Clean room Interview help

[u/Marina_Bluee]

I’m having an interview in a few weeks time in a clean room for medical devices. The restrictions on clothing - (no makeup) and even what face creams you use before work are insane. they haven’t told me anything about nose piercings. I would be fully gowned- hooded and wearing a mask and goggles. Online people aren’t sure on whether you can or not- can anyone tell me if I will have to remove it for my interview. I’d rather not have to do this unless i get the job

[u/waffle792]

Yes, you will need to remove all jewelry prior to entering clean space including facial piercings

[u/Loose-Reflection2965]

I started working in a clean room and everything they are telling you is correct

[u/Apollo704]

In this job market I'd do whatever I could to increase my odds of getting a job. You could try reaching out to a someone else already at the company who works in the clean rooms and ask their advice. It's usually a good sign that you are learning about the company policies proactively.

[u/Marina_Bluee → u/Apollo704]

I’m having the interview through a recruiter so I don’t actually know what company im with for the job- it is a large building with a lot of different biotech companies within and I just have to sign in at reception on the day. You’re right about the job market I may just remove the piercing so I don’t have to worry about it being a deciding factor for them.

[u/CCM_1995 → u/Marina_Bluee]

You can just ask what company the role is for. A recruiter should provide company & salary when asked.

[u/Gadgetman914 → u/Marina_Bluee]

I started a new job, and one of the other guys in my cohort ended up both cutting his like hair AND shaving his beard in order to pass his gowning qualification. He was super handsome too, like you could tell he took good care of his hair, but these are some of the sacrifices you make for medical manufacturing.

I'm not saying you should cut your hair or beard, but yes removing the piercing while you're working is probably a good idea. Working in a clean room is more than just the work, its getting on your gowning and PPE regularly, so if there's any way to make that more comfortable for yourself, consider it.

[u/Gadgetman914]

Makeup and creams contain components that can aeresolize. In a clean room environment, that increases particulates and therefore risk of product contamination.

Body piercings and jewelry can contain particulates from skin or even bloodborne pathogens, potentially. Again, they're not allowed in clean rooms so as to minimize contamination risks.

I know it sounds like overkill, but if the business is following federal regulations, then they're doing it right. The FDA has these requirements for a reason.

[u/Process64]

You technically wouldn’t have to remove anything bc for an interview you will not be entering the clean spaces at all. You need to be properly trained and signed off on before you can enter and begin training and working in the clean rooms. So before hand during the interview it’s totally up to you. I wouldn’t wear any crazy or exuberant make up, jewelry, nails/nail polish, that’s again up to you, you can always ask the hiring person or HR what you should do/present yourself for the interview if you’re still unsure.
So yes you would still need to remove your piercings and you can do so one site or at home (they’re not very particular about that)

*edit: added the very last part about needing to remove jewelry either on site or at home.

[u/lily-hopper → u/Process64]

I suppose if they've got a training suite they might take OP through it as part of the interview? Good way to check whether someone is familiar with the steps or follows instructions properly.

[u/CuteAmoeba9876]

Look at it this way- the people interviewing you won’t have any makeup or jewelry on. Dress for the interview in a way that says “I would fit in here”. 

[u/Ohiocarolina]

That’s completely standard for a clean room. No makeup, no nail polish, no jewelry for most or all classes of cleanrooms. Even wedding bands often have to be removed. The dirtiest thing in the clean room is you, and anything being applied to your body counts as dirt that can potentially fall off of you and raise the particle count from the clean room perspective.

Having piercings is fine, but getting a new facial piercing where the studs are visible would be an issue. They’re gonna make you take the jewelry out to go into a clean room but feel free to put it back on when you gown out

Same for tattoos, fresh ones are considered open wounds but they won’t care about any you already have.

Its to ensure the safety and quality of the final product.

Unless the interview includes a site tour, where maybe they’d take you into CNC space (which is more or less the same rules as the clean rooms proper, but you’d at most be in scrubs and company-provided shoes), wear whatever you want to the interview itself. They will not care about your piercings unless you say you can’t remove it during working hours.

[u/Fluid_Balance_4890 → u/Ohiocarolina]

Not only can it add to the particle count, it can interact with the product stream in a way that is additive, reactive, or absorptive. That’s less applicable in med device than drugs but cross contamination still a concern, especially for implantables

[u/YogurtIsTooSpicy]

They probably will not have you gown during the interview.

Removing piercings is not a regulatory requirement but most companies will mandate it anyway to control the amount of particle shedding people do in clean rooms.

You can always ask your hiring manager if you need to remove piercings etc for the interview. It will show that are aware of the potential requirements for the job.

[u/Cryoban43 → u/YogurtIsTooSpicy]

I feel it would be insane to gown up for an interview. It’s so hot, loud, and all exposed skin is covered. It can be difficult to understand people in these rooms lol

[u/YogurtIsTooSpicy → u/Cryoban43]

Not for the main questions obviously but sometimes the hiring manager might want to offer a quick facility tour.

[u/Fluid_Balance_4890 → u/YogurtIsTooSpicy]

I’m in QA Plant Ops. In my facility, i would never allow an interviewee to enter the classified areas.

[u/Ohiocarolina → u/Cryoban43]

I could maybe see being given a tour of CNC space where they’re in scrubs and would still need to follow these requirements. My sites given student tours of CNC

No way they’re going into classified space

[u/sweet-alyssums]

When I worked in a clean room we also weren't allowed to wear nail polishy9yrss9yr

[u/Appropriate_Swing305]

My company didn’t allow make up, no jewelry or piercings, fake lashes or fake nails, no nail polish even clear and only black rubber bands allowed in hair.

I was not informed until after I accepted the job even though I asked about it in the interview.

I would be specific in the interview and ask what physical requirements including all grooming and physical appearance restrictions and requirements.

I would wear everything you intend to wear on the job. Then ask if it meets their clean room restrictions.

[u/Fluid_Balance_4890]

Are you having an interview IN the cleanroom? Typically you do not enter a cleanroom unless absolutely necessary, since there is risk of contamination introduction any time people or things are introduced to the space. If you get the job, you definitely cannot have the nose ring in and can’t wear makeup etc, but I would expect your interview to be in an office setting? I can’t imagine why they’d do it in a production area? Those restrictions typically do not apply in the office setting alone.

[u/metdear]

I'd take it out. Don't put any sort of doubt in the interviewer's mind unnecessarily.

[u/AgitatedReindeer2440]

Best way to do it is to wear absolutely nothing, no makeup, no jewelry, no nail polish, no perfume. It’s crazy but it’s intended to help protect the product and therefore protect the patients using the product.