(no subject)

[moominmolly]

Let's say you're the hiring manager for a non-customer-facing technical position, and your workplace is somewhat laid back, but not quite foosball tables in the bathrooms laid back. Further, let's say you interview someone for a position and they basically knock your socks off on the phone, but when they come in for an in-person interview, despite knocking even more socks, they turn out to have BRIGHT ORANGE HAIR.

[Poll #1064663]

I know what I'm going to do, but I'm curious what other people think I should do.

Comments

[harimad.livejournal.com]

Short answer: probably not. Maybe, maybe I would if
1) it was well within the norm of my company and
2) she really did knock my socks off and
3) I have a sense of humor.

Long answer:
I wouldn't suggest going with orange hair unless you know for certain that employees in that division exhibit that particular type of individuality. Even then, what's acceptable in an interview is very different than what's acceptable after you establish yourself. My friend was once one of two interviewers at a law firm. Good solid candidate had good interview. The very first thing the other interviewer said was "Can you believe he wore pleated pants to an interview?" This even though plenty of lawyers there wore pleated pants. As a more immediate example, a certain mutual friend of our probably wouldn't've been hired if he wore clown shoes to the interview, even though he wears them now at work.

Hair dyed a natural hair color (even if it's clearly not your natural color) is within all norms and won't create a problem. Orange hair has a very small chance of an upside but a largish chance of a downside.

I suppose you could use it as a filter for your potential future employer. Is the ability to have wildly-colored hair sufficiently important to you that you want to be acceptable during the interview itself?

I don't think anyone would ask about a shaved head for fear of discussing a health problem; not sure what they'd say after you left. I imagine, if you went moderately conservative (as defined by your industry) they wouldn't ding you for baldness, thinking it may be health related.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

OK, I don't know nearly enough about men's fashion. What's wrong with pleated pants? I mean, except that they're totally unflattering on almost everyone?

[harimad.livejournal.com]

Beats me. In the 15 years since he told me the story I still haven't figured it out. Point is, the interviewer was so distracted by the fashion detail that it got in the way of everything else.

[dot_fennel]

If after 15 years you haven't figured out what the guy in the story is talking about, why is this anecdote an argument for anything at all (other than "Don't worry too much; your interviewer might be a nut and shoot you down for no reason.")?

Many people, when this sort of topic comes up, claim the bottom line is that it never hurts to err on the side of dressiness, but this only makes sense if you take 'dressing up' to be a near-universal social code. A clothing rule that can escape being used or mentioned within your hearing for 15 years of life in a culture is almost by definition not part of any universal code.

[harimad.livejournal.com]

15 years ago I didn't know much about men's business clothing norms, that not being relevant to me.

My point of the story is that interviewers can get caught up with incongruous detail, even if the detail is unimportant; that first impressions matter; and that actions taken during a first meeting carry more significance than actions taken after you've established a relationship and a reputation.

[signsoflife.livejournal.com]

Pleated pants are less formal than flat front pants, especially for men.