As a Yoruba lady, I grew up with this phrase, "Iri ni si ni iseni lojo," which means "dress the way you want to be addressed," and this has stuck to my brain since childhood. This is part of the phrases used in putting a child on the right path, and this is one thing I love the Yoruba culture for; their teachings alone are enough to correct and make one make the right decision.
In response to today's prompt, while going for an interview, physical appearance is always taken into consideration, which is okay with me. I will be addressing this as a typical Yoruba lady because that was how I was brought up.
Firstly, you won't see a sane person going for an interview in a skimpy skirt, crop top, or tiny armless gown all in the name of going for an interview in order to be favored. If I'm in a such gathering and I have the opportunity to decide, any lady now, because that's for a lady, who comes to my interview with such clothes will definitely be rejected by me because it's not even professional.
Now for a man coming to an interview with thrift trousers all in the name of fashion, slippers that they call palm or even half shoes with a round neck and all these bingo chains, it's a big no for me. I will surely reject such a person because, to me, it seems as if you are not serious enough to convince me to give the job to you.
From my perspective, the dressing should be first considered because the first thing an interviewer will see is your outer appearance, even before getting to know your level of intelligence. What happens then when your outer appearance has already scored you zero?
Dressing decently doesn't mean you aren't beautiful, though this present generation thinks exposing their cleavages and the secret parts of their body is what's called being beautiful. For me, dressing first is more than just that; it is so appropriate and professional. An office environment isn't a club where you will have to dress sexy to seduce anyone, so why must you expose your body?
Would it be better if only skill was considered?
No, it won't be better if only skill is considered; dressing has to be part of the consideration. I can't imagine going into an office environment where the receptionist would welcome me with a crazy jean and a crop top. I would pause for a while, probably go back outside and check the office I entered to be sure I'm not in a hotel or something.
Decency in dressing is very important; starting from the hair down to the shoes, it must be perfect and neat. One dressing is enough to give one good credit even before opening one's mouth to speak. What is the essence of an intelligent person whose outer appearance gives off lunatic or irresponsible vibes?
Isn't this sexy for an office wear?
Is this a system I would change if I could?
Definitely no. If I'm opportune to change anything, I would make dressing the number one criteria for any applicants. Once you scored zero in your dressing, it's a no for me because your dressing sure has rendered your skill useless to me. I don't know about others.
Thanks for your time, and your comments will be appreciated.