Curls and Interviewing

EdenRose · 08-15-2011, 09:55 AM

So i was recently talking to a girlfriend about how i thought my last few interviews went well and i did all good follow up and thank you notes and even got second interviews for one but sadly am still unemployed. Her first response was what did i do to my hair and I told her i left it as is in my TWA and added like a nice headband. She told me immediately i should have wore my wig and I prob would have gotten the job. I was wondering do ya'll cover your curls for interviews with wigs and other things? Technically my wig i own at the moment is long haired and actually kinda hot for summer. I know first impressions are important but i looked completely professional head to toe and idk i didn't feel my hair being the way it was, was something that would hinder my job interview at all,

CraftyKell · 08-15-2011, 10:06 AM

see below

CraftyKell · 08-15-2011, 10:08 AM

I have been natural for 3 years, and I recently got a job singing at a church, and another offer to sing at another location. I also have a job at my university, and my co-workers compliment me on my hair. I'd like to think that more people are embracing curlies, and that employers don't discriminate against potential workers based on curl type, but it's possible! If that's the case for you, I'm very sorry and they are rotten racist *******s!

Unfortunately, that's a very difficult thing to determine. Was it your fro, or some other aspect of your interview or resume that made things not go well for you? If you are 100% sure that your resume is flawless and specific towards the job you applied for, and that you are a well spoken and concise individual, then it's possible they could have discriminated against you because of your hair. However, unless you got the feeling that they were racist, because that's where feelings like originate, then maybe there was another reason behind your bad luck in the employment department.

You could always try wearing the wig to a very similar type of employment opportunity to see if that makes a difference. But it would be hard to compare unless it was the same job and same interviewer! :P

I wish you the best of luck on your job hunt!

RacerWife7 · 08-15-2011, 11:01 AM

ugh. If they're really not hiring based on hair type, that's utterly pathetic. And, to be honest, I'm not sure you'd really want to work for anyone like that, right? ...I don't do anything different to my hair when I'm interviewing. I style it the way I style it. ...Actually, now that I think about it, the best job I ever had I got when I had styled it curly. ...I hope you find a job working for a company as good as that company was. Good luck!!

Note: they were good because they knew how to treat their employees; not because they hired me with curly hair.

BEST job I ever had. Labatt USA - now known as In-Bev who owns Budweiser (among MANY others). Loved that job. ...Too bad my office moved to NH back in 2003. *sigh*

curlypearl · 08-15-2011, 05:12 PM

I was told by a shrink who had seen my hair both curly and straight to wear it straight when I interviewed for exec. secretary jobs. In retrospect, I think it was poor advice although well intentioned. It just makes me so angry that we have to make ourselves into something we are not, which shouldn't have anything to do with our job performance.

A couple of other thoughts:

This is a terribly tough economy, as you know. You may not have gotten the job just because there are 30 applicants (or 300) for every job - not because you weren't very qualified, not because of your hair, etc., just too many applicants for one job.

Are you interviewing for something in a very conservative corporate environment? If so, maybe take your friend's advice, if you can stand working in a place where you may not feel comfortable.

If you have any doubts at all, and wearing a wig will make you feel more confident, go ahead.

I know how extremely hard it is today to get a position, and I wish you all the very best luck in the world. It may just be a numbers game - keep trying and eventually you'll win. I hope so!!!

Robin-in-FL · 08-15-2011, 05:27 PM

I do not think you need to straighten or wear a wig in an interview to get a good job, no. If it makes you, personally, feel more confident then use it, but I think rocking your natural hair is probably better.

We recently had an IRS audit at my work and the auditor had a TWA. I cannot imagine a more conservative job than IRS auditor so if it's appropriate for that job, it is certainly appropriate for any job.

I do mine curly but pulled back in low ponytail or half-up. I do think hair should be out of your face for job interview, and look "styled", so your headband strategy seems fine, or the front twisted back or something like that, but nobody who thinks that people should have to modify their natural texture should be in HR.

StayC · 08-15-2011, 06:00 PM

According to all of the experts out there, they state you should wear your hair back and away from your face. IMO, I feel when you're interviewing for a job you need to be truthful, and if you straighten your hair, then in fact you are lying to a degree. I've had interviews and my hair was always straight, I wore business suits, carried briefcases, and the girls who won the positions were the ones who looked like hootchy mommas. It's a crap shoot. At this point, with the economy being what it is and there are more applicants out there then there was before, I really don't think it matters much anymore. I think it all boils down to experience and if they feel you will be a good fit for the organization. I wonder how many of the hiring managers out there are really closet curlies.

Curlini · 08-15-2011, 07:33 PM

I've hired several curlies over the years and every single one of them has straightened their hair for the interviews. It makes me sad that they feel they have to do that to conform to societal expectations or whatever the reason. Once they see me with my curly hair they know they're free to be natural - they usually show up with curly hair for the first day of work. I personally wouldn't straighten for an interview but I understand the reasoning. On the other hand I have issues with people showing up wearing wrinkled clothes or ridiculously low-cut tops!

EdenRose · 08-15-2011, 09:10 PM

well most of the stuff i have applied for it's been retail or grocery stores and or some type of food service. I have retail and computer and child care experiene. Mostly from working for a bookstore for a year and a half and doing summer camps every summer since 2006.
My most recent interview was at organic homemade pizza company.

Personally in summer i try not to wear wigs especially to interviews cause i am nervous and it's hot an my anxiety results in sweating sometimes (i have chronic anxiety)
But i am trying to keep my head up in the whole job hunting arena i just miss being useful and working and i love my bf but i want to be able to help us a bit more money wise. P