How What You Wear Can Help You Land a Job, According to Experts
Discover why appearance and grooming matter in competitive job interviews, featuring insights from recent graduates and career coaches.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Taya Reed, a 23-year-old graduate, landed her dream marketing job at Tala after careful interview preparation and styling.
- A 2020 study showed that 51% of employers rejected candidates based on scruffy appearance or poorly dyed hair.
- Matt Cohen, a 31-year-old marketer, secured his first post-graduation job by dressing professionally and grooming meticulously.
- Career experts emphasize that looking professional acts as a subconscious signal of taking the opportunity seriously.
Securing a dream job in a fiercely competitive labor market where youth unemployment remains stubbornly high requires young adults to leverage every possible advantage. Beyond core skills and professional substance, research indicates that personal appearance and grooming play a surprisingly influential role in interview outcomes.
Consider Taya Reed, a 23-year-old science graduate from top London universities who targeted a marketing role at womenswear brand Tala. Having researched thoroughly and devised a promotional campaign for the business, Reed put equal thought into planning her outfits for both online and in-person interviews, a strategy that paid off when she secured the position last month.
Min-Hsuan Tu, a human resources professor at the University of Buffalo and lead author of a 2021 study, warns that the interview process can be skewed from the moment a candidate walks through the door. She notes that attractive individuals often benefit from positive assumptions regarding traits like intelligence and trustworthiness, largely because preferential treatment from childhood helps them build stronger communication skills and self-confidence.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"Showing that you have taken care of your appearance and have presented yourself in a professional manner is an unconscious signal to the interviewer that you are taking the opportunity seriously."
Caroline Hickey
Similarly, Matt Cohen, a 31-year-old American living in London with a master's degree in marketing, spent nearly a year sending over 100 cover letters before securing an entry-level executive role at a media company. For his interviews, Cohen deliberately wore a long-sleeve buttoned-down shirt despite the company's casual T-shirt culture, while meticulously trimming his beard and cutting his short hair to reduce stress and project confidence.
In organizational psychology, interview grooming and attire operate on signaling theory. Candidates use external presentation as a proxy to communicate professionalism, conscientiousness, and respect for the company culture, which reassures hiring managers about how the candidate will represent the firm to clients.
Caroline Hickey, a London-based career coach who advised both Reed and Cohen, asserts that knowing you look good directly boosts confidence and helps interviewers envision you in their workspace. Madeline Drucker, a 21-year-old from New Jersey who secured two internships via video interviews, echoes this sentiment, noting that feeling well-presented enhances performance especially during remote calls.
Source: BBC Business
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