YOU WORE WHAT ???
Drive by Friday
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Drive by Friday –
The interview outfit crimes and not negotiables we need to talk about!
This week… I’m fired up.
And not in a “light a candle and reflect” kind of way — more in a what on earth is going on out there? kind of way.
I’ve had a few situations land on my desk recently that all point to the same thing…
personal presentation and interview behaviour is slipping — and it matters more than people think.
Let me set the scene…
👉 One candidate logs into a teams interview… still in bed. Laptop balanced on their knees.
👉 Another attends a face-to-face interview… and let’s just say, cleanliness/grooming may not have been part of the morning routine.
👉 Then on the flip side - a candidate walks into an interview, ready to impress… and the hiring manager greets them in a brimmed sunhat and t-shirt like it’s a Sunday BBQ.
Now look - I’m not saying we all need to rock up in three-piece suits or heels that haven’t seen daylight since 2005. But there’s a difference between being comfortable… and being completely unbothered.
And that difference?
It’s called intent.
When you show up to an interview - whether you’re the candidate or the employer -you’re sending a message before you even speak.
· “I care about this opportunity”
· “I respect your time”
· “I’ve made an effort”
· “I’m prepared and excited for this meeting”
Or…
· “This will do.”
· “They won’t notice anything”
And here’s the thing - people notice. Always!
We talk a lot about skills, experience, cultural fit… But the small things? They’re often the deal makers (or breakers). Because if someone can’t show up prepared, presentable, and engaged for an interview… what does that say about how they’ll show up day to day?
And let’s not pretend it’s just a candidate issue because it’s not.
Employers - you’re being assessed just as much.
The way you present yourself, your environment, your energy — it all feeds into whether someone thinks, “Yes, I want to work here” or “Hmm… maybe not.”
So maybe this week’s reminder to me was a simple one.
You don’t need to be perfect, but you do need to be intentional.
Brush your hair.
Turn the camera on properly.
Be well-groomed (please 🙏 whether remote or face to face).
And maybe… leave the bed out of the interview process altogether.
Because first impressions might not be everything, but they still count for a lot.
Yes, we all have different working scenarios – some of you work from home and some from an office but wherever your place of work – make an effort.
Happy Friday ✨
You don’t get a replay on a first impression.
Simpli-U - Time to thrive in the Novated Leasing, Salary Packaging and Fleet Management sectors.
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Lorraine Singer
Director & Consultant – Simpli-U
Recruitment Solutions for the Novated Leasing, Salary Packaging, Fleet Management & Automotive sectors - Australia-wide | Solutions that are all about ‘U’