Job interviews

[JustGiveMeGin]

I have an interview today, no big deal. I'm not even particularly sure if I want the job so no nerves or anything. It just got me thinking.
Part of the unwritten (maybe written,
I'm not sure?) job interview rules are smart attire, usually at this point I am planning an outfit to fit around the company policy at the place the interview is to be held, I am also covering my 2 small tattoos (nothing offensive) and my multiple ear piercings.
We basically all seem to try to morph into the same person!
Wouldn't it make more sense to say come as you are....that way the company could at least asses if you would be a good fit? Also you as an individual could decide if it is the kind of place you would like to work?
Either way, I'm dressed and ready in my smart office wear......like I said, just randomly pondering things 🤣

Too many people for one job they want someone who conforms to social norms. It’s all crap. I have tattoos my employer knows but I still covered them when I went for internal promotion because it’s been ingrained in my since I young that it’s what you do. You wear nice clothes, do your hair, speak properly. Until you get the job and work there a while and your true self can finally be shown

When I ask someone for advice on job interviews (e.g., people working in HR/recruitment) they will often say something along the lines of “you’re overthinking it, there’s no right or wrong answers… just be yourself”

When from my experience that couldn’t be further from the truth. Most companies seem to hire similar types of people, I guess they’re entitled to do that, but just kind of irritating when the same companies HR team will bullshit about how they love diversity and inclusion

Reminds me of a scene in the show, Better Call Saul, where students are interviewed for a scholarship with a law firm. One girl gets declined because of her past (wasn’t the stereotypical perfect student) and as the main character says to her - they tell you, you have a chance but it’s a lie because they had already made up their mind

It just irritates me, so much crap going around about being true to yourself blah blah blah but the moment you get an interview that goes right out of the window.....
It's almost as if they want rows of robots at a desk

Do they have a policy around piercings and tattoos? I do think smart attire makes a good impression, but in the years I've been interviewing I've seen that can span between so many styles, still chance to show personality. Had people in shirts with cats on, colourful jumpsuits, patterned pencil skirts and plain shirts etc- doesn't have to mean black trousers and white shirt. Also unless it specifically says tattoos are to be covered I wouldn't assume its an issue.

Aren't employers going to start to struggle to recruit people without tats and/or multiple piercings soon? They are almost ubiquitous now - even a "cover it up" policy will be hard to recruit for surely?
I have always thought dress codes were ridiculous FWIW but common practises are surely going to overtake these 1950's style employers soon as they will have hardly anyone to pick from?

For better or worse first impressions count for a lot, and some (read: twats) people do have negative opinions around tattoos/piercings and will make an immediate judgement based on that.

It's really best to dress as neutrally as possible, I usually aim for "a bit smarter than you would normally expect to be if I had the job".

I’ve interviewed recently with my piercing/tattoos visible - I work on the assumption that the sort of employer who’d have an issue isn’t an employer for whom I’d want to work.

I expect people to make more of an effort an interview day than any other day.

If someone turns up being too casual, I dread to think what exactly they think is acceptable on a normal working day!

outfit to fit around the company policy why would you even question this?

Many work places won't care if you have an ear piercing or not, but it's easy to check beforehand anyway.

Wouldn't it make more sense to say come as you are.
No, I don't want to see casual - private "you", I want to see professional you.

@DynamoKev

Aren't employers going to start to struggle to recruit people without tats and/or multiple piercings soon? They are almost ubiquitous now - even a "cover it up" policy will be hard to recruit for surely? I have always thought dress codes were ridiculous FWIW but common practises are surely going to overtake these 1950's style employers soon as they will have hardly anyone to pick from?

of course they won't struggle. If the field is such that it's frown-upon, there wont' be any lack of candidate, and good ones.

Dress codes only exist because some people pretend not to have the common sense to turn up in work clothes. When you start seeing stupid rules, it only means someone forced them to put it in black and white.

Don't blame the "employers", blame the clients ...
and no one is forcing you to work in fields where it matters.

I love the corporate dress codes, quick, easy, professional and great to separate casual and work clothes.

@BrightYellowDaffodil that's kind of how I'm feeling now, like if they have an issue with it I don't want to work there anyway 🤷‍♀️
I agree with a previous poster, lot's of people have tattoos and multiple piercings now so surely employers will have much fewer people to choose from if they consider them an issue (and I appreciate not all if them do!)
I think I have just been conditioned from an early age to think these things are 'problems' to be covered when maybe no one even notices them anymore.

I've moved away from formal interview wear over the last year. This is what I wore for my interview yesterday and they told me I was fantastic. I feel more confident wearing what I like not waht they expect.

the only general rule you can make about tattoos is to request to cover them up. It should be common sense that some tattoos are absolutely fine, while others are really unsuitable for some work place.

A few earrings in your ear? I can't see where that would be an issue, but facial piercings might be.

@eightyfourandahalf
Where are these 1950's businesses where tats and piercings are "frown upon" [sic] ?
When I got divorced in 2005 the Judge had a nose piercing - if it was OK for her think it would be OK for most people.

DynamoKev

1950s? Really? You are a bit behind. Some fields are still more strict than others, for various reasons.

You wouldn't want to work for a company against tattoos in general, they wouldn't want you. so what's the issue.

But if YOUR judge has a nose piercing, you know everything of course.

@Disfordarkchocolate gorgeous dress! Forgot to mention my nose is pierced aswell