Here’s How Acne Could Ruin Your Job Interview

Going on a job interview is a nerve-racking experience. You’re worried about how impressive your resume is going to come off, what kind of on-the-spot questions you’re going to have to think of quick (and smart) answers to, and whether or not your outfit is professional enough. And now, apparently, you might also need to be worried about any pimples that have popped up on your face. According to a report on PopSugar, acne could actually ruin your job interview, and so, yeah, zits are a real concern. Which seriously sucks.

Unfortunately, research has previously found that people with facial acne are discriminated against in the job market. One study found that 78 percent of people researched thought that someone with blemishes or acne scars were less likely to be hired because of their appearance. So, as it turns out, your stress over your physical appearance isn’t coming out of nowhere. In 2011, one researcher said, “The bottom line is that how your face looks can significantly influence the success of an interview.”

It doesn’t seem very fair that your physical appearance should have an effect on whether you get hired or not — it doesn’t seem like a breakout should be indicative of how well you can do your job. But there’s actually no federal law protecting people from being judged on their appearance in a job interview (unless there’s evidence of a disability).

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Part of the reason for that is that many researchers say that judging a prospective hire on their appearance is something many people do without even realizing it. Matthew Traube, MFT, a psychotherapist who specializes in the psychological impact of skin conditions, told PopSugar, “Whether consciously or unconsciously, we assume that attractiveness is associated with competence, even though we know that it’s not true.” So why is acne such a big deal? Traube believes it could be because some people wrongly feel that acne comes from poor hygiene. They might not even be aware that they’re making that association — it could be a subconscious one.

Experts say that managers will focus more on a candidate’s appearance if the job is client-facing.

They’ll say they’re looking for someone who is “polished,” but more often than not, that means they’re going for a very specific look. Alison Green, an ex-hiring manager, said, “And to be clear, employers should recognize that you can have acne and still be well-groomed and polished.” She’s right!

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Researchers have also said they think that if a job interviewer is focused on a pimple, they’re going to be more distracted during the interview, which means they might not hear answers correctly and then may not be able to make the best decision. Which is their fault, not the candidate’s.

On top of that, the stress of having a pimple could make things worse on your end. If you’re going into an interview feeling worried about whether or not the hiring managers are going to judge you on your zits, that’s going to distract you, which could affect your performance in a negative way. Worrying about your acne could make you less confident, which is exactly what you don’t want. Plus, stressing over this could actually cause breakouts for some people, making it a vicious cycle.

At the end of the day, you need to try to feel as comfortable as possible when going into a job interview. If you get a pimple, try to cover it up (or just own it!) and move on — don’t focus on it! Rely on your strengths and a sense of confidence to carry you through.