Thinking of Putting on Make-up When I Go To a Job Interview

Philippines
April 11, 2012 10:57am CST
I never lie about my age and I know it is very flattering when people tell me that I look in my twenties when in fact I am nearly forty. But I am thinking of putting on make-up when I go to my next job interview so that at least my face will reflect somewhat my real age. I am saying this because I did not expect the reaction of the person who conducted my job interview this afternoon. As my friends here in Mylot know, I took care of my mother who was diagnosed with cancer and I have had to shelve my career so many times that there are some jobs that I am only able to hold for less than a year. I couldn't juggle the stress of taking care of my mother, the traffic of Metro Manila, and the stress brought about my job. It is true that I was able to get into good companies even if I did not finish college, nor have any formal education in most jobs I held which was in the IT department. But this is because I have a photographic memory and can learn things quite easily. But it seems that the lady who conducted my interview thought that I was "Call Center hopping", a term used by human resource people here in my country where a lot of employees hop from one company to another trying to find the best pay or benefits to be had. These employees are usually the fresh graduates in their mid-twenties where you will see three to four companies listed in their resume when they haven't been working for more than three years. I just feel bad that it seems that she did not look at the second page of my resume where I had listed my first job with Pizza Hut where I was a manager for eight years. My total years of working might even be equal to her age since I started working in 1992. I wouldn't get into the call center industry if companies here in my country don't have a stupid age limit where I have been deemed overage ten years ago. In my job interviews with call centers, the only person who asked me why I never went back to Pizza Hut was with my first call center job, and I stayed there for three years. I did try to go back to the food service industry because I loved the job, the people and the company. I was just overage at 28, and the cut-off for women at that time was 25. The person conducting my interview this afternoon was really surprised when I told her my age. She was so taken back that she got lost for a few seconds on what she was asking me and had to look at my resume again. I know that it is her job to make sure that she will screen the best candidates for the company she works with. But I just feel that I was wrongly judged today, all because I look in my twenties. So come tomorrow or the next day where I will have to show up for an interview, I will make sure that I put on make-up to highlight my age.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
11 Apr 12
I put on make up every day it is a part of my routine. I feel better when I put it on. I do it for my husband or if I go out and about. But I don't take hours to put on makeup. I either use liquid makeup or powder which lately seems to be cheaper so found some my shade. I have a really expensive blush that actually highlights my cheekbones takes just a second or two to brush on and then I use a light eyeshadow. Never did like the dark ones, and mascara and sometimes I will use a lipgloss depends on my mood. and I am ready to hit the street or even staying home its a treat I do for myself. I would tell you to apply lightly as I do and it will accent your look. I was really amazed that you cant apply for a call center after a certain age. I worked for HSN (Home Shopping Network) at 50 and loved it. Like you I had to take care of my mother and my health was going down trying to handle job, mother, husband, house, cooking and laundry. So I finally had to give up my job also. It was a very hard decision when I had finally recieved a job that I was excellent at and my health started going out of whack for what I had done the year before. Life sure does throw you some curves. Good Luck hon and hope you get the job you are looking for. Try a little make up it could be fun If you don't like it you can always wash it off. remember less is always better when on an interview.
@HomeBase (1153)
• United States
12 Apr 12
Sorry to interrupt...you worked at HSN??!! I'm so jealous.
• Philippines
12 Apr 12
There's a reason why I don't wear make-up, and that is because I am allergic to most make-up brands even those that have been tagged as hypo-allergenic. The only face powder that I have been able to use is a German brand that unfortunately isn't available online or locally. It's not with the call center industry that has an age limit, but with the food industry and all jobs that will really let you pursue a career. Thanks for your response.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
12 Apr 12
I never lie about my age either! I actually never paid much attention to it, until I reached 75. Since then I've caught myself bragging about it, and once I reach 80 (in 2 more years) I'll be jubilant about it! I know that all this exuberance might be boring to some, but to have all those years and experiences behind you is certainly something to crow about! Its not 'how you look' that's important, its 'what you know, and how you act'!
@elisse27 (181)
• Philippines
14 Apr 12
Like other girls, I also put make up everyday to be more presentabkle espeialy when I do my business presentations. Although at first I dont like applying make up because I thought this is a waste of time and money. But this adds my confidence, I guess. It is the way you put it on and the way you handle yourself. For me do what you think would be best for you.
@maezee (41997)
• United States
11 Apr 12
That's weird that there is a cut-off age for working in the food industry? I find that pretty discriminatory... You would think that the government would want people working regardless of what age they are. That doesn't seem right to me. And it's funny because I always thought makeup did the opposite - made you look YOUNGER not older! LOL. I guess it could be taken as a compliment that she thought you were in your twenties (I didn't see how old you said you were, but still). Anyway, best of luck with the job. Age shouldn't be a factor, unless you are so old that you cannot perform the duties of your job (like 90 or something LOL). Otherwise it shouldn't come into play, I wouldn't imagine. In fact that you have more experience than most should be the most important factor if you ask me.
• Philippines
12 Apr 12
If you want to apply at jobs that you can consider as a career, there is an age limit. The food industry for example has one and at the time I tried to go back, even if I was backed by all of my former bosses, it was still up to the HR to hire me and unfortunately they stuck with that age limit rule. By the way, that is here in my country, the Philippines. Thank you for your response.
@haopee (493)
• Philippines
12 Apr 12
Wow, the moment I read this post, I couldn't stop. Firstly, you and I are in the same predicament. I have stopped working in Manila because my mom is growing old now and I couldn't keep up with the stress from having to stand the traffic to getting that call saying that she was admitted in the hospital, all alone in our province. So I came home and took care of her. The last time I had worked for an employer was 2 years ago. His business closed reason why I was no longer able to continue working with him. And like you, most of the jobs I have in my resume don't last for longer than 6 months which is why I am somewhat worried that maybe I will be judged like you are. Anyway, back to the question, I think its an unsaid requirement to put make on just for formality when going to job interviews. So if you do put on some make up on, don't forget to talk your age. Although most interviewers will be in disbelief at your physical appearance, I am sure that they will surely be convinced by hearing the maturity in your voice. Good luck and hugs.
• Philippines
12 Apr 12
Funny, but I guess interviewers are confused by what they hear from me and then they look at my face, then back to my resume. Some interviewers must think that I copied my resume from someone else because I really look in my twenties. You are doing a job which is harder than most people have, which is taking care of your aging mother. I have made a lot of tough decisions over my career and personal life just to take care of her and I find it frustrating that I can't land a job now that she has already passed away and I have a lot of free time. I guess the problems of foreign companies in terms of their finances and striving to stay has caught up in the jobs that are available. A few years back, I would apply at one company and at the end of the day I'd have a job. Thank you for your response and hugs to you and your mom.
@abby1221 (71)
12 Apr 12
There are a LOT of crazy prejudices to be had against any job applicant, and certainly some HR people are worse than others. But I would say in your situation, yes you can try the make-up, but also look at your resume. You mentioned there was a second page with important info on it - why not put it on the first page? Resumes in general should only be one page total. Every resume professional and career guidance professional has said the same thing to me: ONLY ONE PAGE FOR RESUME, NO MATTER WHAT. So try that, and keep only the jobs you are most proud of/had the most responsibility/are the most relevant to the job you are applying to now. Secondly, you should probably consider discussing your history with jobs and why there are gaps/career changes on your resume in a nicely written cover letter that you submit AND bring an extra copy of with you to the interview. That way, there is no confusion that you are a "call center hopper"! I wish you the best of luck, and I hope you never have to encounter a stupid hr person like that ever again! :)
• Philippines
12 Apr 12
I did edit my resume and listed the jobs that I am most proud of and I know will be relevant to the job that I was applying for. I was just shocked that the interviewer thought that I was "hopping" because with my last job, I stayed just for seven months and then have been unemployed since. I have hopes that in my up coming interviews I don't encounter or experience something like this again. Thank you for your response.