Looking for a new job can be incredibly stressful. You’re competing with countless other capable candidates in interviews and aptitude tests. Unfortunately, some companies also take your physical appearance into account. And a job you might be perfectly qualified for can slip through your fingers because you don’t match the societal standards of ‘beauty.’ Or… because you don’t often wear makeup.
New Yorker Melissa Weaver went viral on TikTok and in the media after sharing how she got rejected for a vice president job because she didn’t wear makeup for her interview. Read on for the full story and what the internet thought of ‘pretty privilege’ and double standards for women.
Bored Panda reached out to Weaver, and she was kind enough to answer our questions. “ Pretty privilege has always existed. My story just shed light on it and gave people a space to talk about their own experiences,” she told us. You’ll find our full interview with her below.
In this day and age, some recruiters still evaluate applicants’ appearance alongside their skills
Melissa Weaver went viral after sharing how she was denied a high-profile position because she didn’t wear makeup for the interview
“Okay, TikTok, I need your opinion on something. So I interviewed for a job earlier this week. The interview went so well. Every question she had, I had a great answer for. I used to work in recruitment. I know how to interview.”
“My background and experience align perfectly with what the role entails. So I thought it went great. But then I get an email from the recruiter saying that I’m not going to be moving on to the next round. I was really bummed because I wanted the job. But I was also very confused.”
“So I did something I never do, and I emailed her back and asked for feedback. And she said that while my background was exactly what they were looking for, my experience lined up with what they need for the position, and my own personal goals and values align with the company’s, she was concerned that, for my interview, I hadn’t put in enough effort in my appearance, given the level of the role I was interviewing for.”
“I was interviewing for the vice president position. And now my appearance: I had done a blowout for my hair. I had on a nice top, a blazer, some earrings, but I only had on chapstick. I didn’t have on any makeup because I don’t really wear a lot of makeup. Not to be quirky. I just don’t.”
“So my question is, does not wearing makeup, for women, to job interviews or to jobs, make it seem like they aren’t putting as much effort or care into their job?”
According to Weaver, when she asked for follow-up info about why she didn’t move on to the next stage in the job application process, she was told that she hadn’t put enough effort into her appearance.
She had done a blowout for her hair and was wearing a nice blazer and earrings. However, she hadn’t worn any makeup because she doesn’t really do that.
It would be frustrating for anyone to learn that their skills aren’t the priority and are passed over for such a superficial thing as makeup. Especially when you consider that it’s a very high-profile role you’re interviewing for—a vice president position in HR.
We wanted to get Weaver’s take as to why her video resonated with so many people all around the globe. From her perspective, a lot of people, especially women, have experienced being treated differently because of their appearance.
“It’s been an unspoken, unconscious bias. I had someone actually voice their opinion that makeup is expected for a woman to look professional,” she told Bored Panda via LinkedIn.
According to Weaver, companies don’t prioritize looks over skills. “One of the reasons I didn’t name the company in my TikTok video was because I didn’t want to shame an entire company based on the opinion of one of their employees,” she explained.
“I do think there are people who think appearance is important in the workplace because it’s what they’ve always been taught. Girls aren’t born knowing how to put on makeup. They learn from their moms and grandmothers, and being ‘old enough’ to wear makeup is culturally seen as a right of passage for girls. I think every Millenial was told by their parents that people with visible tattoos will never be able to get a ‘real’ job,” Weaver told us.
“People’s preconceived notions about appearance stem from what they grew up hearing and what society says is ‘acceptable’. I don’t think anyone would say skills aren’t important, but there are people who think for someone to be the ‘full package’ employee, they need to have skills and meet a certain standard of appearance.”
Meanwhile, Bored Panda asked Weaver for the advice she’d give job applicants who feel nervous about interviews. She was happy to share some pearls of wisdom. “Before you apply for a job, make sure you meet all the required qualifications and at least 75% of the preferred qualifications and you’re confident you could handle the role responsibilities,” she said.
“Before the interview, do some research on the company and have a couple of questions ready to ask the interviewer. Before the interview, do some research on the company and have a couple of questions ready to ask the interviewer. When the pre-interview nerves and doubts start to creep up, remind yourself: 1) you know you can do the job—you wouldn’t have applied for it if you didn’t think you could, 2) you’re prepared for the interview, and 3) this company thinks you have potential to do the job—they wouldn’t be interviewing you if they didn’t.”
You can watch the full video, which was picked up by media outlets everywhere, over here
@_melissaweaver Does wearing make up to work make a difference? #work #corporate #career #interview #job #jobsearch #makeup #jobinterview #opinion #advice #women ♬ original sound – Melissa
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