Let's start a list: Jobs that are makeup-free friendly - Page 3

[EFmom]

I work at a university. Some women wear make up. Plenty do not. It's a personal preference. I've also worked for several tech companies with similar situations. I've never encountered a situation where make up was required or universal.

[_ktg_]

Originally Posted by littlest birds

Men who don't shave also come across as unprofessional in many setting IME. It's not makeup or a shaved face are "required" but that it is part of the unwritten rules in many professions.

Skirts at work with obvious unshaved legs on women are probably a bigger deal than either of the above.

It's a game I don't play but there's a lot of games I don't play that are part of mainstream culture. There are many professions I would never consider because I would never be willing to put on the type of act and costume expected.

If I had a job which required me to shave my legs... I would seriously question why I was in that job

[CatsCradle]

I don't wear make-up because I think women should wear makeup, or because I am accepting the status quo. I wear mascara in particular because I like the way I look more than when I don't have it on. It makes me feel good. I don't think anyone else, including my husband, really cares whether I wear it but I wear it for me.

Off topic, but I agree with the above. There is a certain amount of vanity for my reasons to wear "light" make-up (concealment of zits...which has been a life-long problem). People probably don't care about my zits, but I do. I want people to look at me, not my zits. Much in the same way, people probably don't care whether I wear contacts or glasses, but I care deeply about wearing contacts. I've always had issues with glasses (even though I'm practically legally blind). Yes, I admit, deep down there are certain qualities about me that I find unattractive and I'd rather not fight the battle, if you know what I mean.

I do agree with provocativa's assessment that women who look a certain way tend to earn higher pay. But I tend to believe that this happens more with front-line jobs than back-end jobs. I also tend to believe that this has more to do with attractiveness than make-up itself. (and when I say "attractive" I mean what is deemed attractive culturally) For example, receptionists, waitresses, customer service people, etc. are usually held to higher standard because they serve as an employer's "face." Additionally, it is a shame that attractiveness is so highly rewarded in our society, and we continue to deem someone successful simply because they are attractive. I don't think it is about make-up vs. no make-up, I think it is about attractiveness and how much value we place on it. I think if you did a study on an average looking woman wearing make-up vs. a stunningly attractive woman (according to cultural standards) without make-up, then the assessment of whether make-up matters would be more relevant.

[lynsage]

i have never had a problem or been asked to wear makeup to work at any of the following jobs:

Buser
Server
Hostess
Line Cook
Pantry/Prep Chef
Health Food Co-op Shift Supervisor
Telephone-based Inside Retail Salesperson
Call Center Customer Service
Factory Shift Work
Certified Nursing Assistant
Home Health Care Aide
Day Care Staff
Massage Therapist


...dang, I've had a lot of jobs

Buser, server and hostess were all at macro/vegetarian health-food type of places, YMMV at finer dining establishments.

[JollyGG]

I have primarily worked in science where make-up is not the norm and wearing it usually gets you pegged as an undergrad student.

But my best friend works in public relations. She has worked PR type jobs where make-up was vitally important (PR for a department store, PR for a PR firm), but she also worked PR jobs where make-up wasn't as important (PR for a manufacturing company, PR for a bowling company, and PR for a non profit). It definitely varied on the type of image the client was wanting to see portrayed.

The same was true for my mother who is an office manager. When she was an office manager for a power plant she portrayed a very different image then when she was an office manager for a bank or working as a legal secretary.

Realistically a waitress at Hooters will need to wear different make-up and portray herself differently than a waitress at an organic whole foods restaurant.

I find this is also regional. My father definitely raised his eyebrows when my doctor came in to check on me wearing jeans. Yet I have a friend who says that the expectation that doctors dress up and that the men wear ties and jackets is not the same in other parts of the country.

[Teenytoona]

Hmm my make-up free friendly jobs:

Jobs past:
Coffee shop, retail in general

Tortoise Monitor

Present job:
Construction estimating/design

I can't remember the last time I've worn make-up to work. I'd feel out of place if I did. Sorry OP that you're getting flack.

[grisandole]

I work for the state in a public office. We do need to dress professionaly, but heels and make up are completely unnecessary

[Igraine]

Wow. I haven't worn make up in years. And honestly, I do not think I EVER wore make up at work. Only when going out dancing or somewhere special.

I am currently a Program Manager for a Community Based Child Mental Health program. I have meetings with state, county and regional people. I have had contact with politicians over the years and have attended trainings, meetings, conferences with people from all levels and I have never felt like I was being judged for not wearing make up.

I grew up with a mother and sisters who always wore make up. My sisters still do. I just never liked the way it felt nor did I like the way I looked with make up so I guess I never got hooked on it.

Previous jobs:

-Case Manager to children and adults
-Interned at Community Mental Health Clinics and Substance Abuse Counseling agencies
-Group home employee for DD adults
-Kitchen staff at a nursing home
-European Coffee and Desserts Cafe
-Facilities staff/cleaning staff

Oh and I have one pair of high heels (Dasko) that I rarely wear. I mostly wear birkenstocks or clogs.

[littlest birds]

Originally Posted by _ktg_

If I had a job which required me to shave my legs... I would seriously question why I was in that job

Generally, these things aren't requirements. They are likely not to be mentioned. Coworkers and superiors, may expect them. What I'm saying is that in many, many jobs there is not a stated "code" but if you don't fit with certain norms you may be quietly disfavored. If you are working with the public, especially directly serving paying customers, a certain "polished" appearance is generally expected. And in a conservative location, polished appearance can mean things like these.

Another: There are a lot of jobs where you wouldn't go braless unless you could do it in a way that it wasn't obvious. It's not that it's "required" though, one just senses it would be out of place in some settings.

I think the type of very formal professional appearance that includes makeup is most often expected in corporate, competitive, management or administrative professional roles. That said, if the social group at work strongly expects it, it can affect you in any job.

[CarrieMF]

I work in 2 different school divisions

#1 - is my main one, I'm part-time. I'm a TA. I do not have a "dress code". I can wear jeans any day I want to. Last year I wore clothes that had paint on them(not alot a spot or 2). I often went in my sports bra, yoga pants/capris & a tank(especially if I had physiotherapy right after work, didn't have time to change). I wore runners all the time. The teachers have a more strict dress code, but it's still casual-business. Due to the child I work with I was NOT dressing up. He comes to school with feces on his fingers & clothes, food on his body, he smells like urine. They offered me a full time position for this year(half with him & half with another kid). If anyone said anything I would have handed them my kid & said I quit.

#2 - my preferred school division that I want to get into part-full time. I woudl wear more casual-business clothes, light makeup, dressier shoes even if it meant I wouldn't be able to walk after my 2 hours were up. This year I"ll be full days in this division but my feet are better & they won't hurt as bad to wear my dressier flat shoes. I CHOOSE to do this to try & get a position in this division, though it depends on which school I was working in that day. Certain schools I either don't want to work in or I knew enough about them that I didn't HAVE to really dress up. Dressing up, makeup, etc are NOT required

I don't own hose, haven't in YEARS. I can no longer wear high heels due to feet issues. I am starting to be able to wear flat ballet type shoes again, but for the most part I'm supposed to wear runners.

[stik]

I teach at a public high school in the southwest. I have never worn make-up to work. There is a dress code for teachers at my school ("professional") but there is no agreement on what that means. Individuals make a range of choices. I see a lot of comfortable shoes.

[MeepyCat]

I've worked as various kinds of administrator and executive assistant, and as an accountant (auditing, lots of client contact). I have never worn makeup to work, and when I was working as an auditor, many of the women who were managers and partners at the company appeared almost defiantly frumpy - they wore appropriate, but unexciting, clothes (lots of pants and button down shirts) and sensible shoes. Fashionable outfits, makeup, and heels only showed up on younger, lower-level employees.

[Minxie]

I'm a technician. I haven't worn makeup to work EVER on a regular basis; only a few times on a special basis (going somewhere after work or having pics done for a project.) I have worn jeans and polos/T-shirts for work every day for my entire career.

Jewelry is not allowed and neither are heels or other pretty but potentially hazardous shoes. make-up is unimportant; either I can fix the equipment or not.

[KSLaura]

I work in IT/Tech and never, ever wear makeup to work. I have worked here 7 years and have been promoted a couple of times. I also don't 'fix' my hair in the morning.

Oddly, the only job that ever required makeup was the Army. Green 'camo' makeup was sometimes required of both men and women.

Lol... I can't imagine the kinds of comments I would have gotten if I showed up at a staff meeting in Iraq with eyeshadow and lipstick!

[alicia622]

social worker- you should see how some of us look/dress LOL

[LittleGriff]

It's never occurred to me that I needed to wear make up. I've worked in financial services (money management) for a decade and have never put on make up once. I put on heels if I'm in the mood which is very rarely. Nice clothes are definitely expected - but I like quality any way, so I don't feel obliged. I enjoy what I wear.

I would say that it's regional (mostly I've been on the west coast) but I've also lived in Chicago, Houston and New York. I've seen no evidence that make up would enhance my career. I tend to think women look more attractive without make up - I certainly do. Looking fit and healthy is probably far more important than eye shadow.

I would imagine if one worked in fashion or broadcasting, one might need a certain look but I think women can sometimes assume prejudice when there might not actually be any or when it is of little consequence. I've never been worse off for doing what I wanted and I'm very happy with my paycheck.

[JudiAU]

Every workplace I've worked in has had at least some percentage of the staff dressed primarily for comfort. Clean, neat, clothes fit, undergarments worn, bodies washed, deodarant applied, hair cut, yes. Heels, nylons, skirts, high heels, "fashion," makeup perhaps. Some women where makeup and some don't. This includes colleges, law firms, retail, libraries, and health care etc.

[MisaGoat]

I've never worn make-up to work regularly. I wore make up to the interview and to orientation, mainly because I had more time and was 'dressing up' for those two occasions, whereas day to day I would wear scrubs and sneakers. The only time I ever wear pantyhose is to interviews.

I feel way more uncomfortable about my hair being viewed as 'unprofessional' or not well groomed. It seems like the 'professional' look that includes make up and suits also has neat hair styles that are straight/blow outs. I have curly hair that gets frizzy depending on the weather and how much I am running around so by the end of a shift it doesn't look great. Usually I'll pull it back in a bun or a braid for work.

[aerobrandi]

Scientist/lab rat. We aren't really supposed to wear makeup or jewelry at all to maintain the sterility of the lab enviornment. We also change into uniforms when we're in the labs so I can wear whatever I want to work as well. I love it. Getting ready for work takes me like 5 minutes Now when I have meetings or training I might wear a nice shirt and slacks but even in those situations nobody is going to look differently at you for not wearing makeup. I've seen people in clerical or management positions that routinely wear no makeup and it doesn't seem to make a difference.

[Caryliz]

I am a senior portfolio manager at a large professional services (consulting) firm, and have about 40 people reporting to me. I interface with high-level clients and manage multi-million dollar contracts.

In my 20+ year career what I have absolutely noticed is that how you present yourself matters. But I am also amazed at how many people think this means you have to wear lipstick if you are female! I think it's important to both be comfortable in your own skin, and to project confidence, regardless of your career or field. If you are confident and skilled at engaging others - whether you are a landscape gardener or a management consultant - you are going to be successful, with or without mascara.

That said, in some industries (mine included), dress code ABSOLUTELY matters. I have sent junior staff home on days when we had clients coming to the office and said staff were not professionally dressed. In our case, and depending on the client, this does mean wearing something you have to send to the dry cleaners (usually a suit). But mostly what it means (and yes, I am clear about this with staff) is that you come to work polished and pulled together - and exuding confidence. I point out that we are highly paid consultants, and our image needs to reflect that. The way we are dressed reflects the respect we have for our clients, and should match or exceed the clients' own dress code. But all that said, to me "dress code" does not imply makeup. I don't wear it myself (unless you count sunscreen on my face, LOL), nor do I expect it of my staff. (And I don't expect the men on my team to be clean-shaven, but if they have facial hair, I do expect it to be neat and not scraggly.) I have noticed, however, that those from the south or midwest are far more likely to do the makeup thing - so perhaps is is geographically cultural.

I will also add that one of the most successful young women on my team has a visible tattoo and a couple of piercings. When she was first hired I pulled her aside and said that I didn't personally care about her body art because I knew how smart she was, but I also said that she was going to have to be careful with how she presented herself to colleagues and clients, because people were going to make assumptions about her based on how she looked. She rolled her eyes and said, "You're going to tell me I have to wear makeup to work, aren't you?!" I was stunned, because it honestly never occurred to me to tell someone to get on the mascara train! After I finished laughing, i told her I would never request any such thing - but that she was going to have to make darn sure her smile was brighter, her cuticles were cleaner, and her pants were creased sharper than everyone else's at the table - because that's the kind of industry this is. I know she thought I was nuts, but many months later she mentioned to me that she finally understood what I was talking about! She still doesn't wear makeup, though.