30 Times People Wore The Most Inappropriate Clothes For Job Interviews, As Revealed By Folks In This Online Thread
Despite society feeding us these self-proclaimed beauty standards that supposedly everyone must follow, we all know that it's a bunch of malarkey, and our looks don't actually matter; we live in a time where folks celebrate difference and individuality, and it's truly empowering.
However, when it comes to workplaces, our appearance still plays a significant role in how our colleagues and higher-ups perceive us. Of course, it all depends on the kind of job one has, as some companies are more lenient than others.
Well, this online user took it to everyone's favorite subreddit to ask fellow Redditors about job interviewees or their attire, to be exact. "Employers of Reddit, what is the most inappropriate piece of clothing someone has worn to a job interview?" – and as it turns out, it's not uncommon for applicants to show up wearing the most bizarre fits. This post ended up receiving over 12.3K upvotes and 3.6K worth of stories.
More info: Reddit
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An extremely short dress.
But, I ended up hiring her because she had experience. Turned out she was pregnant, coming from school, and her husband had met her at the interview site so she could change clothes and that is what he had brought. She was so embarrassed, but did not have time to go home and change into something else.
She ended up being the best worker I had ever hired.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
I used to manage a store that sold work wear to oil patch workers. I interviewed a young woman for a sales position. She cam in wearing a club-style halter top, tight pants and heavy make up. Not exactly the business casual look we wore while at work. Through the course of the interview I found out that she was a bartender, working late nights while her boyfriend worked in the patch. She was 21, pregnant and wanted out of the bar life, and into something more main stream while she carried her baby. She was looking for an opportunity to better her life. She was bilingual, wanted to be a teacher some day and was living far away from her family trying to get it all right. So, I hired her. 7 months later, I got to hold her fist child. 8 years later I attended her wedding. Today, 13 years after that interview, she is a teacher. Never, ever let that first impression be the only one.
Homecoming dress. She knew she was supposed to dress up for the interview, and that was the nicest thing she had. I felt so bad; she was incredibly embarrassed. It was her first real interview, and in the end, I gave her credit for at least putting in the effort.
From Reddit, because BP HATES to post updates: For everyone asking, yes, she did get a job offer. The attire didn't factor in nearly as much as her coming in prepared, on time, and with questions.
I was the person! This was 20 years ago, and I had just moved to the city. I was 17 and spent 3 weeks working as a hostess at Denny's. A friend asked if I wanted to go rollerblading, so I was strapped into my roller blades and was wearing athletic wear. She then pulled up to her gym, had me walk in my roller blades up to the second story where the daycare was, and told me that I was interviewing for the Nanny job that she heard was available. I actually got the job because the woman who owned the gym was impressed that I could climb stairs in my roller blades!
I was a recruitment manager for a call centre and Oh man, let me list a few:
1. 20 something-year-old strolling in with sweatpants that say "I SMOKE WEED 420" all over them. Literally.
2. a t-shirt that said "I hate work"
3. A giant gold necklace that said "B***H"
4. leggings with way too much camel toe
5. a stripper who came to her interview straight from work.
6. An old man who for some reason made holes in his shirt for his nipples to be exposed.
7. ninja turtle pajamas
8. A man who actually wore decent clothing but then tried to take off his clothing and lay 'like a plank' on the lobby floor. When he went to the elevator, he burned off the buttons with a lighter.
None of this is made up. What an experience.
If your offered job attracts so many weirdos, it's not the weirdos who are the problem.
I feel bad for the stripper. I imagine it's difficult trying to transition out of that type of work. And it shows a lot of hard work and initiative to come straight from one job to another.
Agreed. I hope she was taken seriously somewhere, and is living her dreams now.
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The stripper was probably legitimately trying to find a better job. I would have taken a chance on her. The others are a solid "no."
Most of these people are trying to keep their unemployment by going to job interviews and making sure they don't get the job.
I am a tmnt expert and I'm offended with the pic Mikey has Leo's sword he uses nunchucks
5. a stripper who came to her interview straight from work. This one hurts! She needed a job and a new way of living apparently! But you had to judge her, right????
She shouldn't be judged because of what she does for a living, though I personally dont agree with it, but she could have had a set of clothes to change into for the interview, and life in general.
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These are the types of people that go to interviews because they have to in order to keep welfare cheques coming in. It happens a lot in my area. They don’t want to work but you have to apply for and attend interviews if offered. I think it’s 10-20 jobs a week they need to apply for. It’s really a p**s off.
That leaves me with only one question. What was the job they were interviewing for?
PJs she was pulled out of bed and brought to me and my boss for an interview she didn't know she was having. After 5 minutes we offered her a job and she actually turned out really well.
If you can handle a stressful situation like an interview five minutes after waking up you're prepared for A LOT! Job requirements can always be taught and learned.
A pair of flesh colored leggings that made her look as if she wasn't wearing pants at all, a sweatshirt that opened in the front, that had been pulled to the side a bit to reveal a lacy camisole top. We work as therapists. No f***ing way she got that job.
For more info, both her wig and glasses were askew. There was an odor somewhere between human and cat urine. And about halfway through she asked if she could take a break because she left her car running to charge her phone.
I was the one going to the job interview, when I was 16 I applied for a job at a well known auto parts garage, I thought we were meant to be in a full formal clothing e.g a suit, so I wore a full 3 - piece suit to the interview, when I got to the interview all the other candidates were wearing boiler suits along with work boots, when it was my turn to go in for the interview the interviewer was surprised (as I guess from his reaction), apparently all candidates were sent an email telling them to wear protective clothing and something which they would not mind getting dirty because we were meant to demonstrate the basic duties we would do whilst working at the garage e.g changing the oil in a car etc. Well I did no demonstrating that day but the interviewer did agree to let me come in the next day to do some demonstrations, i got the job and worked there for about 2 years, I honestly miss that job but I had to move for personal reasons
Drop the oil in a car without getting yourself dirty, that'd be impressive.
I worked in the US Senate a couple years back.
We were interviewing about half a dozen candidates for a pretty junior position. One of the interviewees was wearing a Harvard tee shirt, a Harvard jacket, and Harvard sweatpants. We were astounded.
The first question my coworker asked was "Did you go to Harvard?". The guy did, and he handled the rest of the interview surprisingly well. He didn't get the job but he did become a running joke in the office for a while.
Late to the party but...
I had a young guy come in one day who I think was clearly trying to NOT get the job. Like his dad gave him an ultimatum to get a job or get out type of thing and he was just going to interviews to appease him.
He had his hair in pigtails high on the sides of his head with wire threaded in them so they'd stick out.
Black t-shirt that said "F**K' on it in giant white letters.
Plaid schoolgirl style skirt.
Rainbow tights.
90's chunky club kid style shoes.
A few years back, I had someone show up fresh out of the swimming pool. Hair wet. Bathing suit and cover up on. Still wet. Hadn't taken the time to dry off. I went through the interview and a test simulation of the job with her. She actually did very well at the simulation. When I took her to see my boss that made the ultimate decision, he took one look and said no. Didn't ask about the simulation or anything, just no.
I saw one guy come from the country club pool in an American flag tank top and swim trunks to the clubs golf cart boy interview. He didn’t get the job and then came back a week later in a full suit apologizing for his previous attire.
I worked with a guy who applied to the local big city Fire Department. Apparently all candidates had to submit a passport type photo of themselves, although I fail to see how that's relevant. Diversity quota perhaps?
Anyways, this guy was a gym nut and also sent a full head and torso photo of himself, with no shirt on. When I asked him why, he replied "So they know I'm not a twink."
Well, it must have worked, as Twinky is now a firefighter.
i'm a receptionist at a law firm, and back in the winter we were hiring for a new legal assistant. we had this lady come in through a hiring company, and she straight up told the hiring company and us that she wasn't going to dress professionally because she feels "we shouldn't judge her on her looks or how she dresses for an interview"
she literally came in wearing a ratty pair of sweat pants and a bleached stained sweater and honestly she had this sense of entitlement that came off as rude when i greeted her. needless to say she didn't get the job
A receptionist is the first face you see when walking into a business, most often. They will be the first impression of said business, so respectable clothing should be worn.
I interviewed a young woman who wore a skirt so short I did actually see her underwear when she sat down. The underwear was pink. I gave her feedback later that she should have worn a suit. This was for a business analyst role. Everyone else was wearing a suit.
He wore a polo.
....with our competitor's logo on it.
I have one from just last month!
This guy was coming in to interview for a Financial Advisor program. Everyone in our office dresses very professional, and most people I interview are dressed in their best suits.
This gentlemen came in wearing a stained white dress shirt, with a yellow tinted white undershirt. I forget what kind of pants, but he had a cloth "joker" belt (why so serious written all over it with the jokers face) neon green and black that he didnt loop through the rest of his pants and was swaying around when walking. He also had very long creepy finger nails that were very dirty and he kept rolling and rubbing his fingers together to get the dirt off subconsciously.
The icing on the cake was he coughed and snorted something up very loudly, then swallowed it, then loudly commented "Nice!".
Somehow this guy aced our assessments and put together a great resume, but was just the exact opposite of professional.
We are still not sure if he was trying to f**k with us, or was that terribly oblivious. I just assumed he was interviewing for someone else, like Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting.
Back when I was an hourly manager at Walmart, a guy came in with greasy hair, a white t-shirt full of holes, and sweat pants. AND to top it all off, he looked like he had a semi...
Surprisingly he didn't smell, and the clothes actually looked clean- so that was good? But still, I gave him a hard no, but the overnight assistant gave him the go. Because he wasnt going to be on her shift, and she thought it was hilarious.
This guy was a f**king nightmare. Wore that same "outfit", now never washed, almost daily. Smelled like death, a*s, and cumin. And he was crazy. We were finally able to fire him after he pulled out his pocket knife and cut his coworker. Thankfully the cut didn't cause any real damage to the kid.
Not an employer, but I - a dude - had a lucky pink thong under my pants for an interview. Got the job. Would wear again.
As long as your underwear is kept, you know, *under,* I see no problems here 🤷♀️
saggy pants with whitie tightie underwear. when he bent over to sign in at the desk you could see his whole butt (but not his butt hole)
I've never had to deal with inappropriate clothing at an interview before, but (and probably worse) I did have to try to explain away to elected officials and citizens at a public consultation meeting why the engineering consultant we contracted out for a portion of developing that town's strategic plan showed up in a f**king Hawaiian shirt and flip flops.
Reason I gave: he wanted to stand out and field as many questions as possible by sticking out like a sore thumb and seeming approachable
Real reason: This was his last gig before retirement (so he had zero f**ks) and he had just signed his divorce papers that morning and spent the afternoon drinking at the hotel bar with his lawyer.
Unf**kingreal. Nothing in his contract dictated anything about attire (since 99% of what he was paid to do was going to be done from his winter place in Arizona), only that he would be expected to show up at any public consultations. You better f**king believe our standard contracts going forward included a clause on it.
Why did the contracts need a clause for clothing? You hired a consultant. He was not an elected official. He came to the meeting and presumably did the job correctly. This seems like Boomer nonsense. "Dress in a suit and tie, damnit!" The guy wore a shirt with a pattern. That doesn't prevent him from fulfilling his contracts.
He came in to the IT interview in polo, khakis and aqua colored Crocs with an anime maid blushing painted on one and lining up a sniper shot on the other. He was late because security was concerned about his mlp chain wallet.
If you're hiring a programmer based on the clothes he's wearing, you're not going to get very good programmers. We tend to expect a standard of "you will wear clothes".
Someone came in to interview at my job wearing a Levi's t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off, Daisy Dukes, and pink flip flops covered in pompoms. It was January in the UK. I don't understand why she wasn't blue with cold.
The look my manager gave me as she lead this woman to the interview room was amazing.
Not as bad as some of the others here, but it gave us a good laugh for a few days.
Had a candidate come in for a recruiting role. She was young and beautiful. But she was wearing some of the tightest yoga pants ever. Nothing was left to the imagination. Her top looked great though.
This is confusing is this bad? I mean their yoga pants they are going to be tight.
I had an interviewee for a entry-level, customer service position at a large company show to our interview 15 minutes late in Hello Kitty pajama bottoms, a matching backpack, a bright pink hoodie, and warm and fuzzy slippers.
I didn't even bother with the interview as she was late, but that has to be one of the most unprofessional attire I've seen in my hiring experience.
The other I recall was a young woman interviewing for a customer service position at the airline I was at in an extremely low cut blouse and short skirt, all in black. Mentioned something during the interview about how she hasn't smoked weed in a couple weeks and wanted to make sure we knew she wasn't high.
A tight muscle shirt. It's great that you work out, big guy, but it's not a gym. Plus he only worked his glamour muscles. He was thick around the middle. Dude, at least give the office a show.
Why downvote Sam? People who are actually strong look less like Johnny Bravo and more like a tree trunk.
A guy in a Harley t-shirt came by applying for a job. What was so special was his Harley hat and the half smoked and butted out cigarette he had behind his ear. I actually thought it was a practical joke or something.
Not an employer but my current workplace hosted a small job fair.
This lady came in wearing a transparent shirt with no bra. My boss, who was a lady at the time, immediately turned the lady around and pushed her out the front door. Guy comes in later that same day wearing skin tight short shorts and a very large blue tank top. Guy was nice and respectful during his interview. Boss told him she would've hired him on the spot if he had only put on something casual or professional.
If you do not hire a skilled worker who fits the team because of a pair of pants, you are stupid. Explain the dress code, sent to the next outlet, prepare workspace and let that person start later that day.
I worked for a high-end software development firm. We wore business casual, and were fairly on the “casual” end of that, but one day someone showed up to the interview in a bright fluorescent orange oversized hoodie, cargo pants, and sandals.
They did not get the job.
If my job were to write code, wearing uncomfortable clothing would definitely interfere with that.
Suit, tie, Black socks, brown sandals.
Note: this post originally had 33 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Glad to hear that some employers can look past the rigid norms of dress code and see what a person has to offer themselves. A big applause to those individuals!
Most of these people didn't want a job or at least that particular job. I can't speak for other countries but under the Australian system, unless it changed recently, people register at the government office and are sent to an affiliated employment agency. These agencies are paid to place people in ANY job regardless of suitability or experience just to get them off benefits and lower unemployment figures. Hence the unemployed often deliberately present themselves poorly attired at interviews for jobs.
In the US, you have to apply to jobs to keep getting unemployment checks. I believe some states require interviews. So it’s an adjacent situation. They show up to the interview just to tell their caseworker they tried and still collect their government checks.
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I was a manager of a retail store for about 7 years. I would schedule interviews with people online as we didn't allow 'off-the-street' interviews to be set up. We sold lottery and cigarettes which are very regulated at the state level so anyone applying had to do so online so we could do a background check first. No point in setting up an interview if they couldn't pass that. So this guy seemed so great on paper. I schedule the interview and he shows up in beach shorts, torn t-shirt and flip flops, carrying both a beer and a gun in a holster. I almost get the gun; some people carry (not sure why it needed to be brought to a job interview but okay). But it was the beer than really did me in. He was half drunk in the interview which we're required to follow through with. It was wild.
Even in open carry states it can't be legal to carry a gun while you're drinking alcohol.
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My husband walked 10km to a job interview, his shoes disintegrated on the walk. He bought shoe glue and duct tape at a nearby store and fixed them up before continuing on. His tenacity got him the job which was tailored towards people on benefits. He'd been turned down for previous jobs because he was 'over qualified'. He just wanted a chance to support his family.
I used to hire for a law firm. I always dress professionally. I also like other people to dress professionally. I had one girl come in and tell me there was no way in hell she was going to dress like me. Nope. Also I want to mention emails that people put on their résumé. If you're applying for a job, make sure your email is not redhotcherry@gmail.com.
And that's why I keep two emails: one for professional or important use, and one for junk and family/friends.
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I had a job in highschool helping out at my mom's job (she was a secretary in a big hospital). I would also help sort and answer the applications for medical trainees (students of medicine after their last year who are not MDs yet). One had sent a picture, more like a snapshot, of herself in the middle of eating cereal, mouth wide open and spoon filled with cereal in front of her face. I had no experience with apllying or job interviews myself but I knew that that was highly inappropriate.
I had a forty year old woman show up in full goth gear for a receptionist job at a financial services company.
I work at a staffing company. Even in "normal" times, we had strange people/attire but when we switched to virtual in 2020, men would answer their Zoom interview shirtless, other people smoked bongs, in pajamas in bed and smoking/singing along to commercial jingles throughout, etc. Fun times.
Reminds me of a time I went on a school field trip to a farm. The farmer there was pretty mean, and would pick kids who barley did anything to make fun of them. One kid was wearing these awesome rainbow pants. The farmer calls him up and says, " pretend this is a job interview. Already, you're not getting the job because of your pants. You should wear something respectable." Every so often in the rest of the year we would compliment those pants on him.
I got a job as a clerical assistant at a major insurance company partly because I was the only applicant who came to the interview wearing a suit. Early 90s.
Worked at a place where a guy come in looking for a job. The owner was willing to speak with him, I suggested he removed his ball cap with an F-Bomb printed on it.
I was always told to dress one step above the required work attire. But after working in management at a fitness club for years I realize many people were not taught that.
Not so much about attire, but attitude. In the mid-1990s skilled programmers were hard to find. The applicant wore casual clothes that might have barely passed on Fridays. Slouched in the chair. I tried asking open ended questions and got two word replies. So I reviewed his resume in front of him, counting his previous jobs out loud. I pointed out that he had held 5 jobs over the past 7 years. He nodded. I asked what the chances were that he'd be at our company in a year. He said not very good. I ended the interview and marked him not a candidate with a written explanation. Surprisingly, another manager offered him a job but he turned it down.
One woman came to a job interview in Rollerblades as well. I overlooked that part because I can understand in a big city sometimes you get creative with transportation. What I had a hard time overlooking was the attire, an ill-fitting camisole, the one with lace on the trim, and no bra, and short shorts. I get that it was hot but yeesh! She fit my qualifications so me and DM gave her a shot. On my rare day off the DM came in to check on her, she was in the back room with the door open to watch the store, and doing her nails. I found out the next day that shortly after the DM after getting mad, that the employee walked out, dropping off her keys in the mailbox that belonged to the building. Nothing was shut down properly, lights weren't even turned off. So yes, I can and will judge a book by its cover, because sometimes your cover tells me you just do not care.
I posted an ad for a $14/hr retail job ($20/hr in today's dollars), and a guy came in with baggy jersey and low-hanging shorts after tipping his skateboard up against the front window. I asked him if this was how he planned to dress for the job, and he mumbled something about dressing the way I was dressed. I told him to dress for the interview the way you would dress for the job, then returned to my office, leaving him standing in the showroom.
{slow clap} He showed up. He answered correctly when seeing how YOU dressed that he would then dress the same. Then you turned around and shut the door on him. No wonder all the retailers are suffering right now from lack of decent employees. Hire the person; coach the attire and professionalism. Shame on you.
Load More Replies... Glad to hear that some employers can look past the rigid norms of dress code and see what a person has to offer themselves. A big applause to those individuals!
Most of these people didn't want a job or at least that particular job. I can't speak for other countries but under the Australian system, unless it changed recently, people register at the government office and are sent to an affiliated employment agency. These agencies are paid to place people in ANY job regardless of suitability or experience just to get them off benefits and lower unemployment figures. Hence the unemployed often deliberately present themselves poorly attired at interviews for jobs.
In the US, you have to apply to jobs to keep getting unemployment checks. I believe some states require interviews. So it’s an adjacent situation. They show up to the interview just to tell their caseworker they tried and still collect their government checks.
Load More Replies... I was a manager of a retail store for about 7 years. I would schedule interviews with people online as we didn't allow 'off-the-street' interviews to be set up. We sold lottery and cigarettes which are very regulated at the state level so anyone applying had to do so online so we could do a background check first. No point in setting up an interview if they couldn't pass that. So this guy seemed so great on paper. I schedule the interview and he shows up in beach shorts, torn t-shirt and flip flops, carrying both a beer and a gun in a holster. I almost get the gun; some people carry (not sure why it needed to be brought to a job interview but okay). But it was the beer than really did me in. He was half drunk in the interview which we're required to follow through with. It was wild.
Even in open carry states it can't be legal to carry a gun while you're drinking alcohol.
Load More Replies... My husband walked 10km to a job interview, his shoes disintegrated on the walk. He bought shoe glue and duct tape at a nearby store and fixed them up before continuing on. His tenacity got him the job which was tailored towards people on benefits. He'd been turned down for previous jobs because he was 'over qualified'. He just wanted a chance to support his family.
I used to hire for a law firm. I always dress professionally. I also like other people to dress professionally. I had one girl come in and tell me there was no way in hell she was going to dress like me. Nope. Also I want to mention emails that people put on their résumé. If you're applying for a job, make sure your email is not redhotcherry@gmail.com.
And that's why I keep two emails: one for professional or important use, and one for junk and family/friends.
Load More Replies... I had a job in highschool helping out at my mom's job (she was a secretary in a big hospital). I would also help sort and answer the applications for medical trainees (students of medicine after their last year who are not MDs yet). One had sent a picture, more like a snapshot, of herself in the middle of eating cereal, mouth wide open and spoon filled with cereal in front of her face. I had no experience with apllying or job interviews myself but I knew that that was highly inappropriate.
I had a forty year old woman show up in full goth gear for a receptionist job at a financial services company.
I work at a staffing company. Even in "normal" times, we had strange people/attire but when we switched to virtual in 2020, men would answer their Zoom interview shirtless, other people smoked bongs, in pajamas in bed and smoking/singing along to commercial jingles throughout, etc. Fun times.
Reminds me of a time I went on a school field trip to a farm. The farmer there was pretty mean, and would pick kids who barley did anything to make fun of them. One kid was wearing these awesome rainbow pants. The farmer calls him up and says, " pretend this is a job interview. Already, you're not getting the job because of your pants. You should wear something respectable." Every so often in the rest of the year we would compliment those pants on him.
I got a job as a clerical assistant at a major insurance company partly because I was the only applicant who came to the interview wearing a suit. Early 90s.
Worked at a place where a guy come in looking for a job. The owner was willing to speak with him, I suggested he removed his ball cap with an F-Bomb printed on it.
I was always told to dress one step above the required work attire. But after working in management at a fitness club for years I realize many people were not taught that.
Not so much about attire, but attitude. In the mid-1990s skilled programmers were hard to find. The applicant wore casual clothes that might have barely passed on Fridays. Slouched in the chair. I tried asking open ended questions and got two word replies. So I reviewed his resume in front of him, counting his previous jobs out loud. I pointed out that he had held 5 jobs over the past 7 years. He nodded. I asked what the chances were that he'd be at our company in a year. He said not very good. I ended the interview and marked him not a candidate with a written explanation. Surprisingly, another manager offered him a job but he turned it down.
One woman came to a job interview in Rollerblades as well. I overlooked that part because I can understand in a big city sometimes you get creative with transportation. What I had a hard time overlooking was the attire, an ill-fitting camisole, the one with lace on the trim, and no bra, and short shorts. I get that it was hot but yeesh! She fit my qualifications so me and DM gave her a shot. On my rare day off the DM came in to check on her, she was in the back room with the door open to watch the store, and doing her nails. I found out the next day that shortly after the DM after getting mad, that the employee walked out, dropping off her keys in the mailbox that belonged to the building. Nothing was shut down properly, lights weren't even turned off. So yes, I can and will judge a book by its cover, because sometimes your cover tells me you just do not care.
I posted an ad for a $14/hr retail job ($20/hr in today's dollars), and a guy came in with baggy jersey and low-hanging shorts after tipping his skateboard up against the front window. I asked him if this was how he planned to dress for the job, and he mumbled something about dressing the way I was dressed. I told him to dress for the interview the way you would dress for the job, then returned to my office, leaving him standing in the showroom.
{slow clap} He showed up. He answered correctly when seeing how YOU dressed that he would then dress the same. Then you turned around and shut the door on him. No wonder all the retailers are suffering right now from lack of decent employees. Hire the person; coach the attire and professionalism. Shame on you.
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