To Mask or Not to Mask, That is the Question

More than a question: Masking Your Personality

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

You’ve heard interview tips on what to wear to a job interview; a well fitting suit, nice silk blouse, no wrinkles or stains, manicured nails, minimal jewelry, tidy hair, expensive shoes and conservative makeup.

Don’t show up late or unprespared. Don’t wear perfume, patterns or bold colors. Don’t give the interviewer anything to dislike about you before you even start talking.

A job interview can be a test in itself. The in-person interview is rare in this pandemic, but a few months ago I had two. If you read the news and are aware of our society, the pandemic has changed just about everything in our lives. It has changed the world of employment and work. It has changed the rules on job interviews.

I was dressed to conquer and ready to step out the door for my interview. I grabbed a mask, just like grabbing my keys, it’s habit. I didn’t overthink it and went out the door.

In the parking lot, I checked my face, put on lipstick and then I stopped. To wear the mask or not, that was the question.

The Elephant in the Interview Room

The interview went like this: I came into the Supervisor’s office with my mask on, and made a little virtual…