Question of the day: What is the worst thing a candidate showed up to an interview wearing?

Time for a quick Recruiter rant. Dress for success. It seems this would be common knowledge for most but it is usually included in every interview tip article out there. As part of my send-out candidate prep, I admit to mentioning this tip but does it hold any merit? There are recruiting tales of candidates showing up in sweatpants, golf clothes, surgical scrubs- you name it, but are these just urban legends? It makes for a great Question of the Day: What is the worst thing a candidate showed up to an interview wearing?

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Brian Kite on March 6, 2012 at 7:40pm

Funny, I just read this the other day and LMAO'd. I like to think it would be hard to beat this one... He may not have got the job, but he did get a felony or three...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108373/Naked-man-shows-job...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Lori Anderson on March 6, 2012 at 8:18pm

Ok. You win. That is the funniest job interview ever. LOL

Brian Kite said:

Funny, I just read this the other day and LMAO'd. I like to think it would be hard to beat this one... He may not have got the job, but he did get a felony or three...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2108373/Naked-man-shows-job...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Russ Cole on March 7, 2012 at 12:02am

Not exactly an interview situation, but when I worked in the university career services setting, the student who attended the engineering career fair in plaid pajama bottoms, fluffy "doggy" bedroom slippers, a hoody sweatshirt (hood up) and a flourescent green down vest. Interviews were being scheduled for later that day at the employer booths. needless to say, this student didn't get anywhere near the employer booths or the interview rooms.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Angela Roberts on March 11, 2012 at 2:12pm

Two actually come to mind:

1) where I had told the individual the attire would be "country club casual" - she came into the meeting with a Gap Sweatshirt, Super Tight Jeans, and Sneakers!

2) I was interviewing a candidate to become one of our Hardware techs at IBM. He had a really nice suit on...with the tags still in! He changed clothes in the bathroom before he left...I would lay money down that he returned the suit after the interview!

Angela Roberts

www.craresources.com

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Catherine Nelson on May 7, 2012 at 3:05am

My best was a candidate who flew into to town to meet a client and broke the zipper in his pants in his hotel room. I have to say when the hiring manager asked me if I knew he showed up for the interview with his pants safety pinned shut was never what I expected as feedback.