I was turned down for a job that I was perfect for – because I didn’t wear makeup to the interview
A job hunter has claimed she was turned down for a position she was perfectly suited for – all because she didn’t wear make-up to the interview.
Melissa Weaver, 30, from New York, revealed in a recent TikTok that she had applied for a role as vice president of HR at a tech company, but says she was turned down after the recruiter thought she ‘didn’t put enough effort’ into her appearance.
The video sparked outrage from Ms Weaver’s followers, many of whom noted that her experience is clear proof that “pretty privilege is real”.
Some even encouraged her to sue the unnamed company, but Ms. Weaver noted in a follow-up video that while it is illegal in the United States to discriminate as a recruiter based on age, race, gender, religion or sexuality, employers can make a decision based on appearance.
In the clip, which has now racked up over 700,000 views, the job hunter said: ‘Doesn’t wearing makeup make women, for interviews or jobs, feel like they don’t put that much effort or care into their job? ‘
Melissa Weaver (pictured), 30, claimed she was turned down from a job she was perfectly suited for because she wasn’t wearing make-up at the interview
The New York City job seeker was told her appearance didn’t show she cared enough for the role, despite wearing a blazer and earrings as well as having her hair specially styled
She went on to explain that she was all the more amazed by the decision because she had been told that her ‘background was exactly what they were looking for’, she had the right level of experience and her personal goals aligned with the company’s.
After being made redundant from her last job in December, Ms Weaver was delighted to secure this interview three months later and said it went “so well”.
“Every question she had, I had a good answer,” she explained.
She added: ‘I used to work in recruitment. I know how to interview.’
But after being both ‘bummed’ and ‘very confused’ at not making it to the next stage, the 30-year-old asked for feedback.
With appearance listed as the reason for her rejection, she deduced by process of elimination that this meant she should have been wearing makeup.
“I blew my hair out, I had a nice top on, a blazer, some earrings, but I only put Chapstick on, I had no makeup on,” she revealed.
‘I don’t really wear a lot of make-up, not to be weird, I just don’t.’
People who responded were stunned and said she “dodged a bullet” by not getting the position as she revealed she avoids make-up as it irritates her eyes
She revealed in her follow-up that wearing makeup irritates her eyes and skin, so she avoids it if possible.
Those who responded to the viral TikTok expressed their disbelief at the outcome, and some even shared similar stories.
One asked: ‘Is it legal?!’
Others said: ‘It honestly feels like discrimination. Not hiring you based on your looks…
‘Does it mean anything? No. Does it mean anything? Unfortunately yes…
‘Not fair. Are men being denied a job because they don’t wear makeup?…
‘Absolutely ridiculous that we are expected to literally paint our faces to be considered “put together” or “professional”…
‘I can’t believe she put that in writing…
‘It’s crazy she said that in an email to you – that would never be said to a man…
‘You dodged a bullet imo (in my opinion).’
Ms. Weaver was actually quite measured in her response, wondering if she was rejected for not wearing makeup, responding to a man who didn’t get a job because his beard was unkempt or he had a face tattoo.
However, one woman shared her experience as a vice president, saying: ‘I haven’t used makeup for five or six years now. Not a good reason not to get a job.’
Others commented: ‘I’ve been through something a bit similar before. I had about 4 interviews with this one place and they said they didn’t choose me because of my outfit choice. It felt like a waste of my time…
‘I got a high-stress job and started wearing less make-up. It was mentioned that I looked stressed. I started wearing more makeup again, suddenly I was a high performer again. I worked at the same level…
Other women shared their experiences of feeling judged for not wearing makeup, even though it did not affect their work
‘I was in college and working as a receptionist and my boss talked to me about spending more time on my appearance as I’m the first person customers see. It was a pediatric clinic…
‘I was told almost exactly the same thing several years ago, except they said “not polished enough”. Turns out it was my curly hair. It was awesome. Insane.’
In an essay published by Business InsiderMs Weaver admitted she found many of the responses to her video incredibly ‘disheartening’, while opposing the idea of make-up being a ‘requirement’ for a job.
“To read that our appearance — in 2024 — somehow correlates with our ability to do our jobs is very disheartening,” she said. ‘Many people use makeup to enhance their features. But the idea that it is a requirement is a bit insane’.
She continued: ‘The fact is makeup is only for women. Men are not expected to wear foundation or contour or whatever. But the fact that something gendered can somehow affect a role is not good.’
A survey of over 500 employment professionals in 2021 by Fairygodboss found appearance to be a strong predictor of ratings of professionalism in women.
From a selection of hypothetical female candidates, the most frequently selected as most likely to be hired was a young, thin, Caucasian brunette.