To think I'm not glamorous enough for this job?

[Jackfruitburger]

Ok long story, but I've taken a pay cut to work in a different sector with more chance of a promotion/ better pension and more sociable working hours. It will pay off in the long run but at the moment I'm skint. I need to get a Saturday job or another job to fit in around my current one so things don't feel so tight.
I've applied for one in a local estate agents which I'm over qualified for but will pay better than shop work (don't get me wrong, I worked in retail for years and LOVED it!) The thing that worries me is that I'm not the most glamorous woman in the world and most estate agents tend to be. We bought our house last year and every female estate agent I encountered had towering heels, perfect make up and flawless hair. I'm not dirty or scruffy but I don't enjoy doing my hair and I rarely wear makeup.
In my previous jobs as a receptionist this has been hinted at, one of my bosses even bought me make up once! Someone else left a leaflet about braces in my locker, it's been awful! I just don't care enough to try and on a personal note, I don't think it adds anything to my professionalism. I can do the job with or without false eyelashes.
Is this going to count against me in the interview? It really shouldn't but I know how these things work. You can never 'prove' that it's why didn't hire you.
Any tips?

OP I think you'll be fine.

Just be the best version of yourself for the interview. I don't think you need to worry about full kardashian TOWIE glam.

I've just bought a house and the estate agents who showed us around different properties were:

Mid40s lady. Short brown hair, very normal. Smart suit. No idea if she wore heels. I don't remember her wearing full makeup.

Mid50s lady. Very short blond hair. Smart trousers and top. Just seemed very normal, nice lady. Again didn't have a face trowelled in makeup.

Mid 30s lady. Long brown hair in a ponytail. Pretty. Not dolled up. Suit and heels. Again minimal makeup.

Bumbling 60ish year old man and his 19 year old student intern. Hilarious double act, if not a bit surreal. Like you'd see on The Office or one of those kinds of shows. Both wore suits, seemed smart enough.

Then we had a two men, both younger and a little flashier in nice smart suits and shoes. But nothing annoyingly over the top or odd.

Mostly though, just focus on communicating why they should hire you over the other candidates 🙂🙂 you'll be fine. Good luck x

@WildFlower2018 thank you

Jackfruitburger

you are not expected to wear make-up and high heels either. I work in a corporate environment, and rarely bother with either. I tend to go to interviews during my work day, so I never bother at interview either. I still look smart. Wearing too much make-up and badly applied would probably work against you thinking about it.

An estate agent is a sales person. You need to dress up for your clients. It's not too hard a concept to grasp.

Dress for the job you want. Pretty simple really. It’s one day a week!

Finfintytint
of course not. Women have to doll up for interviews, but men can turn up in grotty track suit bottoms, unshaven, with bad breath, dirty nails, wearing a ponytail, jeans and a tshirt. Oh.. wait...

Is being an estate agent glamorous? I think working on a beauty counter in a department store is more glamorous and that’s not saying much.

What appeals to you about being an estate agent OP? The pay for juniors is in the 14-20k bracket.

You seem to set a lot of store by being honest, not pretending to be someone you're not. If it's against your principles to use make-up or flattering clothes that disguise any defects, I think you might struggle with the culture in an estate agents.

It will be a huge shock after working with vulnerable people. It's not like retail. There are huge sums of money involved and a much more cut-throat attitude to sales. I can imagine you sympathising with the buyers and forgetting that it's the vendors who pay your wages. Hopefully, you won't be required to tell downright lies, but you will certainly be expected to portray the property in its most flattering light. Much like your own appearance, really.

Are you sure this job is for you?

I can't stand this outdated form over substance mentality. If I'm buying something i don't care what the salesperson looks like, I just want them to know their product and to actually listen to me. If you get the job then ficus on being damn goid st it rather than looking like eye candy. If you don't get it because they want glamour then who wants to work for shallow-minded dinosaurs anyway?

Iamsusan, I think you underestimate how much women are judged for their appearance in the workplace. It's not right. Men are forgiven .

Male estate agents generally look very well groomed too, though.

My philosophy when I go to an interview is to dress and look exactly how I would look in the role (for instance I keep my piercings on and my curly hair out). I want my future employer to know exactly what he's getting in hope they won't ask me to change for the job. It worked so far. As long as you look professional no needs for heels or pronounced make up.

@Thymeout it's pretty much about the cash. Estate agents are one of the only places open on a Saturday that pay above minimum wage. I need to work a Saturday as I have free childcare then.
I mean I do like houses and property and it's a receptionist role which I've done before. A part of me (sorry if this sounds unrealistic to estate agents) wants something a bit 'fluffier' to do apart from my other job. My other job is intense, the things I hear from clients gives me nightmares. I can't shake it off after a shift. I feel an estate agents will be a good change, meaningful but not as hard on the soul.

Finfintytint
No, I don't underestimate it, but I realistic too!

In real life, me in the morning: shower, brush my teeth, brush hair, get dressed and go.
DH, in the morning: shower, brush teeth, SHAVE, brush hair (or whatever he does to it), get dressed go. Plus has to go to barber once a week.

Me: chose clothes depending on the weather and the temperature, DH wears a suit.

In the real world, we are both taken seriously, but the one who has to spend longer getting ready is not me the female. If I fancy wearing make-up, I can, but I usually don't bother, I'll try to go to the gym at lunch time or after work.

All the men in my team are expected to be suited, shaved, have a decent hair cut, not look like they have slept in their shirt. I can turn up in a (smart) tshirt, a pair of trousers and flats and I still look great. No one is checking if I've have shaven my legs that day.

I am getting bored of people pretending that women are exploited and need to present a different image. If you are not bothered, by experience I can tell you that no one else is either, as long as you are business smart.

@IamSusan that is exactly the same as my morning routine, my grievance is with having to wear make up and heels.

If I was skint as you say you are and I wanted a job I would probably wear a bit more make up and make a little more effort with my hair. Wear a pair of low heels. It’s not that big a deal (obviously there are things I wouldn’t be prepared to do!!) but it depends how much you want the job. To be honest as I get older I look much better with (natural and not heavy/false eyelashes) some make up compared to not wearing any.

All the estate agents I’ve met have been tidy but I wouldn’t have said they were glam.

Looking perfectly groomed may be what some companies want however someone tidy, comfortable and personable would be far more useful imho. Surely perfect telephone manner is more useful than perfect eyebrows?

If I were your client I wouldn't care about make-up or heels but I would hope/expect you to be dressed smartly because if you don't care to make an effort with your appearance, will you make an effort to look after my possibly hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of house?

You yourself have acknowledged that EAs are expected to look smart. Why wouldn't you conform?

But you can still look smart and "put-together" in flats and minimal make-up. It doesnt matter whether your hair is curly or straight as long as its tidy.

You could even just fake it to get the job, then once you are settled and doing a stellar job, you quietly start wearing brown lipstick instead of scarlet, flats instead of heels, etc. I think in a receptionist-type role, you do have to make a bit of an effort to look presentable and professional... which DOESN'T mean Office Barbie!

Btw does the job description actually state that female applicants MUST wear high heels? Or is this your mental picture of "estate agents"? Neither of the two that came to value my house were wearing killer heels or thick slap.

And im sorry, i mis-read your OP and thought you were going to be a receptionist, not a negotiator. Look, its easy, plain trousers and jacket, plain fitted tee, lowish heels. Clean, tidy and smart. I was an estate agent back in the Stone Age, and that's basically what we all wore!

PS. A scruffy, untidy man would not get a look in at most estate agents' either.

In business I actually think women are luckier. We aren’t in a suit and tie all day, can wear what is appropriate for the weather whether that be smart summer dress and flats or trousers and a thin smart jumper and jacket. I have neat hair, nice leather bag and smart shoes. Just dress approrpriately?!

I work for a prestige car company. I do wear makeup - that's because I'm pale blue and I enjoy wearing it. I have curly hair, and I don't wear heels to work. Usually a top and trousers. Interviewed wearing pretty much the same thing with curly hair worn down and got the job

If make-up and glam are part of what this employer wants to give you the job (as unfair/ridiculous as this is) and you really want this job, then I would be Little Miss Make Up And Glam for the interview, i would dress as the candidate they want fit the interview, and then just not go to all that effort once I actually got the job. I'm surprised that other posters haven't really said that?

Our estate agent was definitely twelve, had teen acne, braces, a badly fitting suit, crumpled shirt and asked if 'the little lady would like to see the kitchen' 🤨. Be smart and professional, in your appearance and approach and you'll be fine, if he got an estate agent job I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about!

I have definitely 'glammed up' for am interview - as you would a date. Doesn't mean you would dress like that all the time and tbh the cruella de vìl look puts me right off