Not to wear make up for a job interview?

[TinDogTavern]

I have a job interview this afternoon. I very very rarely wear make up, just weddings and big occasions really. I usually, grudgingly, put a bit on for interviews but does anyone care/notice? As a non-make up wearer I know I wouldn’t notice if someone had make up on or not (unless they had tons on, and massive brows or something). If you were interviewing would you notice/judge? Would you always wear make up for an interview? Job is secretarial in NHS.

Well, NHS interviews work on a points system based on your answers.

Makeup isn’t on the criteria for points

The most off putting traits I’ve noticed in candidates is an inability to do something critical to the role, (interviewing someone for a communications role who was not good at communicating), and not researching the role or company at all prior to interview. Just a quick google would do!

I've interviewed a lot and I think appropriate dress and a positive attitude (and being on time!!) is what matters. I love nice make up and the confidence it gives me so you not wearing any would cross my mind but not in any way related to the job.

Thanks everyone. No make up it is. As a PP noted, would I really want to work somewhere wear anyone gave a shit if I wore make up or not?

Having worked in a NHS A&C roll for years, it is very unlikely anyone will notice at interview if you’re wearing makeup.

It will be a competency-based interview so put your efforts into looking at these and thinking of good examples for each.

As an aside, I currently manage an events team and in the last week hired someone with no makeup and someone who wore loads. They were both the best people for the jobs (I hope..)

I work in a sales role. To be honest I wouldn't go to work without wearing make up as I think it looks unprofessional.

I don't think make-up is important but good grooming is. Tidy hair, tidy eyebrows, clean nails, smart clean clothes - the sort of things that equally apply to a man. I do interviews and notice more if a woman is over-made up than if they're not wearing any, and neither would affect their chances of getting a job.

Tidy EYEBROWS?!? Who knew?! I have never removed an eyebrow hair in my life, and I’ve been working for almost 30 years! I must be genetically blessed, eyebrow wise!

@hildazelda Do all the men who perform the same role wear makeup too, or do you think they look unprofessional?

As long as you were clean and presentable it would have zero impact on whether or not you got the job if I was hiring

It’s up to you. Absolutely no make up is noticed beyond a certain age; even if it’s subconscious. There are lots of articles out there from reputable sources that hiring managers (both male and female but especially female) subconsciously view female employees who wear minimal makeup as more capable / a better fit.

I always wear make up, especially for work and interviews but I don’t think other people should have to wear make up if they don’t want to.

As an NHS med sec, they really won’t care if you don’t wear make up. It it was an interview to be a flight attendant or work on a make-up counter in Boots, they might be wondering why you aren’t wearing a full face.

Just put a bit of mascara on, makes all the difference. No it shouldn't matter at all (and really might make no difference) but as a rare make up wearer myself, I'd just err on the side of caution so you feel you've ticked all the boxes.

It wouldn't even occur to me to wear makeup. I'm bemused people think it's important. Visible makeup strikes me as a bit unprofessional - depends on the type, but if people can see you've got it on, you're wearing too much, and if people can't tell, then what's the issue?

I don't usually wear make up, haven't for years now. But if I'm going out in the evening, or interviewing people, then I'll often put on some mascara as it makes my eyes more visible behind my rather high prescription glasses (I have very fair eyelashes and eyebrows, so they disappear rather).
If I'm "dressing up" then I'll maybe add in lipstick and eyebrow pencil, but not always.

I think it's entirely up to you and if anyone discriminated against you because you didn't wear make up then they would be in the wrong.

The only time I would think it was needed was if you were a make up person! Just to show you knew what you were doing, as it were. Otherwise, can't see the need.

Just put a bit of mascara on no, fucking don't. Unless @fieryginger, you make the same request of any male in your life who asks for advice about jobs.

Seriously, the fucking reason people "subconsciously" view makeup as whatever bollocks people are posting on here is because of people like you.

Ticked what, the competency box that says "conforms to outdated gender stereotypes" or the one that says "influenced by women who still see their role as looking good in the office".

BOLLOCKS TO IT ALL. OP, you do you. Be genuine and don't listen to this shite.

If it's an NHS job, DM me as I have some examples of questions from when I did an NHS leadership course recently.

It might make a difference, but I am in recruitment and I have honestly never seen it being a problem!

Your general appearance does matter, and a lot, but as long as you are tidy, wear appropriate clothes and your hair don' t look a mess, I don't think people will even notice. The best make-up for an interview should not be noticeable anyway, and wearing too much is more likely to be noticed negatively.

I have never heard or seen wearing flat shoes being an issue either.

This has made me laugh this morning. I'm suprised those of us who have never worn make up have managed to work all our lives. By the sounds of it we should have been hidden away from the world unless we were inch deep in foundation!

OP good luck. I really don't think that not wearing make up will have any bearing on if you get the job or not!

Good luck with the interview, OP.

FWIW, I've never worn makeup to a job interview - wouldn't even occur to me to do so because I don't wear the stuff normally (maybe on a really fancy night out when I view it as a form of "dressing up"). Depressing that some people think you would be judged - to be honest, I don't think you would, and I suspect most interviewers wouldn't even notice one way or the other. Now a ripped band-tour t-shirt with this morning's breakfast stains on it and jeans so long between washes that they stand up by themselves, on the other hand...

I've never worn makeup and I have been employed my whole life.

I have been on job panels (indeed have sat on a panel in the last month) and it would never have occurred to me to judge someone either for wearing makeup or not wearing makeup.

Wear it if you want, don't wear it if you don't want.

(Caveat to "never": I did wear makeup as a teenager and looked like a spaniel as a result. I do also sometimes wear nail polish but am not very good at applying it so "well-groomed" isn't the outcome look...)

To be honest I wouldn't go to work without wearing make up as I think it looks unprofessional.

HildaZelda does this apply to everyone, men and women? Or is it just women whose natural faces are too "unprofessional" to be seen in a work setting?

I wouldn't judge about make up per se, I would judge about whether someone was dressed appropriately for the role and had made an effort. Make up not important but birds nest hair, creased clothes, and stains a no no!

I've never worn make up to job interviews. Have worked in different office environments up to managerial level (small company if that makes a difference!).

I'd be worried I'd end up looking like a clown - I've never been interested in wearing it and never learned how to put it on. In that situation what would I do anyway? Go to a Mac counter and ask for them to give me a little trial and then confuse everyone when I turn up on my first day au naturel?

It's so depressing this is a thing!

It looks unprofessional?! HOW? Does makeup help you do your job properly? Honestly, this baffles me!