When I first went natural, I didn’t really think nothing of it as it pertains to my current job because they are pretty open and accepting of different cultures. But as I prepare to graduate from college and embark on my career I must participate in interviews with many companies…with no insight into their corporate culture. So as a natural, how do you wear your hair to an interview?!
An interview is a potential employers first impression of you!
Well, I’ll be honest, my very first interview I was nervous…nervous about how the interviewer would react to my hair if I wore a fro and nervous that they wouldn’t be able to get past my hair to see my potential! So I did what any nervous person would do…i assimilated! lol
I set my hair on rollers the night before and then in the morning I brushed and slicked it down. During the interview I was so uncomfortable…one because I was worried my hair was coiling back up and two because I wasn’t the true ME! As soon as I got home that night, I shampooed my hair and embraced my fro…vowing never to assimilate again!
And since that first interview, I have had 6 other interviews…and I wore my hair in my fro! I went in with confidence because I was myself..fro and all! And guess what…I have gotten 4 job offers and 2 callbacks for second-round interviews!
So my suggestion to any naturals interviewing and looking for jobs is to be yourself…why wear a wig to an interview only to come in on your first day of work with your fro?! An interview is a two-way street, so just as the interviewer needs to know if you’d be a good fit..you should make sure your accepted as you are!
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Blog Comments
Carmennc
October 26, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Great post and most people can spot a wig a mile away. Go natural and be yourself. If they don’t hire you because of your hair, really now, is that the kind of place you want to be employeed?
Mae
October 26, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Congrats on the job offers! It pays to be true to yourself : )
Jazz 7 Designs
November 20, 2009 at 6:59 pm
OMG, I’m going through the same issue now. I gel my hair and put it in a bun and I HATE IT.
Jasmine
July 10, 2010 at 10:21 am
I wore two strand twist to my interview and wouldnt cha know it, i was hired lol…
ty
July 7, 2015 at 5:37 pm
hello my name is im a 20yo male with a natural afro that i hate to cut. so i was wondering what can i do with my afro when i have a job interview please and thank you
Jocelyn Reneé
July 10, 2015 at 1:51 pm
Keep your afro! Try comb coils. Very professional style for a male.
Here is a tutorial: https://digitalloctician.com/tutorial-comb-coils-gel-twists/
Best of luck on your interviews!! Always remember to be yourself.
Is it Acceptable to Wear Natural Hair in the Workplace?
September 18, 2015 at 6:01 am
[…] told me I needed to assimilate to succeed— It’s not a good feeling. I vividly remember straightening my hair for my first interview and feeling so uncomfortable, awkward, and distracted because instead of focusing on the interview […]