China's Official Media Releases Appearance Guidelines for Civil Service Job Candidates

China’s official media released a series of guidelines for civil service job candidates on April 25, 2026, emphasizing modest dress and appropriate appearance, the South China Morning Post reported. The guidelines warn candidates to dress modestly and wear light and elegant suits.

Men applying for civil service jobs are advised to get a haircut, while women are told to have clean nails, avoid jewellery, avoid complicated make-up, and ensure their hair does not cover their ears or eyes.

Civil service jobs in China are traditionally seen as an iron rice bowl due to the security they offer. Competition for these positions has intensified in recent years as the economy faltered, according to the South China Morning Post. An article by Banyuetan laid out requirements for civil service candidates' appearance and demeanour.

Banyuetan stated that appearance and demeanour is a separate category on civil service interview scoring sheets, requiring candidates to be appropriately dressed, with good temperament and poise, and minimal fluctuations in behaviour. Appearance and demeanour accounts for five to 10 per cent of the total score on civil service interview scoring sheets, Banyuetan reported.

The article stressed the importance of having the right haircut and clothing, saying candidates should give the impression that they were clean and confident.

It suggested women should not use pale facial foundations, colourful eye shadow, fake eyelashes or decorative nails. The guidelines also urged candidates to wear light and elegant clothes, recommending colours such as grey, camel, beige and light blue, and said candidates should avoid pointy shoes or high heels.

“The civil service interview is a setting that allows very little room for error in appearance,” the Banyuetan article said.

It added that although first appearances mattered, interviewees still needed to answer questions properly.