I read an article last weekend about dress code in the workplace and selecting on the basis of difference and wanted to share my own experience of wearing the wrong clothes. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8187689.stm
My first particularly gruelling experience of dressing inappropriately was at the tender age of 19 and was only my second job interview ever. I was a “first jobber” with good A levels results and had managed to get myself an interview for an admin position in an investment bank in the Docklands. When I turned up in a bright turquoise jacket and turquoise flowery skirt, soaked from head to toe, (it had been raining heavily and I didn’t have an umbrella) no one had told me about appropriate interview dress. I thought that I had done well to wear a nice jacket and smart skirt. Admittedly, the soaked through look didn’t help but by that point it was too late. The interview itself seemed to go very well although the two girls interviewing me were wearing black fitted skirt suits and crisp white shirts and I did feel a little out of place! Anyway, needless to say I didn’t get the job and after feedback from my recruitment consultant, I went straight out and bought a navy interview suit and promptly secured my first job in the City.
As a naive “first jobber” doing the interview rounds, I was shocked at how shallow these people were. I was still a bright school leaver with good “A” level results and a host of skills waiting to be tapped into. I still had the same personality and I was smartly dressed (if a little damp and flowery). I realised very early on in my working life that image is more important than anything else. If you have two candidates who present equally well on paper and have identical qualifications for the job, it can be a hard lesson to learn that the dark interview suit will get the job over the flowery skirt and bright coloured jacket. Or do they?
It could be that I also support difference when recruiting as I tend to be drawn towards the bright flowers rather than the plain suits. I looked nothing like the two “suits” that interviewed me and I didn’t get the job. However, if I had to choose then I would go for the flower over the suit every time, which ironically makes me the same as everyone else - I too prefer people who are more like me. Maybe I just see myself as more of a flower than a suit?!
Well what a familiar story Julie. It is always a bit saddening to see it but it’s absolutely the case the world over. When I worked with Hay in London a good friend of mine was on the selection committee for new senior consultants. It was at a time when Hay was starting to do a lot of work at very senior government level and the candidate sounded impressive. She was very high powered. she had Central government experience and had previously had a powerful role in a union. Can’t remember which one. And she interviewed brilliantly. She was super bright, assertive, articluate, knowledgeable. Pretty damn good consultant material. But apparently after the interview the panel started to mutter among themselves and shuffle papers. They reassured each other about how clever she was, how forthright and how persuasive. But none of them would go as far as recommending we take her on. But nobody could say why. Until my friend (the only woman on the panel who herself had all the same desirable attributes but was also immaculately groomed and presented) said to the group “Yes - she’s talented. But do we want someone who comes to an interview like this with plastic shoes and handbag?” It was all about image. And she was right. That part of Hay was pretty swish (not the same elsewhere) and she would have lowered the tone!
NLB
The dress code gives a glimpse of the culture.
If you preferred to wear flowery skirts then you probably wouldn’t have enjoyed working there anyway!