Job seeker got turned away from a job interview for this outfit. Was the employer wrong?

TikToker Tyreshia has the internet confused. She recently shared on her page that she had been told to “get changed” after showing up to an interview wearing black shorts, a white top, and a light cardigan.

She strategically titled the video “The Recruiter REJECTED Me Because Of This,” with a red exclamation point emoji.

The commenter who said, “Come on now Tyreshia,” is probably most of us reading this.

But Tyreshia didn’t seem to find the potential employer’s actions reasonable; as her caption indicated, “I cannot believe the recruiter asked me to change my interview clothes then come back.”

She solidified her convictions, adding, “I look very neat and professional, so no!” adding the hashtags #jobhunting, #fyp, and #viral.

Tyreshia then informed viewers she was “dress-coded” during the job interview, with the recruiter asking her whether she wanted to go home, change her attire, and return before rescheduling the appointment for the next day.

Her 22-second clip instantly went viral, garnering over 2.7 million views, 71,000+ likes, and 32,000 comments as of Friday. As one could guess, several netizens were unfriendly with their opinions.

Though she has yet to clarify the position she was applying for, being asked to go home to change indicates that the employers held themselves to a standard.

A study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shows that the pandemic has shifted the way we work, and many companies have relaxed their dress codes to reflect this change. 

While comfort and flexibility are valued, it’s crucial to remember that a professional appearance remains essential. Even in a casual environment, first impressions still go a long way!  Think of it as a way to show respect for your colleagues, your clients, and the company’s image. Just because you’re working from home or in a more relaxed setting doesn’t mean you should abandon professionalism altogether.

As Michael Elkins, an attorney with MLE Law in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., rightly noted, “Professional employees should still be professional even when casual.”

Still, some commenters supported Tyreshia, saying they didn’t understand why she was asked to change since her dressing seemed fit for the temperatures, but is that a reason at all?

Regardless of the high temperatures, there is appropriate clothing that is weather-friendly. 

There is nothing wrong with investing in some long pants, a blazer, a shirt, or an office skirt when we need to look professional for even an online job interview, much less an in-person one.  

Now, unless her interview was at a casual location by the beach or the pool, it is quite hard to justify why one would wear shorts to a firm for a job interview. 

However, one commenter observed, “To request to reschedule means they see something on your resume they like. Don’t make them unsee it due to your clothing choices.”

It seems like she met some pretty nice employers, or maybe the HR person was in a good mood, or, as the netizen said, Tyreshia has some impressive skills underhand. 

Like it or not, dressing still plays an important role in society and how you dress is 99% how you are addressed, no matter who you are. 

I hope she didn’t turn down the interview. I also hope the employer hasn’t seen her viral video, or the video is only “rage/click bait.” 

I joke when I say this, but Austin Kleon’s “You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have” is a funny quote to apply here, considering Tyreshia’s situation. It makes you wonder: what kind of job does she want?

I do hope her first impression didn’t count much and she and her potential employer find this a reason to laugh after she gets the job!

What would you have done as the employer, though?