CMU School of Drama


Friday, April 27, 2012

Study Says 65% Of Bosses Say Dress Is The Deciding Factor Between Two Job Candidates

thegrindstone.com: Make sure that pantsuit looks really good. According to a new infographic from Highest Paying Careers, 65% of bosses say that dress could be the deciding factor between two similar job candidates.
“That first impression on an interview counts so much, and you don’t want to be out of the race before the interview even begins,'

6 comments:

beccathestoll said...

Not gonna lie, I definitely sometimes judge people by their attire. I also sometimes don't dress as appropriately as I should for school, and on those days I find myself constantly thinking about it. Granted, school is not an interview, but it reminds me that everyday we are making an impression and that we represent the school in what we do. This also becomes true at crits each year when people come to differing conclusions about what to wear. I have seen people go way overboard (I myself probably have been one), and people look like they didn't give it enough thought. And it seems that those who dress the part (or close to it) perform with more confidence and make a better first impression. So, while it is admirable not to judge a book by its cover, as one of my friends says "I also don't read tattered books..." Just some interesting things that I thought about while reading this.

Anonymous said...

I can't say that I'm too surprised by this statistic. We all judge books by their covers. That's one reason why it's important to look and feel your best for a job interview. I think it's important to look nice for an interview but to still like yourself, though. The company wants to know who you are- they are hiring you to work with them, after all, and you are not necessarily going to be dressed to the nines and trying to impress people every day on the job. The tip the author gives in this article about knowing the company is important for many reasons- one of which, as the author said, is to know how you should dress. I am glad that I got to meet some of the Cirque employees at USITT last year before my interview because that made me realize how informal the company and its employees are! They are serious about doing their jobs well, but otherwise don't like for things to be too high-stress or formal. Knowing this prepared me for my interview because it made me realize not too look like I was trying too hard and to keep it casual and really be myself!

AbigailNover said...

I actually am surprised by that statistic. It seems low to me. Judging people on their appearances is instinctive. We can't help it. It also doesn't seem like a terrible way to make a distinction to me. The way people dress reflects them. It would not be fair to judge based on physical features, but dress is a separate issue. You can tell a lot about someone based on how they dress - especially for an interview. If two candidates are equally qualified but one looks dresses like a slob and one is well put together, why not choose the one who clearly put some effort into how they look to make a good impression for the interview? It seems completely valid and useful to me.

Page Darragh said...

A first impression takes less than 30 seconds. That is pretty powerful. As much as we don't want to think we judge a book by it's cover, we all do to some degree. If you are trying to impress someone that doesn't know you, I can see how the way you dress can make a difference on a good or bad impression. An interview is one of those situations. We all want to work with people that are strong, competent , and likable. When we dress a certain way, we can exude these qualities. A well put together outfit can show good self esteem, neatness, and professionalism. On the other hand, an outfit without much thought can show poor attention to detail, sloppiness, and low self esteem. Not all jobs call for excellent attire, but when it does, I think the better dressed will win.

njwisniewski said...

I also think that we shouldn't make assessments on the way people dress look, the color of their hair, ears, anything, but it is unavoidable. Especially when one is trying to display themselves in the best way possible, we want our outsides to match/ at least tell how we feel about ourselves and the world in some light. Not saying that only business casual dresses and perfectly manufactured french tip finger nails are allowed, but one should make at least a little effort to express there personality in the way they dress, and then take that essence and clean it up a little, or make it work in a way that we want to tell others what we are capable of/ how great, organized, professional, or even creative one can be in the position they are applying for. I am strongly against the notion that to land a job you need a powersuit. To land a job you need to know your company, know yourself, and the best you can connect the two. That includes giving it your all, so why not be the best version of you, without pretending to be something that you are not.

Jason Cohen said...

I will agree with the article that one needs to make sure that they make a good first impression. Personally I know stories of people getting their job because of their first impression (meaning that they were equally skilled as the other person, but they made a better first impression that made them stand out in the minds of the employer). The more important point in this is what you wear to the interview. Everyone judges each other on their appearances. It is just human nature to judge people off of what they wear. I think that you should always dress 's work, but like for an average day. However this outfit would just be a little more stepped up. In the end, appearance does matter.