What Not to Wear
So there I was, leaning back watching What Not To Wear (It was my wife’s fault honest!), and I started thinking about our first blog – Top Ten ways to make sure you don’t get Hired. Many people commented to me about this blog – I am going to have to explain to them about how to make comments on the web so I quit getting phone calls at 6am on Sunday – it was repeatedly the same comment; “was appearance at interviews really that bad?” My answer, no wait, the answer of nearly EVERY single employer I talk to about this is YES!
When I was growing up I remember my father, school, my grandmother even, explaining to me about how I should look when trying to get a job. What has happened to us? I though back to the last 5 people I have interviewed – Here, let me share with you:
The first was a guy wearing 1986 acid washed jeans with a hole in the knee, and a T-shirt that was 2.7 sizes to small. Number 2 was a lady somewhere around 40-45 years of age in a short skirt, and tube top (Did I step back in time here?), I am also pretty sure she was on something, and I don’t mean Prilosec either.
Number 3 at least re-entered this century with the clothing, but I really had no need to know that he wore Fruit of Loom boxers, and maybe he should have washed the shirt (it was a nice shirt, kind of wished I had one like it, you know LIKE it, a cleaner version). For number four, I was whisked away with my time machine again, going all the way back to 1969 with the tye-dye T-shirt and fringe leather jacket – they had the best application (and they appeared to be showered) however, so I was forced to consider this one.
Finally the fifth one made me cry. Tears of joy came streaming down my face when a young lady walked in wearing something akin to a pantsuit. Not really sure if that was what it was supposed to be, I’m not a big fashion guy – I don’t care what I said at the beginning, I don’t mean to watch What not to Wear, but it was clean. She didn’t have strange undergarments hanging out. Her application was second best, but she put forth the most effort – ding, ding, ding – Tell her what she’s won Johnny! She was hired!
Reminiscing this way made me think, maybe I should try a do and don’t picture blog to help those out who are unsure about their personal wardrobe choices when heading out to that interview. A picture speaks a thousand words, and since we all know how much I like words, I thought “Hey! I can say like ten-thousand words without typing!”
So here are your examples…. please note that the left column (the examples with the big crossed out red circles) is What Not to Wear, and the ones on the right side, not crossed out, are good choices for your next interview!
I am not even sure what to say about this…
We are running a contest to see if you can guess what color is under the censor spot….. Seriously, is that what a recruiter should be seeing??
Both outfits you can be seen at the Mall in, that would be ok, but only one should ever make it into the interview room…and hey don’t wear that hoody out to fill in applications either, you won’t make it to the interview.
There are only 2 places you should see the one on the left, singles bars that border on strip clubs, or Sunset Blvd.
And Just in case you didn’t get the hint…this is never acceptable, anywhere, ever, please don’t, and have your crazy Uncle committed if he does it!
I would like to thank the various places on the Internet that these pictures were found. They have provided some great examples, I tried to get people off the street here, but no one was really willing once I told them why I wanted to take a picture of what they were wearing – Maybe that should be a hint to them!