training, Employee Welfare, Benefits & Compensation, Admin, etc.

You, as the head of the department, are by default supposed to have a keen understanding and knowledge of each of these roles. That's the reason why you are placed there as the Head of the Department.

But at the end of the day, you are responsible for taking care of your workforce. For a minute, you have to remove all these mediators who come between YOU and your WORKFORCE. When it's just you and them directly, you experience the ground realities firsthand rather than seeing them in reports. In this case, won't your formal appearance and the many mediators (subordinates) become an obstacle between you and your workforce? Won't they (the workforce) find it difficult to approach you? Will it not be challenging for them to access you?

Anyways, these are just rational thoughts that I put forth and on which I always ponder. Your answers and inputs help me shape up and give form to my rational thinking.

Thanks again.

Cheers,

Sajid

Dear Sender,

Yes, wearing decent attire at the time of appearing for an interview plays a vital role and earns a good impression before the panel members evaluate your knowledge and skills.

The appropriate dress code for an interview will vary depending on the job one has applied for and the specific company. Wearing a company's uniform (usually bearing the company's logo) to an interview with another company can create a negative impression for both organizations and the employee, potentially jeopardizing the chances of securing the job. If the competing company identifies this, the likelihood of getting the job diminishes.

Imagine presenting yourself in dirty attire, with unpolished shoes, and an unshaven face. Such appearances can result in negative marks and a poor first impression, regardless of the knowledge and experience you possess.

Regards,
LK

Dear Kumar,

Thanks for your inputs. As a "professional," you are assigned to render your services and are paid for it. You have the full right to look for growth and better opportunities. You are honest, open, and not deceiving anyone or any company by applying anywhere or appearing for an interview. I do agree about the formal dress code. However, I don't agree with the idea that it doesn't look good if you wear a company uniform and appear for an interview.

Regards,
Sajid

Hi Sajid,

I agree with what you have said. At the end of the day, the Head of HR is responsible for taking care of the workforce. However, I do not agree that formal attire is a barrier to easy approach. In the initial phases, when one is new to the organization and your personality is not yet known, there is a phase of hesitation.

It is how one builds rapport with the workforce - with or without formals - that makes the difference!!! Ironical!!!!! :)

Geetha

Some very interesting thoughts have been shared here on this topic.

Let's face it, guys. In the corporate world, the clothes one wears are considered a window into one's personality. I believe that this is true to a large extent. While many of us may not agree, I think I would be in a better position to display my abilities to an interviewer once I have their attention. And I can grab attention when I dress smart.

In other words, you have won half of the battle if you dress for the job. When I say this, I only mean dress smart. What I wear - Indian or Western - does not matter; the underlined word here is SMART. Irrespective of what I wear, if it makes me confident, I am sure that I will do very well in the interview.

Clothes would be of more importance when you are being interviewed for management positions. Why? Simply put, it tends to enhance one's self-image. And my subordinates would automatically tend to respect me if I am confident in myself. Add to this your talent and ability to manage, and it is a killer combination.

Grooming is also a large part of building self-image. It's not essential to visit a beauty parlor once a week or whatever to be well-groomed. Every individual has his or her style of grooming, and it is best suited for that individual.

So, summing it up, Sajid, it's not what you wear, it's how you wear it and how it makes you feel that is more important in the corporate world. You can be as confident in a sherwani as you can be in a tuxedo. Wearing either can get you a job. Only how you present yourself in these clothes matters most.

Coming to expectations from the corporate world in this part of the world to be well-dressed in Western outfits, I guess it's more of a common practice than a hang-up. It may be because a person appears more presentable and appealing when dressed in a suit than they do in a normal shirt and trouser ensemble!

DRESSING PREPARATION TO INTERVIEW

Let's say you are going for an interview tomorrow. You have prepared yourself well for the occasion - anticipating the questions and getting ready the answers - but have you given a thought to what you will wear?
If you have not peeked into your wardrobe yet, it's time to take a real hard look now. Your application's fate depends not just on how well you answer the interview questions, but also on how well you project yourself physically. The first impression your interviewer makes about you is based on the way you look, and you know what they say about first impressions. According to Joe Hodowanes, J.M. Wanes and Associates career strategy advisor, "The way a person dresses is the single biggest non-verbal communication you make about yourself." The right dressing is a measure of the seriousness that you place on the position, as a person normally spends time on his looks if he considers an event important enough.
"Although proper dressing by itself will not get you the job, a poor dress sense may exclude you from further consideration," warns Gerry Ditching, managing partner of . Besides, given two equally good applicants, the compan y may choose to hire the person who is dressed more professionally. Here are some tips to give you a headstart.

Men
Long-sleeved shirt and dark slacks. White is still the safest and the best color for shirts. The colour is also appropriate for our tropical weather. Also acceptable: pale shades such as beige, blue, and other pastels.
Tuck in the shirt and do not roll up the sleeves. Never wear a short-sleeved shirt to an interview or any business purpose. Wearing a short-sleeved shirt will destroy your executive image.
Ties Optional. But if you do wear one, choose a conservative pattern. Solids, small polka dots, diagonal stripes, small repeating shapes, subtle plaids and paisleys are all acceptable.
Belts Belts should match your shoes. Those with smaller buckles with squared lines look more professional.
Socks Black socks are the best, followed by blue or gray, depending on your attire. Never wear white socks! Check your sock length, too--no skin should show when you sit down or cross your legs. Shoes. Black or burgundy leather shoes with laces on them, because tassel loafers are very casual. Other suitable colors are brown, cordovan and navy.
Hair. Keep neat, short and preferably parted on the side. And shave off all those facial hair.
Jewellery. Wear no or little jewellery. The watch and wedding ring are the only acceptable pieces of jewellery to go with the male attire. Thin gold or leather-strapped watches look professional but not digital watches. Also, avoid political or religious insignias, necklaces or bracelets. Definitely Accessories. As much as possible, use leather briefcases or folders to hold copies of your resume. Use narrow briefcases and avoid plastic folders and plastic ball pens as they are out of place.
Women
Three-piece business suits, blouse and skirt or slacks, and cardigan twin-sets. Sleeveless shirts should be rejected. Short-sleeved blouses are okay when they are tailor-cut or have features such as a sports collar or double breast design to create a business-like look. Skirts can either be long provided it does not create a Cinderella or barn-dance look or short where it falls no shorter than two inches from the knee. Nothing too revealing, please!
Panty-hose or stockings. A must for professional grooming, but nothing with overly fussy patterns. Bring an extra pair, just in case the ones you are wearing run.
Shoes. Closed shoes or pumps with at least 1½-inch heels suggest a more professional look. Dark colors are best.
Hair. Hair longer than shoulder length should be worn up or pulled back. Don't let it fall in front of your face and don't keep trying to fix it during the interview. Avoid large hair ornaments and trendy hairstyles.

Make-up. Be subtle; natural is the key word. Light shades of lip coloring and nail polish are recommended

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