Don't Sweat the Job Interview; New Poll Shows Noticeable Perspiration Won't Help You Land That Job

Business Wire, April 17, 2003

Business Editors

EDISON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 17, 2003

Words to the wise: if you're lucky enough to land a job interview, don't let them know you're sweating - at least, don't let them see it.

According to the new Certain Dri Perspiration Poll(TM), conducted by PKS Research Partners, 79 percent of respondents report they would have a negative perception of a job applicant who was sweating excessively. These perceptions include that the applicant is lying, insecure or even desperate. What's more, the majority say they wouldn't hire the person (52%).

"Today's economic climate has heavily impacted the U.S. job market, and with job openings few and far between, it is even more critical to make a positive first impression if you do land that important job interview," says Caryl Rae Krannich, career expert and author of Interview for Success (Impact Publications, 2003). "People usually make a major judgment about the job applicant during the first five minutes of the actual interview. Excessive perspiration, often aggravated by the stress of the job interview itself, can negatively impact the decision to hire if it's very noticeable."

Other findings of the Certain Dri Perspiration Poll:

-- Despite the constant warm weather down South, those who live

there are less tolerant of obvious or excessive perspiration

during a job interview (36%), while those who live in the West

(20%) are least phased by it.

-- Of those 79% of respondents who view excessive perspiration

during a job interview in a negative way:

-- 51% think the applicant is insecure. Of those, 53% are

women, 47% are men.

-- 22% think the applicant is lying. Women more than men feel

this way (55% vs. 45%).

-- 16% view the applicant as desperate. (57% men vs. 43%

women).

-- 7% see excessive sweating as a sign of sloppiness (men and

women feel roughly the same about this - 49% vs. 51%).

-- 6% associate excessive perspiration during a job interview

with being "not clean." Considerably more women than men

feel this way (63% vs. 38%).

-- Men and women, ages 35-49, are more likely to attach negative

connotations (23%) to excessive perspiration during a job

interview among all age groups 18-plus.

-- 52% of those respondents who attach negative connotations to

excessive perspiration during a job interview believe that it

would impact their decision to hire this person - men and

women are equal in this belief.

-- 43% of the respondents feel that they, themselves would

perspire during a job interview, with significantly more

younger women reporting this:

-- 56% of these respondents are women; 44% are men.

-- 17% are 18-24 years old; 20% are 25-34; 32% are 35-49; 17%

are 50-64; 12% are 65 and over.

-- 29% of these respondents earn an income of $50,000 or

more.

-- Residents in the South are more likely to perspire during a

job interview; those who live in the West and North Central

regions of the U.S. were least likely.

Krannich says if you're worried about perspiring during an interview, prepare ahead. "Preparation is key to the job interview process. Just as you should lay out your clothing the night before, you should also consider using a special antiperspirant, such as Certain Dri(R), which is applied in the evening, before going to bed. This is not something you should leave to chance."

Certain Dri contains the strongest antiperspirant ingredient available without a prescription. "It's ideal for those who only have occasional excessive sweating, as well as those who experience this condition more consistently," she adds.

Consumers can visit www.certaindri.com for more of Caryl Krannich's interview tips, as well as free samples of Certain Dri.

Source: PKS Research Partners for Certain Dri(R) Antiperspirant, 2003