Artifactuals: Good or Bad During an Interview
...uperiors. It also showed that this nurse thought ahead and prepared for her interview. Needless to say this nurse got the promotion. Clothing speaks to people. Clothing, or artifactuals, is a form of nonverbal communication. Artifactuals are described as accessories used to adorn our bodies. Clothes, jewelry, glasses, hats, purses, backpacks, briefcases, your writing pen, and even your smoking utensils, communicate to others the personality underneath it all. For that reason we can understand why formal attire commands more respect, attention and cooperation from others. Formal attire also often results in being perceived as more credible by others. These qualities are all consistent with Mary’s choice. Thourlby who wrote You Are What You Wear, proposes that clothing can imply ten different decisions we make about a person: “1.) economic level, 2.) educational level, 3.) trustworthiness, 4.) social position, 5.) level of sophistication, 6.)economic background, 7.) social background, 8.) educational background, 9.) level of success, 10.) And moral character.” (1980) While these impressions from clothing may not always be accurate, they give others a great idea of what a person may be like as an employee. First impressions may be lasting impressions. Often we are judged more by our clothing than other nonverbal factor. While this was not the first time Mary met this nurse, Mary’s judgments worked in the favor for the promotion. Mary’s situation was different from many other job settings. At a law firm it is up to each employee to pick out an appropr...