Can I wear red nail polish to an interview?

[larussel03]

Hi all!

After my interview on Monday (which I thought would be the last one, but I''ve been called for yet another, 5th, interview because the manager is having a hard time deciding who to pick) I went out and treated myself to a manicure. My nails are very short right now, so I decided to go with OPI''s very appropriate to the season "an affair in red square" color, which is a cranberry red color. Now that I have this unexpected interview tomorrow (got called about it today) I''d hate to take it off because it looks so good and hasn''t chipped at all yet!

Can I wear red nail polish on very neat short nails to an interview, or am I better off taking it off? The reason I worry is this is hopefully the final interview, so I try very hard to appear as conservative as possible with nothing physical that the interviewer can decide to not like...not sure if they''d care about nail polish so much. The interviewer is a guy.

Thank you muchly in advance for your thoughts!

 

[Pandora II]

Depends what the job is.

I would probably wear it, in the same way as I tend to wear bright red, green, pink suits to interviews not blue, black or grey. But then the sectors I work in prefer that.

 

[robbie3982]

I would definitely take it off! I think red nail polish is one of those things that some people have stigmas about. I had it on my toes in high school once and my dad told me it really bothered him because he had it in his head that only slutty girls wear red nail polish

...no idea where he got it from, but that''s what he thinks of when he sees red nail polish. What if that''s what the interviewer thinks?

 

[Blenheim]

Good luck with your interview!!

I''m not really sure about the nail polish, but I''d err on the side of caution. The only thing that you really have to gain from leaving it on are pretty nails, but it has the potential (however small) of costing you a job that you really want to get. It just doesn''t seem worth it, to me. They do sound pretty though.

 

[zoebartlett]

I could be wrong, but isn''t the position for pharmaceutical sales? I have no idea if I spelled that right.

Red seems like a bold color. I''ve heard (and this may just be a myth) that red is a "power" color. I''ve heard that if you want to come across as assertive (not in a bad way) and/or someone in charge, red could be the way to go. This rumor I heard was about clothes specifically, not nail polish. Maybe it could apply though?

Personally, if it''s not too vampy, I''d probably go for it. I don''t paint my nails all the time but when I do, it does make me feel better for some reason. Just out of curiosity, what shade of red is it?

 

[Circe]

I haven''t seen this particular red, but from the cranberry description, we''re talking something more muted than a flaming fire-engine shade, right? That being the case, I''d say leave it ... on short nails, that''s a fairly conservative shade (as opposed to, say, the afor-mentioned flame, or my own favorite blacks and blues), and it sounds well-kempt and professional.

 

[larussel03]

thanks for the replies! It's def not a bright red, more of a muted and it's for a pharmaceutical sales position. I'm planning on wearing a red turtleneck under my black suit (all my friends in sales said wear red to the interview under my suit ... )

eta: i did buy the color, so I could redo it myself, I'm just feeling sad about possibly taking it off : (

 

[zoebartlett]

I missed the mention of it being a cranberry color. I''d definitely wear it, especially if you''re going to wear red anyway. I think it would look great.

 

[basil]

I interviewed for jobs in a similar field about 2 years ago. I stressed and stressed about what color suit to wear (black vs. grey?), whether interviewers thought that a skirt suit on a female was more conservative, and whether or not I should have a button down collar versus a spread one. None of it made any difference, I''m convinced. As long as you look put together, you''ll be fine. Blue nailpolish I''d say take off. Cranberry sounds fine though. I doubt people would even notice.

 

[monarch64]

Date: 11/7/2007 9:08:40 PM
Author: robbie3982
I would definitely take it off! I think red nail polish is one of those things that some people have stigmas about. I had it on my toes in high school once and my dad told me it really bothered him because he had it in his head that only slutty girls wear red nail polish

...no idea where he got it from, but that''s what he thinks of when he sees red nail polish. What if that''s what the interviewer thinks?

I agree with robbie.

You can never be too cautious in an interview situation. And honestly, you''re looking at losing what, $30 tops (mani cost) by taking off the polish and going conservative vs. possibly losing out on a well-paying job? I''m sure it''s pretty and your nails look fab, but I would definitely take it off. To me, red (no matter what shade) is bright and distracting, and is a little much visually for an interview situation. You want the focus to be on you and your qualifications, not what color nail polish you''re wearing.

My FIL has weird issues with red dresses/nail polish/etc....same reasons as robbie listed above. Granted, he''s 77 yrs. old, but color is just one thing I wouldn''t play with for an interview situation.

 

[larussel03]

hm, looks like the majority are nay''s ... I''m taking a final look at 10:30, then will take it off or leave it on depending on that b/c I''m heading to bed before 11 tonight -- a first in a long time, I have been staying up till 3 or 4 am lately (due to being jobless) .

 

[Kaleigh]

I''m on the side of playing it safe. Good luck tomorrow!!!!

 

[Harleigh]

Hi sweetpea,

I say to play it safe...there will be days and months and years that you can wear whatever color you choose, but I''d hate for that one issue be the reason someone would decline you the position. I know it seems silly, but I would go with a very pale, sheer or clear polish.

I hope you''ll let us know how it goes! Try to get a good night''s sleep!

 

[msb700]

Hey SweetPea, im not sure if im too late replying to this thread or not, but heres my 2 cents..

i''d say KEEP the nail polish on...the main reason is i KNOW how nasty nails can look AFTER you remove dark nail polish (especially those in the red category)...So unless you are absolutely 100% certain that you can remove ALL traces of the polish with NO ''red stains'' around your cuticles then you could remove it, otherwise you will REALLY look unkept with ''polish stains'' on ur nails..

In any case, good luck on ur interview and please do keep us posted on how it went!

 

[surfgirl]

Well, it all depends on where you''re interviewing. If it''s at the Bunny Ranch, then by all means leave it on! If not, then I''d take it off.

 

[Rosebud8506]

I would personally remove it, and put a sheer coat of something nude or pink on. I think it also depends on where you are in terms of location. For some reason, I see having red color polish okay or more acceptable in Miami or someplace warm, but maybe other more conservative locations as a no no. Just my opinion...

 

[Lorelei]

If not too late, heres another vote for removing it. Stick to neutrals or clean natural nails with a coat of clear polish. If the red has stained, you can grab a buffer and get it off that way, leaves nails beautifully clean.

Whatever you decide, best of luck!

 

[Sha]

I would err on the side of caution and take it off... You just never know hjow people might react to it. It''s just like they say you shouldn''t wear perfume to a job interview because the interviewer might not like it and it might subconciously bias their perception of you. Key word here is SUBCONSCIOUS - they might not intend to do it intentionally, but after the interview, they might think, "I just wasn''t feeling that person, for some reason". We all know it shouldn''t be like this, but sometimes it is.


Best to be safe and take it off. The possible loss of a job you want would be much worse than not getting to wear red nailpolish for a day or two.