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The coronavirus pandemic has shaken up the world of work. Due to the lockdown and social distancing measures enforced by the UK Government, staff were moved, where possible, to remote working arrangements to contain the spread of the virus. As a result, organisations have had to reimagine some of the ways in which they would typically operate, including the methods that they would rely on to interview and recruit new talent, among others.
This is supported by data from the research and advisory body, Gartner, which found that 86% of employers have incorporated new technology to help them conduct virtual interviews throughout the pandemic. Throughout the pandemic, some organisations like PwC and Netflix were said to have temporarily put the brakes on hiring, while other companies such as Microsoft and Domino’s Pizza found that they were recruiting more than ever. And of course, to ensure that the right person is given the job, interviews still need to take place, whether it is virtual or not.
In a traditional interview setting, it is not uncommon for hiring managers to tell candidates ahead of the interview about the firm’s dress code so that they can dress accordingly. But, particularly with interviews taking place on Zoom, one talent acquisition professional has asked whether turning up in a suit, for example, is really necessary when gauging how suitable a candidate is based on their skills and experience. Simon Halkyard, Head Office Talent Acquisition Manager at ASDA, took to LinkedIn writing: “Seeing quite a few people doing zoom interviews in suits. Interview attire really is one of the last bastions of the tradition interview to fall isn’t it[?] What does wearing a suit for an interview actual tell anyone about a candidate? You wear a suit at an interview and you wear a suit if you are in court charged with a crime. They have no relevance to good character or the ability to do a job (sic).”
Halkyard’s social media post garnered a wealth of comments from other LinkedIn users including Magdalena da Silva Barbosa, Talent Acquisition Specialist EIMEA at H.B. Fuller, who believes that the word ‘presentable’ is key to this debate. She wrote: “As long as you look clean and neat – that's good enough. If someone is more comfortable and feels sense of confidence while wearing a suit then let be it but obviously – what you are wearing has nothing to do with individual's professional capabilities. BTW, is anyone actually dressing up from head to toe for a video interview (sic)?”
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