The Devil in the Details: Job Interview Makeup

When we see Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada getting ready for her Human Resources interview at Runway Magazine, her entire beauty regimen – even for this important occasion – comprises brushing her teeth and putting on ChapStick. This scene is juxtaposed with the über-fabulous fashionistas who are getting ready for their jobs, curling their lashes and putting on eyeliner, lipstick and shadow. It clearly draws the conclusion for us that a lack of makeup is a component of being frumpy, particularly for an interview. Now, nevermind that Anne Hathaway is one of the most gorgeous women alive and could have swine flu and probably still look stunning, but it got me thinking: when mere mortals go on job interviews, we spend time choosing our clothes to look appropriate and professional, but, for women, should our specific makeup choices also be a factor?

I decided to ask an expert, someone who sees job candidates day in and day out. Jenn Marcotte is an Associate with Chaloner Associates, a national executive search firm specializing in communications, marketing, advertising and interactive recruitment. With offices in Boston and New York, Chaloner works with corporate, agency, consulting and non-profit clients in all industries across the US and Canada.

When you sit down with a candidate, you certainly notice their appearance overall – whether they are dressed appropriately and appear well-groomed and neat – in short, professional. But with women, does makeup play a part in your overall? If so, what would make you notice a candidate’s makeup?

I have to admit that when I reflect on all the elements that comprise a candidate's overall appearance, makeup is the last thing that comes to mind, and that’s a good thing! To me, this means that most women are wearing an appropriate amount of makeup to interviews. Well-applied makeup shouldn't jump out at me - it should just enhance your overall appearance. When I do notice makeup, it's when there's too much of it - or it's too loud.

Do you ever meet candidates who are well-dressed and professional in their clothing but are wearing too little or no makeup at all? What sort of impression does this leave you with? How little is too little?

Love it or hate it, it's just a fact that overall appearance will play a part in how well a candidate does during an interview. And ladies, before you get too upset, this doesn't apply only to females – an unkempt beard or mustache on a man can be just as distracting. An employer needs to have confidence that you'll represent them well while on the job. In the industry for which we recruit, PR and communications professionals often serve as corporate spokespeople and may need to be interviewed on camera. So while employers aren't looking for a movie star, they want to know that you'll come across as polished and put together while representing their organization. For women, makeup is a part of the overall appearance equation. Not wearing any makeup could give you that "just rolled out of bed" appearance and you want to demonstrate to a potential employer that you care about your job and take it seriously.  A nice foundation to even out your skin tone, a dab of blush and some lip gloss can go a long way!

On the other hand, if a candidate is overly made-up, what kind of an impression does that give you and what would you recommend to women who tend to err on this side for interviews? How much is too much?

My advice is always to err on the safe side. Save the bright colors for the weekend and stick with neutral tones. When you're being considered for a position, all of the choices that you make are being evaluated. This means everything from choosing to show up 15 minutes late without calling or sending a quick e-mail to let me know, to choosing to wear bright blue eye shadow. Interviewers often only get to spend an hour or less with a candidate before recommending them for a position, so they have to learn to trust their instincts. And if your instincts told you to wear bright blue eye shadow to a conservative law firm, then you might not be the right candidate for their place of business. Think about it this way: you want to be remembered for the great ideas you brought to the table and the success stories you shared from your current job - not for the bright red lipstick you wore.

Is there a “golden rule” you would recommend to women about interview makeup, and do you think this changes according to the industry for which a woman is interviewing?

We recently hosted a talk with stylist and personal brand image consultant, Darcey Howard, of LifeStyled, Ltd. Darcey gave a great piece of advice that I'd like to borrow: Before you leave the house, quickly turn around in a mirror and glance at your reflection. If your eye is drawn to one particular part of your face, you may want to rethink your makeup choices in that area. You don't want too much blush or too dark a shade of lipstick to be a distraction to your interview. You want 100% of their attention focused on what you have to say. 

As for the industry, know your audience. Certainly creative or entertainment-focused industries could be more open-minded to bolder makeup choices than the corporate world so there may be more room to have fun with your look. In 95% percent of cases, however, I'd still recommend sticking to neutrals to even out skin tone and lightly highlight your best features. If you're unsure of your makeup choices, ask a trusted friend, or stop by a Sephora or Bloomingdale’s for some professional advice.