The corona virus pandemic has shaken up the world of work. Due to the lock-down and social distancing measures enforced by the UK Government, staff were moved, where possible, to remote working arrangements to contain the spread of the virus. As a result, organisations have had to re-imagine some of the ways in which they would typically operate, including the methods that they would rely on to interview and recruit new talent, among others.
This is supported by data from the research and advisory body, Gartner, which found that 86% of employers have incorporated new technology to help them conduct virtual interviews throughout the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, some organisations like PwC and Netflix were said to have temporarily put the brakes on hiring, while other companies such as Microsoft and Domino’s Pizza found that they were recruiting more than ever. And of course, to ensure that the right person is given the job, interviews still need to take place, whether it is virtual or not.
In a traditional interview setting, it is not uncommon for hiring managers to tell candidates ahead of the interview about the firm’s dress code so that they can dress accordingly. But, particularly with interviews taking place on Zoom, one talent acquisition professional has asked whether turning up in a suit, for example, is really necessary when gauging how suitable a candidate is based on their skills and experience. Simon Halkyard, Head Office Talent Acquisition Manager at ASDA, took to LinkedIn writing: “Seeing quite a few people doing zoom interviews in suits. Interview attire really is one of the last bastions of the tradition interview to fall isn’t it[?] What does wearing a suit for an interview actual tell anyone about a candidate? You wear a suit at an interview and you wear a suit if you are in court charged with a crime. They have no relevance to good character or the ability to do a job (sic).”
Halkyard’s social media post garnered a wealth of comments from other LinkedIn users including Magdalena da Silva Barbosa, Talent Acquisition Specialist EIMEA at H.B. Fuller, who believes that the word ‘presentable’ is key to this debate. She wrote: “As long as you look clean and neat – that’s good enough. If someone is more comfortable and feels sense of confidence while wearing a suit then let be it but obviously – what you are wearing has nothing to do with individual’s professional capabilities. BTW, is anyone actually dressing up from head to toe for a video interview (sic)?”
Other social media users pointed towards additional issues such as inequality and conscious and unconscious bias that could arise if candidates are expected to dress in a certain way for a job interview. For example, Jonathan Mantle, Management Consultant at CQ&D Solutions, wrote on the professional networking site: “On a more serious note though, demanding a certain dress style that’s irrelevant to performance/safety, is quite unfair and creates an unconscious bias. People are deemed more or less professional by how fancy their suit is. Walk in wearing a tailored Hugo Boss and clearly you’re the one for the job. Wear a machine-washable suit you picked up in ASDA for £20 and you’re clearly not their type of candidate. In a world of inequality – where people’s talent rarely reflects their given opportunities, wealth or status – we should stop insisting people meet up to materialistic and fake ‘status indicators’… (sic)”
On the other side of the coin, Debs Chapman HR Director at The Very Group, responded to the thread stating that, perhaps, dressing smartly will unlock ‘inner confidence’ within candidates. “Maybe that feeling is needed to help land the job and just maybe that job is a lifeline to that person. You should be able to wear what makes you feel good in that situation,” she added. Others argued that the dress code for a job interview should depend upon the job role.
Do you think candidates should be expected to dress up for interviews? Let us know in the comments below…
My Grapevine, July 2020