Melissa Weaver shared on TikTok that she was denied a job because she didn’t wear makeup to the interview.
Her video has since garnered over 800,000 views.
Melissa, who was applying for a vice-president of HR role at a tech company, felt the interview went smoothly and was confident in her responses, drawing on her background in recruitment.
However, she received an email from the recruiter informing her that she would not advance to the next round.
Confused and upset, Melissa contacted the recruiter for feedback. She was told that although her qualifications and goals aligned with the company’s needs, her appearance was a concern; the interviewer felt she needed to make more effort for someone interviewing at such a high level.
Melissa noted that she had styled her hair and dressed professionally but had chosen not to wear much makeup, just Chapstick.
Melissa’s experience sparked a debate among viewers in the comments.
Many questioned the legality and fairness of the decision, highlighting potential discrimination.
Others argue that appearance is crucial at certain job levels and industries.
This incident raised broader questions about workplace expectations for appearance and gender.
This incident is just one of many unreported cases where appearance factors into hiring decisions, a reality that often goes unspoken.
Particularly in the tech industry, securing a job can be especially challenging for women, underscoring a broader issue of accessibility and equity in the job market.