The 50+ job interview: The importance of appearance
A reader, C., sent an e-mail asking about the importance of appearance for a job interview; she is 50.
Her thoughtful questions were,
1. How concerned do I need to be about looking credible (visually) to those who don't already know my work?
2. If credibility is borne in my appearance, how do I dress to look credible?
3. How does credible dovetail with chic?
In this context, I define "looking credible" as appearing convincing for the particular role.
Her e-mail was headed, "What's More Important, What She Wears or What She Does?" I don't see it as a dichotomy; instead, I'd ask, "When an interviewer meets you, what impression do you intend to make, and what will visually reinforce that?"
After decades spent working with both interviewers and candidates, my answers to the first two questions came readily. I considered C.'s field, qualifications (a recent PhD.) and location, which suggest a business or polished business-casual environment.
My answers are:
1. Be concerned about—and therefore attend to—your appearance unless they know and love you to bits and the interview is just a formality.
2. Appearance especially contributes to the impression of credibility in the initial meeting. Dress in a manner that reflects the norms of your profession and the organization who may hire you. If in doubt, follow the cues of the latter.
C. wondered if she could "get away" with no stockings; I replied, be careful about cutting a corner for one of the most important meetings of your career. Being more 'dressed up' than your interviewer is no error; after all, it's a job interview, where everyone knows you will be better-dressed and more nervous than on any other day except maybe your wedding, if you had one.
As I often advised candidates, "The first day at work is the interview."
A few more points from my reply:
1. Project vitality foremost
Employers don't want to hire anyone who looks tired, so a woman (or man) over 50 should project cues of vitality. If you peel back age discrimination—which is rampant—the fear employers have is not solely that older workers are obsolete, it's that we have less stamina.
To transmit vitality, the visual and movement cues include relatively average weight; overweight is OK but severe obesity telegraphs "here come the sick days" even if that's an inaccurate stereotype. What-Mom-taught-you grooming and posture, eye contact, a firm handshake and warm smile: all contribute to that sense of vitality.
You would think that's common sense, but I saw a highly-qualified fifty-something woman cut because she wore no lipstick to the interview; the comment was that she looked "limp". One coat of rose away from being short-listed! "Not fair", you might be thinking, and no it wasn't— but there were other good candidates, and she was passed by.
Judge for yourself; this is not the woman from the interview, yet there is a resemblance. She appears in Lisa Eldridge's video about how to apply makeup when you're mature. Look at the difference the lipstick alone makes.
Some 50+ job-seekers get fillers and lifts to compete with younger candidates. I can't make an accurate assessment whether this gives a proven advantage; it may boost the candidate's confidence.
2. Accept that in many organizations, you will be sartorially constrained, either because of the culture or work requirements
If you really cannot abide "looking the part", find one of the more freewheeling places or work from home.
C., accustomed to the freedom of student garb, was reluctant to adopt what she called "the formula box", citing Condoleeza Rice and Hilary Clinton as anti-heroes. But those bulletproof outfits hold up to grueling work days and travel across time zones. Like a Hazmat suit, they equip you to do the job.
Only a few business settings remain navy-suit bastions; a dress like Tara Jarmon's black floral shift would look stylish for many interviews, accessorized with a laptop bag, briefcase, or portfolio (not a purse) in good condition.
When Barbara Ehrenreich talked about her futile job search in "Bait and Switch",
her book about white-collar unemployment, she wrote rather
disingenuously, "I guess I should have carried a briefcase instead of a grotty canvas tote bag". Yes, even if she had to borrow one. (Leather not required; the Graceship laptop bag shown is a high-quality "vegan leather".)
If in doubt, sit in the lobby and watch women leave, or enlist a friend who works in that city as your scout.
3. Be yourself, but your professional self
C. said "I...tend to be slightly flirty. I can't seem to squelch it nor do I really want to." She also noted that her field is "ruled by the masculine".
Whether (and how) a woman displays her charms in workplace tells a great deal about
her qualities and values. C. will know how to keep her womanly verve on the "slightly" side.
The coquette is not an ennobling stance in office life. I mentioned Christine Lagarde as a model of feminine yet authoritative business attire; we need not meet her posh price point, but her elegance is exemplary.
C. sent a thoughtful reply, saying she was going to adopt a "uniform" kind of wardrobe, inspired, interestingly, by a respected male colleague.
She also opened another topic, that of how easy it is to be disheartened and buy into the prejudice against women over 50 in the workplace.
That reminded me of my friend R., who, because of a health issue, was not working for about five years and after successful treatment wanted to re-enter corporate life at 50-plus. All her friends told her, Forget it, the corporation won't want you, find another line of work—and she ignored us. After a year or so of interviews and a few near-misses, she landed a VP position in a major global company, and a short time later was named Professional of the Year in her field. She graciously refrained from saying, So there!
She is but one of the women whom I know who, after years out of the workforce, have then found rewarding employment. (Starting your own business is another matter; there is no job interview, but that woman will still gain from projecting vitality.)
On Thursday I'll consider C.'s intriguing third question: How does credible dovetail with chic?
Her thoughtful questions were,
1. How concerned do I need to be about looking credible (visually) to those who don't already know my work?
2. If credibility is borne in my appearance, how do I dress to look credible?
3. How does credible dovetail with chic?
In this context, I define "looking credible" as appearing convincing for the particular role.
Her e-mail was headed, "What's More Important, What She Wears or What She Does?" I don't see it as a dichotomy; instead, I'd ask, "When an interviewer meets you, what impression do you intend to make, and what will visually reinforce that?"
After decades spent working with both interviewers and candidates, my answers to the first two questions came readily. I considered C.'s field, qualifications (a recent PhD.) and location, which suggest a business or polished business-casual environment.
My answers are:
1. Be concerned about—and therefore attend to—your appearance unless they know and love you to bits and the interview is just a formality.
2. Appearance especially contributes to the impression of credibility in the initial meeting. Dress in a manner that reflects the norms of your profession and the organization who may hire you. If in doubt, follow the cues of the latter.
C. wondered if she could "get away" with no stockings; I replied, be careful about cutting a corner for one of the most important meetings of your career. Being more 'dressed up' than your interviewer is no error; after all, it's a job interview, where everyone knows you will be better-dressed and more nervous than on any other day except maybe your wedding, if you had one.
As I often advised candidates, "The first day at work is the interview."
A few more points from my reply:
1. Project vitality foremost
Employers don't want to hire anyone who looks tired, so a woman (or man) over 50 should project cues of vitality. If you peel back age discrimination—which is rampant—the fear employers have is not solely that older workers are obsolete, it's that we have less stamina.
To transmit vitality, the visual and movement cues include relatively average weight; overweight is OK but severe obesity telegraphs "here come the sick days" even if that's an inaccurate stereotype. What-Mom-taught-you grooming and posture, eye contact, a firm handshake and warm smile: all contribute to that sense of vitality.
You would think that's common sense, but I saw a highly-qualified fifty-something woman cut because she wore no lipstick to the interview; the comment was that she looked "limp". One coat of rose away from being short-listed! "Not fair", you might be thinking, and no it wasn't— but there were other good candidates, and she was passed by.
Judge for yourself; this is not the woman from the interview, yet there is a resemblance. She appears in Lisa Eldridge's video about how to apply makeup when you're mature. Look at the difference the lipstick alone makes.
Some 50+ job-seekers get fillers and lifts to compete with younger candidates. I can't make an accurate assessment whether this gives a proven advantage; it may boost the candidate's confidence.
2. Accept that in many organizations, you will be sartorially constrained, either because of the culture or work requirements
If you really cannot abide "looking the part", find one of the more freewheeling places or work from home.
C., accustomed to the freedom of student garb, was reluctant to adopt what she called "the formula box", citing Condoleeza Rice and Hilary Clinton as anti-heroes. But those bulletproof outfits hold up to grueling work days and travel across time zones. Like a Hazmat suit, they equip you to do the job. Only a few business settings remain navy-suit bastions; a dress like Tara Jarmon's black floral shift would look stylish for many interviews, accessorized with a laptop bag, briefcase, or portfolio (not a purse) in good condition.
When Barbara Ehrenreich talked about her futile job search in "Bait and Switch",
her book about white-collar unemployment, she wrote ratherdisingenuously, "I guess I should have carried a briefcase instead of a grotty canvas tote bag". Yes, even if she had to borrow one. (Leather not required; the Graceship laptop bag shown is a high-quality "vegan leather".)
If in doubt, sit in the lobby and watch women leave, or enlist a friend who works in that city as your scout.
3. Be yourself, but your professional self
C. said "I...tend to be slightly flirty. I can't seem to squelch it nor do I really want to." She also noted that her field is "ruled by the masculine".
Whether (and how) a woman displays her charms in workplace tells a great deal about
her qualities and values. C. will know how to keep her womanly verve on the "slightly" side. The coquette is not an ennobling stance in office life. I mentioned Christine Lagarde as a model of feminine yet authoritative business attire; we need not meet her posh price point, but her elegance is exemplary.
C. sent a thoughtful reply, saying she was going to adopt a "uniform" kind of wardrobe, inspired, interestingly, by a respected male colleague.
She also opened another topic, that of how easy it is to be disheartened and buy into the prejudice against women over 50 in the workplace.
That reminded me of my friend R., who, because of a health issue, was not working for about five years and after successful treatment wanted to re-enter corporate life at 50-plus. All her friends told her, Forget it, the corporation won't want you, find another line of work—and she ignored us. After a year or so of interviews and a few near-misses, she landed a VP position in a major global company, and a short time later was named Professional of the Year in her field. She graciously refrained from saying, So there!
She is but one of the women whom I know who, after years out of the workforce, have then found rewarding employment. (Starting your own business is another matter; there is no job interview, but that woman will still gain from projecting vitality.)
On Thursday I'll consider C.'s intriguing third question: How does credible dovetail with chic?
Comments
I've heard statements from top-level officials saying someone looks too young (despite years of experience on the job at that same company), or not professional enough (despite having a national reputation as a leader in his field). It's not fair and it's actually pretty stupid; but it happens and one needs to be prepared.
I remember several interviews in my past and I over dressed, was far too hot and felt that I could not remove my jacket so I was soaked by the end of it...not a great feeling. I would also suggest that 50 plus women consider the fabrics they choose carefully!
Bravo and kudo's to your friend that was named business woman of the year! I like her spunk and determination...
I would think that pants would be fine, but that would probably entail a jacket. I think a lot has to do with the climate and the prevailing mode of dress for the particular area. This is such a good topic Duchesse.
C. (not the one being interiewed, thank goodness)
bettina: I've seen that too. (Good night, what I have seen! Including a severely obese man reject a somewhat overweight female candidate for being "too fat".)
Rita: That would look great, if climate allows.
hostess: Good point! Given that many of us sweat more when nervous, any fabric that does not breathe is going to feel like wearing a plastic bag.
Susan: Pants are usually fine and I think the knee-grazing skirt can go anywhere.
LPC: I'd say both you and Pseu are/were guiding lights for business casual. I always like to see a little step up for the interview. They know what you're doing and it's a sort of unspoken acknowledgment of the ritual.
Susan: A woman in a similar competition asked me what to do and I advised a jacket (summer weight). She relied that when she got to the interview, the committee (all women) were in knit tops. She thought she'd made a mistake; I did not. You can dress differently once you're hired. Hope your DIL was successful.
C.: After a day of interviews, the panel cannot recall the colour of a specific woman's outfit but they can recall if she looked limp.
Roberta: Absolutely! And that enthusiasm for the new role is a powerful transmitter of vitality. As one man once said to me, "It's so much harder when you're the internal; they've seen you in your underwear!
I do think the woman in the photo looks considerably older than 50...
While these general rules hold, they also depend a lot on the field, milieu, country and local culture. I think Susan's daughter's wardrobe choice might read a bit too conservative for a professorial job around here, but the clothing and general "mise" required by supposedly modern and semi-casual employers in the media, arts and academia is even more of a minefield. A certain "look" is desired, and it can be at least as expensive and painstaking as standard corporate drag. I was trying to google sites on this, to no avail.
I really do think that different areas have different dress codes!
Susan: That regional difference is why I suggested a candidate enlist a local for her read, if the interview is in an entirely different part of the country. (Someone enlisted me re dress for a presentation she was making here.) And a presentation in front of 50 is a different setting than a lunch in a casual restaurant with one or two interviewers.
Great to hear she got the job!
Gretchen: Well said, and I concur. Appearance matters more when the candidate will be representing the company in a very public, visible way- see Thursday's post.
That is exactly the problem, not what to wear to your interview. Most people will be weeded out before the interview and this Pollyana-attitude, wear lipstick that will do the trick, won't change the rampant ageist stereotyping of everybody as passed-it by 50.
I am sick of watching even the CBC with every older woman pumped full of facial filler, chubby cheeks and Botox, hide-hide above a normal neck. No more Barbara Frums, it's all about looking like a caricature.
Christine Lagarde or Angela Merkel, guess what, don't look young and it ain't a handicap in Europe like it is here.
There is indeed age discrimination (and also sexism, racism, nepotism, ableism and homophobia) in the workplace, along with other attitudes that impede competent persons from being hired.
Those conditions are not, however, excuses for giving up; I have seen too many successes to agree with you that it's over for anyone past 50. It takes longer, depends on the woman's skills, and some fields are more age-discriminatory than others.
One has that fine, fair skin that gets fine wrinkles. I don't think the woman in the video is pushing 90, she has a great jaw line. I'd say she is in her 60s?
I LOVED the "Barbara Cartland" quip.
Anon@11:59: I agree, see tomorrow's post.
Most days I don't bother with a lot of make-up, but I rarely leave the house without BB-cream (mostly for the SPF), brow-pencil, and lipstick. It looks natural, and I feel more confident.
I know that people can find all the 'isms' disheartening, but we can fight back by making sure we present ourselves as dynamic, likely to fit with the team, going to be productive and useful etc.