Dress for diversity?
We’ve all heard the saying “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” But what do you think? Are we too judgmental about what someone is wearing in a job interview? Would it affect their ability to do their job or just OUR way of doing the job? Would it be distracting to co-workers or would it bring welcome change of pace to the workplace? What is the definition of “inappropriate”? How can we push for diversity in a workplace if everyone is forced to look the same? I understand that some companies in the service industry use uniforms as their people are their brand but what if I’m working in a call center and only my co-workers see me?
I’d love to hear some people’s thoughts!
I think wearing something you feel good in when going for an interview is important. If you feel good that confidence should show in the interview.
I think this is an incredibly important conversation! The reality is that for some of us, it's impossible to afford to dress for "the job we want." Professional attire isn't inexpensive, that's for sure, and this being a barrier for entry for some positions ensures that diversity is less attainable. Attire definitely doesn't prove whether or not someone can do the work -- there's so much more to someone than how they're dressed, like their character and their work ethic.
This is a great point -- often there is an expectation of professional or semi-professional attire in the workplace, but the definition of "professional" can vary greatly depending on a cultural or geographic factors so it's important for companies to be aware of how inclusive or exclusive their dress code is.
This is an interesting thought, Mike. I've always been of the mindset to dress up for job interviews, and typically have worn a suit, a dress, or at least a blazer. My choices have probably been impacted by a few factors. Early on in my career, I worked in retail, so what you wore was a statement and extension of who you were. However, fast-forward 15 years, I've noticed in employees are choosing comfort and practicality over fashion. I think the best approach to prepare for an interview is to ask the question, "Can you suggest the best attire for an interview?" Many companies are also interviewing for a cultural fit, so best to put some extra effort into understanding that culture. The way you dress for the interview might end up being different from how you will dress when you land the job.
I was once downvoted to oblivion by a fashion forum for suggesting "nice" clothes with a jacket as interview clothes for a teacher instead of a suit.
I just know that when I was interviewing for science teacher positions, the teachers were wearing comfortable, sensible clothes (some with holes in them because acid spills are a thing) and it would have been really strange if I showed up in a suit! A suit isn't a good outfit for wrangling children and working with science equipment.