Interviewer demands candidate arrive for the job interview in a costume, forcing candidate to pass on the opportunity: ‘Why… just why?’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Jun 18, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

What is an appropriate outfit to wear to a job interview?

There's an episode of Modern Family in which Mitchell arrives at work in a Halloween costume after a few coworkers tell him that everyone dresses up on Halloween. Only when he gets to work in a Spider-Man costume, Mitchell, an esteemed lawyer, discovers he is actually the only one dressed up, and everyone else is dressed in their suits.

That is what I imagined happening when I read the story below. A hiring manager texted a job candidate saying they "like to have fun here" and asking them to arrive in a costume. They proceeded to say that they want to see that they have a sense of humor, and that the costume will help them see their personality. Then they ended the text saying that they will also be in costume.

Now, I don't know about you, but if I read this text from a workplace I'm interviewing for, there is no chance I'm showing up for that interview, costume or no costume. 

There's no way of telling whether this is a setup or not. What would happen if you arrive in a costume and the company pulls a Modern Family trick and everyone else is wearing normal clothes? How are you supposed to interview for them like that? But even if this text is completely serious and they all actually dress up for a bit of whimsy in the office… It sounds like an awful place to work, honestly. No one wants their workplace to enforce fun by making everyone wear a costume on a random Tuesday. A fun office is a fun office without needing to try so hard. Either you got it, or you don't.

It seems like the person who posted this text and story on Reddit feels similarly, since they never showed up to the job interview. Keep scrolling to read what others had to say about the whole ordeal.

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  • 01

    Why… just why?

    Hi Text Message Today 8:17 AM We look forward to meeting you today at 1. I forgot to mention it, but we do like to have fun here and ask that you arrive in a bit of a costume. Doesn't have to be anything over the top, just something that shows your sense of humor and your personality. We will also be in costume Thanks so much, and see you soon! The sender is not in your contact list. Report Junk
    via Ok-Nobody8264
  • 02
    Got an interview for a receptionist job and like... wt ? Why are you forcing me to participate in your work activities like i already work
    via Ok-Nobody8264
  • 03
    there?! Making me dress in "costume" for a 30 minute interview just to go back home and take it off? Stop playing with me rn seriously
    via Ok-Nobody8264
  • 04
    Edit: I've already secured a bartending job so i cancelled the interview but i might go in as a customer just to see what they got goin on
    via Ok-Nobody8264
  • 05
    Also you have to pay for parking since it's downtown so not only would it have had to pay for a costume but for parking as well f'
    via Ok-Nobody8264
  • 06
    Man in a superhero costume working on a laptop, depicted by a model.
    via Vitaly Gariev

    Man in a superhero costume working on a laptop, depicted by a model.

  • 07
    Acceptable-You-4813 What if it's a trick & when you arrive they are dressed in normal clothes
    via Acceptable--4813
  • 08
    shole1509 W1? What kind of receptionist job is this for?
    via s**hole1509
  • 09
    Ok-Nobody8264 OP a restaurant apparently
    via Ok-Nobody8264
  • 10
    ThighCurlContest "Sorry, but I won't be able to come up with a costume on such short notice."
    via ThighCurlContest
  • 11
    ¡B3ar Do not participate in this humiliation ritual omg. I can't think of any business reason why this would be appropriate unless the job works directly with children.
    via iB3ar
  • 12
    Disastrous_Yam8354 It's also impossible to comply without context. A halloween costume? A christmas theme? A renn fair costume?
    via Disastrous_Yam8354
  • 13
    Employees in holiday costumes talking to a working coworker, displayed by models.
    via Andrej Lišakov

    Employees in holiday costumes talking to a working coworker, displayed by models.

  • 14
    VersionX Aren't interview clothes just a type of costume?
    via VersionX
  • 15
    The_Space_Monkey_ Id be wearing a superman shirt under a my dress clothes. If they call you out for not having a costume, just put you finger to your lips and rip that oxford open. Job secured my friend.
    via _The_Space_Monkey_

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costume job candidates work job candidate hiring workplace job interview interview funny
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