Sexism or Lack of Professionalism? College senior's Facebook

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I think the bottom half is appropriate, the unitard top is not. If she had paired that skirt with a blouse and jacket or a sweater she would have been more professional looking. HOWEVER, her behavior toward being rejected is completely inappropriate and she needs to grow up.

[ttt]

That is not a professional job interview outfit. AND she was late but it's somehow okay because she told them she was going to be late?? No. I wouldn't hire her either.


Freakin millennials, man.

[moreace01]

I am a bit surprised the company came right out and said she didn't get hired because of her appearance. That may have been a deciding factor, but I find it hard to believe they said that.

[josieposy]

At a minimum she should have worn a jacket instead of that sweater. Compound that with tardiness and yeah I would have probably reconsidered as well.

I was late to my last interview and I still got the job. Gee, I wonder what I did differently?

[emilyj]

"Who goes clubbing to a job interview in a cardigan and a skater skirt?"

Fixed that for her.

This isn't an issue of sexism. It's a lack of professionalism, which she clearly demonstrates through her follow up on social media and her "I'm in college and I have OTHER THINGS!" rant.  Would it matter what a man wore?  Yes, if he showed up in a pair of tight skinny jeans and mesh top (or whatever the guys wear to clubs).

[josieposy]

Heaven help her if other future employers google her.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

I give myself 1/2hr extra to any place I'm going to, but my last job I was late for because the T directions brought to Boston and not Cambridge. I called 1/2hr before my interview and told them that I had incorrect directions and I was heading over to them. I still got the job and stayed there for 4yrs.

[ECB]

Apr 22, 2015 9:10:47 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

I am a bit surprised the company came right out and said she didn't get hired because of her appearance. That may have been a deciding factor, but I find it hard to believe they said that.

If they did say that, I feel like it's such a DUMB thing to say.  At least the clubbing line.  IDK.  To a point, telling a candidate that they are great - oh, except for what they are wearing- can be dangerous territory.

BUT that being said - she was late.  LATE.  They may have just been trying to pad the reasons as to why they didn't hire her.  But showing up late to an interview is just NOT GOOD. 

And even though they SAID she was a great candidate otherwise, that doesn't mean she was the "best". 

[msmerymac]

If someone who was similarly qualified came to the job interview appropriately dressed and on time, why on earth would they hire this woman instead? You have to try to stack the cards in your favor. Getting them to overlook something take a LOT of work and you have to be a pretty awesome candidate otherwise to make that work.

ETA: It's not just the top. It's a combination of the top/leotard, casual cardigan, bright blue bag, makeup, and casual shoes/ankle boots. Invest in some closed-toe heels and a blazer. And always have a backup for tights/stockings. The "clubbing" look could have referred to her lipstick. She will most likely be going on a lot more interviews in the future, she should have 1 decent outfit. 

[ECB]

Apr 22, 2015 9:17:27 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

If someone who was similarly qualified came to the job interview appropriately dressed and on time, why on earth would they this woman instead? You have to try to stack the cards in your favor. Getting them to overlook something take a LOT of work and you have to be a pretty awesome candidate otherwise to make that work.

Exactly.

And the more I think about it- the fact that she's in college, perhaps they mentioned her appearance in order to help her with future job interviews.  But no, instead of taking it as constructive criticism, let's jump on the sexism bandwagon!!

[smock]

I expected a very different outfit when I read the line about clubbing. Her outfit is not necessarily the most professional, but I'd wager it's better than many college student interview outfits. It doesn't scream unprofessional to me, particularly if the office culture is casual (while it's always important to dress well for an interview, the standards are different for a big law interview or a software interview). And if the interviewer did say the line about clubbing, I would definitely say there was sexism in rejecting her from the job.

[redheadbaker]

I don't think any part of that outfit is appropriate for a job interview.

[jeaniebueller]

I definitely acknowledge that women have more pressure on them by society to look a certain way, BUT she is way off base in acting like it wouldn't have mattered what a man wore and if he wore jeans and a t shirt, it would have been totes okay. No. You need to wear a suit. Also, I wonder if she pushed the issue of "why" she wasn't hired and threw a huge fit about it and that is why the employer responded that way? I kind of find it unbelievable that they told her she was dressed for a club, but given her rant on FB, who knows what she said to them. She is really shooting herself in the foot by taking this to the media.

I'll also add that as an attorney, I do think its way easier for men to dress appropriately in my field. Just wear a suit and tie and you are covered. I have seen soooo many examples of female attorneys dressing completely inappropriately for the courtroom, much more so then men.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2015 9:07:54 GMT -5 ttt said:

That is not a professional job interview outfit. AND she was late but it's somehow okay because she told them she was going to be late?? No. I wouldn't hire her either.


Freakin millennials, man.

You know HR is grateful as fuck this little heifer didn't get hired.

[laurenpetro]

i'd wager a guess that i work in the most casual office on this board and we'd never hire someone who came in (late) dressed like that.

[Deleted]

She showed up twenty minutes late looking sloppy and is shocked she didn't get the job?

No ma'am. Aside from the outfit itself, they said she had a run in her hose to boot.

Plus, we have to keep in mind that this is feed back the recruiter got from the company. I would imagine that's different than what she would have gotten from the company on why she wasn't hired. Because the question probably wasn't why didn't you hire her but hey, how did she interview? Isn't that what recruiters do? Try to coach their clients to get them hired?

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2015 9:25:07 GMT -5 laurenpetro said:

i'd wager a guess that i work in the most casual office on this board and we'd never hire someone who came in (late) dressed like that.

We'd hire her but we'd fully expect that she quits in a few months.

[Deleted]

Also, my mama always told me to dress a level or two higher for the interview than the work environment. So I think that outfit probably would have been fine once she'd been hired but for the interview process, a no go.

"I don't see how my outfit could have been judged unprofessional, but I also think it's silly that someone who is perfectly qualified and skilled and wants the job still can't do it based on some arbitrary criteria," she said. 

"My outfit was totes professional but dressing professionally is stupid anyway so they should be lucky I wore clothes. Damn the man, save the empire."

Ten bucks says that disdainful attitude came across in her interview.

[cville]

That outfit isn't appropriate for an interview, but the interviewer was an asshat for calling it a "club" outfit. That was just an unnecessary, probably sexist dig.

My guess is her unprofessionalism generally, primarily manifested by her tardiness and entitlement (oh, you TOLD ME you're going to be late? STILL DON'T CARE, MOFO), was compounded by her NOT clubbing Stevie Nicks/Tara Lipinski on the skids combo attire and hair that isn't a color that grows naturally from the human head, so they decided to no offer. They should've just shut up about the reasons, which they didn't for potentially sexist reasons.

P.s. Once you HAVE the job and have proven your mettle with weeks/months/years of stellar performance, you can show up with a run in your tights. Not to get the job. Also, don't be late ever (and I say this as a perpetually tardy person) #nosympathy

P.p.s. I have no problems with hair that is not a color that grows naturally from the human head. But if you're an entitled 20 year old looking for a highly technical job with NO ACTUAL WORK EXPERIENCE, know your audience.

P.p.p.s. Never show up late to a job interview. REALLY REALLY don't show up late for a job interview with a company that makes SCHEDULING SOFTWARE, you nimrod.

[iammalcolmx]

I don't need to comment on the outfit because she was late. HELL AND NO. With the exception of the Downtown Connector being shutdown in two directions this is just not acceptable.

[Skyesthelimit1212]

Apr 22, 2015 9:12:51 GMT -5 emilyj said:

"Who goes clubbing to a job interview in a cardigan and a skater skirt?"

Fixed that for her.

This isn't an issue of sexism. It's a lack of professionalism, which she clearly demonstrates through her follow up on social media and her "I'm in college and I have OTHER THINGS!" rant.  Would it matter what a man wore?  Yes, if he showed up in a pair of tight skinny jeans and mesh top (or whatever the guys wear to clubs).

So this isn't appropriate for a guy to wear to an interview? 

[emilyj]

Apr 22, 2015 9:38:12 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

Apr 22, 2015 9:12:51 GMT -5 emilyj said:

"Who goes clubbing to a job interview in a cardigan and a skater skirt?"

Fixed that for her.

This isn't an issue of sexism. It's a lack of professionalism, which she clearly demonstrates through her follow up on social media and her "I'm in college and I have OTHER THINGS!" rant.  Would it matter what a man wore?  Yes, if he showed up in a pair of tight skinny jeans and mesh top (or whatever the guys wear to clubs).

So this isn't appropriate for a guy to wear to an interview? 

That's not appropriate for a guy to wear ANYWHERE!!!! 

[iammalcolmx]

Apr 22, 2015 9:30:26 GMT -5 cville said:

P.p.s. I have no problems with hair that is not a color that grows naturally from the human head. But if you're an entitled 20 year old looking for a highly technical job with NO ACTUAL WORK EXPERIENCE, know your audience.

She should have put it in a bun at the very least. Did I mention SHE WAS LATE???


ETA: At least her mid-drift wasn't showing.

[Deleted]

And dude, when you tell someone you might be a little late, especially for a fucking interview, they're thinking five minutes, maaaaybe ten. Twenty minutes late is ten minutes before they have to be somewhere else. And it's ten minutes after you think this person ain't showing up.

I would bet money that if a dude showed up twenty minutes late in wrinkled faded jeans, a tee shirt with a frayed hem, and a professionalism is so lame, yo attitude, he wouldn't get hired either.

Interviews are like first dates. If that's your best effort, what's you're worst?

The more I think about this thread, the angrier I get. I'm not even sure why. I'm just feeling some kind of way.

[origami]

I expected worse from the clubbing description but I agree it's inappropriate. And yes guys also don't get hired if they show up looking inappropriate. I rejected a candidate after he showed up to my interview in jeans AND a denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up. There were other reasons too but that was a big strike.

[PandaPear]

Def not an ok outfit for an interview.

For me, it is not so much the outfit itself as It suggests someone doesn't get (or care) about acting professionally in the workplace. Which is a problem.

I also sympathize (somewhat) because while everyone is judged on their appearance in these situations - there are many more ways for women to screw up. Too dowdy, too sexy, too short, too tight, too much makeup, etc.

[tacosforlife]

Never wear a "skater skirt" to a job interview. I kind of thought this was something everyone knew.

[Deleted]

Apr 22, 2015 9:41:09 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Apr 22, 2015 9:30:26 GMT -5 cville said:

P.p.s. I have no problems with hair that is not a color that grows naturally from the human head. But if you're an entitled 20 year old looking for a highly technical job with NO ACTUAL WORK EXPERIENCE, know your audience.

She should have put it in a bun at the very least. Did I mention SHE WAS LATE???


ETA: At least her mid-drift wasn't showing.

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[Skyesthelimit1212]

Apr 22, 2015 9:40:53 GMT -5 emilyj said:

Apr 22, 2015 9:38:12 GMT -5 Skyesthelimit1212 said:

So this isn't appropriate for a guy to wear to an interview? 

That's not appropriate for a guy to wear ANYWHERE!!!! 

That may not be appropriate to wear anywhere, but there a few clubs in Boston where that would be the most clothing you'd see on a guy. 

[LoveTrains]

Apr 22, 2015 9:07:54 GMT -5 ttt said:

That is not a professional job interview outfit. AND she was late but it's somehow okay because she told them she was going to be late?? No. I wouldn't hire her either.


Freakin millennials, man.

Is she part of Generation Z? That is what comes after the Millenials. I don't really understand when the cut-off is.