Should any student be shunned by college recruiters or employers if their clothing is out of style?

Question

It has been mentioned in another question that home-schoolers might be ridiculed and shunned by potential employers and college recruiters because they might be wearing a denim jumper or frumpy mom-clothes. (Poor boys..... I hope they are NOT wearing the jumpers!!! ;-) Well, maybe the girls do and maybe they don't.
My home school students don't seem to have a problem with style. And SO WHAT if others dress in other than the preppy, cool, brand-name, media promoted garb?
It is supposed that others might be mean to them.... Is this true? Will you yourself be mean to someone that you meet if they are dressed differently than you?
Will a boss deny the job to a qualified applicant because he isn't wearing the status-quo Nikes or whatever brand is in vogue at the moment?
Should a college recruiter tell a young person that they can't attend the University because they are in frumpy clothing even though they aced the SAT?

Good students get into college!
Good workers get the job!

So... what I think that I am reading is that potential bosses and college professors would rather work with someone based on assumption vs reality.

Scenario: You are the boss in charge of hiring. The owner of the company relies on you to make the best choice.
What criteria will you use to make your decision?

Will a highly skilled chemistry major not be offered a full-ride scholarship to Nuclear Engineering Graduate School because he or she is wearing home-made clothing? I think not. My good friends are already there.

Stereo-typical assumptions about one's mental state or emotional understanding of life..... yikes..... how can this be based on clothing style? Wow, the clothing manufacturers will be knocking on someone's door to offer them a job soon! A new marketing technique -- "Wear our clothes to prove you are emotionally stable!!!"
This cannot be based on any proven psychological study.

Think about it.

Answer 1

My uncle (by common law marriage of 35 years) graduated from Harvard & MIT at the same time when he was 16 years old. He had the highest security clearance at Rockwell International, he wore checked ourple and white pants with a green, red, blue striped polyester shirt, his hair was always in a long ponytail that reached the middle of his back. He was so smart he barely knew 1 PLUS 1= 2. He's awesome though. I always enjoy my time with him.
If you are qualified or like Chris, they don't care.

Answer 2

Obviously, no, students shouldn't be shunned. Are they though? Probably not. Unless their clothing is truly outrageous! Besides, when you think about it, the people doing the hiring and recruiting are likely older and they probably don't necessarily know what the latest style for the student population is. Not to mention that just about anything goes now...

I would think that a potential employee would have a bigger problem with the various piercings and bizarre hairdos that have become ever-so-popular (at least, here it's totally normal for high school girls in particular, but the guys are catching up) than with a student who might look a little frumpyish. If anything, a frumpyish student will probably come across as someone who doesn't have a lot of money and who's at least making an attempt at looking respectable.

ADDED: I'm not really sure what somebody's day-to-day wear has to do with anything. I certainly don't wear every day what I would wear to a job interview.

Answer 3

I don't think any college recruiter or employer should be limiting a student or potential employee entirely because of clothes, except someone that is applying to a fashion school or job in the fashion industry. It seems to me that whether you are a homeschooled student or not, that you would make an effort in that one interview to be dressed appropriately, do your homework, and wear the right clothes, if you are interested in a fashion career. If you don't know the right clothes for an interview then you probably should think hard whether a career in fashion is the right one for you.

Other than that, I would probably give some minor consideration to clothes. I wouldn't want to see a woman dressed in lowcut stuff or a really short skirt, or a guy dressed in anything really pimpish either (to be fair). You might not have to look as if you are dressed for church, but shouldn't be dressed for Saturday night clubbing either! I certainly would hope, and don't think that anybody would limit choosing someone for a college or job because they weren't wearing designer garb like Paris Hilton or something. I personally would prefer if most people don't dress like that! I don't think she looks that great anyway!

I think a big secret is people choose those who they want to work with; basically people that they like! So you should just try to be funny, nice, smart, and likeable and that is probably the best way to get chosen! (They often will ask the person at the reception desk if people interviewing were nice, and the snotty people won't get the job btw so be nice to the receptionist!)

Answer 4

There are sooo many styles at the moment. The revisited hippy style, the casual cool style, the street hip hop style, the tailored business style, the rich horsey style, the farm casual style,the who cares what you think style, the goth style, the punk style,and probably a lot more. I can honestly say i have never seen a ' home school style" maybe there is one. But in this day and age where everyone does what they want, who cares if you wear a frumpy mum jumper, ( not all mums are frumpy), if it makes you happy. I have yet to go to a job interview were the boss asks me to show the labels on the clothes i am wearing. I f i did I think i would take the job if it was offered. My impression would be that they were LOSERS. It's still true in the working world ( not the world of baby students who can't get passed what someone is wearing) that the educated get into college and then get all the good jobs.

Answer 5

Should people be denied college admission or a job because of what they wear at the interview? SHOULD they be, NO.
For college, I'd say whatever, unless it was private or Ivy league, or religious. I guess a lady could show up at Oral Roberts Seminary in Daisy Duke shorts, a Halter top, her thong riding high, and her 'tramp stamp' tattoo is plain site but if QUALIFIED for admission to learn how to share the good Word, SHOULD be allowed in, but I Really DOUBT it would happen.

Now for a job? All day I expect appearance to be IMPORTANT. Well. . .if its dish washing or ditch digging, I guess you can wear a dirty felching bib and as long as you don't have any open wounds, why not wash dishes?

For other jobs, like sales, there is a 'uniform' and appearing for the interviews out of the 'uniform' will NOT get you the job.
Getting a job is (usually) a competition, so any advantage should be used, A clean suit, a hair cut, clean nails, no gaudy tattoos or jewelery (unless you ARE a tattoo or jewelery artist)
In the 'real' world Appearances Matter, especially first impressions.
IN GENERAL, Human Resource people do the hiring, with input from the professional staff. 'Wearing the uniform' shows that the canidate is a 'team player'. ALL OTHER things being equal I would rather hire the team player ( I'd interview to see , because I cannot judge people SOLEY on appearance, anymore than I could DISCOUNT them on appearance)
BUT I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS ALL ALONG!!!
Home schooled students LACK THE CONCEPT OF 'TEAM', Refusing to conform to the workplace 'norms' continues to prove my point, home schoolers are not good team leaders or team members, and have difficulty understanding the importance of 'conforming'. I will probably not convince YOU of this anymore than I will convince you appearnces DO COUNT for something
Its the PERSON who gets HIRED, NOT the SCORE, your student/child is more than just a test score or a certificate

Answer 6

No they shouldn't be. Where I live preppy ISN'T the "in" thing anyway. If you dressed preppy here they would think you were stuck in the '80s rofl.
As far as college goes, there are two local jr. colleges that offer courses specifically designed for high school aged homeschoolers. Students as young as 15 can apply. I know several 17 and 18 y.o. homeschoolers who have an associates through these programs. All but one are currently enrolled in a major university persuing a bachelor's degree.
Myself, I've never been concerned about how people dress as long as it is decent. Our family doctor dresses in boots and blue jeans in the office, and our pastor wears the same at the pulpit. What people wear defines niether who they are nor what they are capable of doing. To me at least, people are kind of like presents....its not the wrapping that I worry about its what's inside the box.

Answer 7

I don't know what shunned means, but NO they should be able to wear anything they want, as long as it is appropriate. Who cares if it's out of style. Some people don't have the money to buy newer clothes. Or they do, but they aren't going to spend it on clothes when they have lots of old clothes that still fit.

Answer 8

I think this is just another stereo type that is yet again in correct and isn't backed up by any evidence.

Any college recruiter worthy of their job isn't going to judge any student based on clothing and shouldn't! It's ignorant to think so.

Sometimes you must ignore those that have no clue and speak about subjects to which they are not suited to answer!

Answer 9

Actually, success in getting employment is entirely based on your ability to talk to your prospective employer. Employers are looking for people with good social skills, ie. can get along with anyone. School or home schooling will not teach you these skills. There is courses you can take before you look for work to help you learn these skills, usually independent schools.

Answer 10

First impressions are the most valuable impression you can make when applying anywhere. And that is a proven fact. So stop your bellyaching and get real; this has nothing to do with home schooling, other than to show that the parent did a poor job of home schooling. It is reality, sucks or not.