A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes: I recently got promoted to a role that required me to conduct interviews. My company is on a hiring spree lately so am busy interviewing several candidates daily. Where I work, it is very hot. Most people wear light and comfortable clothing to the office, myself included. Most of my officewear is sleeveless. However, since I started conducting interviews, I have started to become self conscious. The interviewees come from many different foreign countries. What I noticed is that men from certain countries tend to stare at my shoulders and sort of ogle they think I don't notice. Can I request for honest opinions here especially from guys, are sleeveless tops inappropriate? Too sexy or informal... I might need to invest in a new wardrobe. Reply to this Question Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (9 November 2015):
I'm with Tisha.
It's ridiculous that a GROWN man can't focus on the interview but gets fixated on your "bare" shoulders. But I guess it's an easy way to separate the "might hire" from the "not going to hire".
And I also agree with the notion of having a jacket or 2 hanging in your office for when you conduct interviews, not for the people who come IN TO an interview but for you.
Look around you at your work- place and take note as to how the higher ups dress. Emulate that and you won't go wrong.
A
female
reader, Tisha-1 +, writes (9 November 2015):
If the men won't be able to manage to work in an environment where there will be women wearing sleeveless clothing without ogling, then perhaps they would not be good hires for this particular company.
You could suggest to them as they leave that they would benefit from cultural sensitivity training which would help them learn how to interact with women and men in your culture.
I would look to the women and men who set the tone in your company and emulate their style.
I tend to be on the conservative side but then I'm not in a workplace where it is hot and humid.
My observation of the media in the US is that going sleeveless now is appropriate for women but not men. Do the men in your workplace wear suits or jackets, long sleeved shirts or short sleeved shirts?
If you are really worried about this, buy 2 or 3 tailored lightweight blazers (jackets) and keep them in your office when you need to conduct an interview.
But I do go back to the point that if the individuals you hire will be inappropriately ogling female employees because they have bare arms then perhaps they wouldn't be a good fit at your company, at least not without some cultural sensitivity classes.
Good luck and congratulations on your promotion!
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