An American woman was not hired because she came to an interview without makeup

Although the American Melissa Weaver performed well at the interview and suited the company in all respects, she did not get the job. She was not taken because of her appearance, reports Insider.

Photo: iStock.com/GaudiLab

Melissa asked the company for feedback on her interview and was stunned by the response. She was told that she didn't put enough effort into her appearance.

The recruiter noticed that the applicant was not wearing makeup.

How to prepare for an interview in English, read here article.

Prejudices regarding appearance

Human resources experts say this bias is all too common: People are judged unworthy of a job because of unfair gender or social expectations.

On the subject: Career, job search, self-development, learning English: who to follow on TikTok

“This happens more often than we would like, especially with women,” said Daniela Herrera, talent and recruiting expert and founding partner of Allies in Recruiting. “Beauty and appearance biases play a huge role in how women are perceived in the workplace.”

Read in our material about what it is better not to tell the recruiter during an interview.

Weaver shared her story on TikTok. Video received more than 600 views. With a background in recruiting, she said she knew she was perfect for a position at a technology company. In addition, Weaver answered all the questions during the interview. Therefore, the refusal came as a surprise to her.

Company response

“It’s a pity, of course,” she admitted in the video. “I wanted to get this job, but I was very confused. So I did something I’ve never done before and sent a follow-up email asking for feedback on my interview.”

The recruiter said her work experience was "exactly what they were looking for." But they were "concerned" that Weaver did not put enough effort into her appearance "given the level of the position" she was applying for.

“I was interviewing for the position of vice president,” she explained. - And now about my appearance: I did my hair, I was wearing a beautiful top, blazer, earrings. But the only makeup I use is lipstick, because I don’t really wear a lot of makeup.”

“I can’t believe that in 2024 this is still happening. I had great enthusiasm for the company and knew I was right for the role. Therefore, it’s a shame that due to insufficient makeup I turned out to be less qualified,” the applicant noted.

Why does appearance matter?

Weaver asked her followers: Does wearing moderate makeup at an interview make you look like you don't care about the job?

The reaction in the comments was stormy. Some believe that appearance, including makeup, hairstyle, nail color and clothing, matters during an interview. But others felt it was unlawful to place so much importance on a candidate's appearance. Users suggested Weaver sue the company and recruiter for discrimination.

Many expressed frustration at the unfair expectations women still face.

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“They would never think or say that about a man,” one commentator emphasized.

“I've seen hiring managers reject candidates based on what they wore to an interview, the candidate's hair color, tattoos, or physical attributes,” another user chimed in.

These old-fashioned values ​​can then permeate a company's internal practices and policies, including decisions about who to hire, promote and pay more, experts say.

The reason for these outdated views usually lies in a lack of training on fair employment issues. That means the problem is getting worse, Herrera said.

“When microaggressions, biases, and stereotypes are not addressed, minimized, and challenged at a systemic, process, and practice level, they become part of the workplace culture,” she said.

"Serious Red Flag"

Michelle Engioli, a career development coach and speaker, suggested that Weaver's appearance may not have been an issue at all.

According to her, most vacancies in companies are distributed on the basis of networking. That is, a significant number of hiring managers already have someone in mind for the position before the interview process begins.

“In this particular case, my guess is that the hiring manager wanted someone else for the position but did not have the tact to give an honest answer to the candidate,” she explained.

She believes that not wearing enough makeup is not a “reasonable reason” for refusing a job.

This should be considered a "major red flag" regarding the leadership and culture of the company.

According to Herrera, it is time for companies to regularly review their hiring processes as this is the only way to avoid similar situations in the future.

She believes all candidates "should undergo a fair, accessible and inclusive interview process" and the only way to change this culture is to raise awareness.

“I strongly recommend training, testing and supporting everyone involved in hiring and interviewing so they don’t make these mistakes again,” she concluded.

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