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Original poster

To not take my jacket off in a job interview

22 replies

Magnolia2022 · 29/03/2022 20:16

Ok so I have a job interview this week and I got to thinking about an interview I had around 6 years ago for the same organisation (massive company). I’m being interviewed by a different department this time. So the scenario was… panel interview three people interviewing me. It was December so cold weather. I wore a dress, smart and just above the knee with tights and a smart blazer style jacket over the top. I was so nervous. When I got in there I sat down and just proceeded with the interview. I didn’t remove my jacket because it was kind of worn like a suit jacket and it was keeping me warm! One of the (male) interviewers said ‘take your jacket off’. I was a bit younger back then and a bit naive. So I did as I was told! But now I think about it, clearly it was a really inappropriate comment. I didn’t get the job that time (lucky escape probably). I don’t think they’d get away with it these days though! Was I being unreasonable to still have my jacket on before I was told what to do with it?! Bit weird in my opinion of them to ask me to remove it. Can’t believe I went along with it now! Frankly I can’t believe anyone in the room went along with it but is removal of a blazer style jacket in winter a standard? Is keeping it on rude in some way? I can understand an outdoor coat but this was not that!

OP posts:
canthecardsbewrong2022 · 29/03/2022 22:08

I was brought up to go smart to any interview but know late summer of 2016 it was brought up in annoyingly after interview feedback how I'd refused to take my jacket of when told it was alright during a group interview. Truth be told it covered horrible bingo wings with the short sleeved top going on underneath but it was boiling outside.
I still got the job.

MiddleParking · 29/03/2022 22:14

@canthecardsbewrong2022

I was brought up to go smart to any interview but know late summer of 2016 it was brought up in annoyingly after interview feedback how I'd refused to take my jacket of when told it was alright during a group interview. Truth be told it covered horrible bingo wings with the short sleeved top going on underneath but it was boiling outside. I still got the job.
That’s utterly bizarre!! As is your experience OP!
MarmiteCoriander · 29/03/2022 22:24

In Dec, if someone was wearing a heavy, outdoors winter coat, duvet type full length puffer coat or similar- then I think its completely normal to say 'you can take your coat off if you'd like etc. For someone in an interview with a smart, jacket/blazer on, its really bizzare. Did you have a heavier coat over the top that you DID take off?

I've interview many people. Unless they were looking incredibly nervous and sat there with a beanie, gloves, scarf, balaclava and heavy jacket on- then I'd never think to tell or suggest they take clothes off! Surely if the candidate couldn't work out if they were cold/hot themselves etc then I don't need to tell them.

Best of luck this time around OP.

Jonny1265 · 29/03/2022 22:33

How odd! I've never been asked to take my jacket off or indeed had it suggested as an option. I'm a bloke though so maybe they didn't want to see more of my figure.

BeautifulMemory · 29/03/2022 22:39

I suppose there's a difference between - 'you are welcome to take of your jacket'/'dont feel you have to wear your jacket throughout the interview', and 'take your jacket off'.

I was always told jackets need to be worn for formal occasions until invited to take off. That's the unwritten rule I would also apply to interviews - wear the jacket unless it's indicated you don't need to.

Was the interviewer letting you know you didn't have to wear it? Or directing you not to? (First is fine and appropriate, second is weird imo).

withiceplease · 29/03/2022 22:59

Oh god this reminds me of my university interview
DDad had told me I couldn't go in my trench coat and bought me a full length cashmere camel coat. We were not wealthy but this was an important event in family terms.
Someone came to take me through to the interview and said 'can I take your coat?' I said 'No!'
She looked a bit surprised so I said 'my dad's bought me this specially and I'm not taking it off now'.
I got the place I wanted but I've often wondered if the new coat had something to do with it
I was so hot wearing that coat being shown around the department but I kept it on faithfully

Hausa · 29/03/2022 23:37

@withiceplease

Oh god this reminds me of my university interview DDad had told me I couldn't go in my trench coat and bought me a full length cashmere camel coat. We were not wealthy but this was an important event in family terms. Someone came to take me through to the interview and said 'can I take your coat?' I said 'No!' She looked a bit surprised so I said 'my dad's bought me this specially and I'm not taking it off now'. I got the place I wanted but I've often wondered if the new coat had something to do with it I was so hot wearing that coat being shown around the department but I kept it on faithfully
That is an adorable story!
Original poster
Magnolia2022 · 30/03/2022 04:53

Yes it was definitely ‘take your jacket off’ rather than ‘you can if you like’. It was really odd. Even in the 6 years that have passed since that interview I’ve developed more in my career and I’ve become much more assertive. I would never comply with that now! But id respond with, no Thankyou I’ll feel cold without it. Or something along those lines. Rather than just going along with it. I didn’t have anything else over the top like a big coat or anything.

OP posts:
ThePoint678 · 30/03/2022 05:01

@withiceplease

Oh god this reminds me of my university interview DDad had told me I couldn't go in my trench coat and bought me a full length cashmere camel coat. We were not wealthy but this was an important event in family terms. Someone came to take me through to the interview and said 'can I take your coat?' I said 'No!' She looked a bit surprised so I said 'my dad's bought me this specially and I'm not taking it off now'. I got the place I wanted but I've often wondered if the new coat had something to do with it I was so hot wearing that coat being shown around the department but I kept it on faithfully
I also love this!

It’s reasonable to suggest you can remove your jacket if you wish but not demand it.

But it was years ago and maybe you can let it go for now? Good luck for the interview.

tinderswindler · 30/03/2022 05:53

This is so odd. Like he wanted to get a good look at you which is obviously not okay. Asking if someone would like to take their jacket off is fine and it's okay if they say they are comfortable and wish to keep it on.

PaulaTrilloe · 30/03/2022 06:02

Sometimes men in the past did this sort of thing to look at women's boobs especially if it's cold.Hmm Job interview is the ultimate power play situation too.What a perv! Flowers

RockingAFrock · 30/03/2022 06:22

Coat, remove
Jacket, keep on

Someone was being interviewed at work and kept a red puffa jacket on throughout which we thought was a bit weird

NorseKiwi · 30/03/2022 06:28

I feel that wearing a jacket to an interview is actually a bit dated and unnecessary, back in the 2000's I would have worn a suit to an interview, but there aren't that many suits to actually buy nowadays. I guess if you are going for an interview at a law firm or consultancy firm, you can probably go without a jacket IMHO

I just wear a smart dress (like getting dressed for a wedding) and that seems to suffice!

SunshinePie · 30/03/2022 06:29

Could have been some sort of weird test to see what you are like when given direct orders? To see if you accept orders, or are assertive and question them etc… v odd though.

SquirrelG · 30/03/2022 06:29

Of course YANBU, but I would seriously be asking myself if I wanted to work for an organisation that speaks to someone being interviewed in that way.

Someone was being interviewed at work and kept a red puffa jacket on throughout which we thought was a bit weird

I was interviewed by someone last week who wore a puffer jacket throughout the interview, which I thought was a bit weird (I'm in NZ and it's early autumn!),

HollowTalk · 30/03/2022 06:32

Was the person who asked you to take your coat off a man?

Marvellousmadness · 30/03/2022 06:37

Ask them why

Or

Just say no thank you

Original poster
Magnolia2022 · 30/03/2022 12:44

@HollowTalk

Was the person who asked you to take your coat off a man?
Yes a man
OP posts:
Original poster
Magnolia2022 · 30/03/2022 12:45

It’s a huge organisation and this department is totally separate from the one I had that interview at so I’m not worried about the overall organisation. I did suspect maybe it was an assertiveness test!

OP posts:
KatsuKatsu · 30/03/2022 12:48

@withiceplease

Oh god this reminds me of my university interview DDad had told me I couldn't go in my trench coat and bought me a full length cashmere camel coat. We were not wealthy but this was an important event in family terms. Someone came to take me through to the interview and said 'can I take your coat?' I said 'No!' She looked a bit surprised so I said 'my dad's bought me this specially and I'm not taking it off now'. I got the place I wanted but I've often wondered if the new coat had something to do with it I was so hot wearing that coat being shown around the department but I kept it on faithfully
This is so cute
Maray1967 · 30/03/2022 13:14

My mum told me she was asked at an interview in the 80s why she was applying for a (teaching) job when there were so many men unemployed. Only later did she realise it was an assertive test delivered in a very left-wing LEA.
But in this case I’m not sure it was an assertiveness test, but either a very badly worded version of ‘ you can take your jacket off (if you like’)’, or more concerningly, a bid to see your body better.

tiedyetie · 30/03/2022 15:44

You can keep your blazer on - bloody cheeky men

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