When I read the OP’s question, I thought about what kind of fingernail polish I’ve seen on my female colleagues. I couldn’t come up with anything, which IMHO is an indication that they all wear pretty neutral colors and are acheiving the intended result - looking professional without calling attention to their fingernail polish.
Ya know, as long as the nails are trimmed and shaped nicely, you dont need polish. Or could use a clear coat.
I’d go for light pink (I like Essie’s Ballet Slippers as my go-to neutral but there are tons of colors just like it) or else a clear coat. Good luck with the interview!
I like OPI Funny Bunny. One coat gives the sheer off white color. Two coats it becomes more opaque, which I like in the summer.
I understand the advice and it’s so interesting. At this age (mid 50s) I don’t feel like changing myself for anyone else anymore, lol! (I’ll probably be interviewing soon and will probably conform regardless of how I feel about it.)
I feel much like my 20something D who likes piercings and tattoos and doesn’t want to work where those would be restricted. I’ve always felt my hands and nails were one of my best features and I love to wear pinks, reddish pinks, and purples.
WDS- what are you wearing to the interview?
No idea. I’m going shopping tonight. I was going to wear black slacks and a top I already had but have decided that the top isn’t professional enough.
Oh, and I went with OPI Samoan Sand …
https://www.skincarebyalana.com/opi-samoan-sand.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cse&utm_term=11714&gclid=CjwKEAjwoLfHBRD_jLW93remyAQSJABIygGpnMDkJjVf7QGWZsp_ZhFLBOcFwhkzjCkAErrvjc_lfRoCBlPw_wcB
Looks like an excellent choice.
Nice color.
Good luck with the interview!!
Another vote for French Manicure. Done on short, neat nails…it shows attention to detail, classiness, and looks very clean. Pink is “little girlish”. Nude polish, like the color above would work well.
Good luck, OP! Excellent polish choice. I’d think having clean and well-groomed nails would be the most important thing. This neutral polish will… polish off the look nicely.
Funny, me neither, I must have been a teenager. I haven’t had to even clip my nails for years, they stay short without doing anything…slight bit of dirt behind them. I think as a woman…depending upon the job, you may not want to look like you are putting too much effort into “girly things”. But I just read more posts after I wrote this, so it sounds like you figured it out.
You know, that is one thing I never ever thought about before a job interview. Every other possible thing, but not that. Good luck!
Nice choice!
I’m not particularly “girlie”, but having manicured and polished nails is something I and most others in my workplace and social circle do. We take occasional breaks, but it is pretty much the norm to get your nails done.
I do toes only. On the few rare occasions I got a manicure it caused problems with my cuticles and the polish chipped/wore quickly. Even with the clearcoat on top of the color. Not for me. Too much maintenance. And am not interested in gels or any of that stufff. But we are approaching sandals season, so its time for a pedicure. Love the leg massage!
That’s a pretty color, OP! I just got mine done yesterday (and much needed pedicure – agree with jum626 – it’s sandal weather!) and chose Essie’s High Maintenance, which I’m now realizing has no tint at all. I’ll try the one you picked next time.
Gel is the preferred choice for low maintenance and shine. I can only get about 2 weeks out of mine, but if I do just colored tips and clear base I can get 3. My daughter can get 4 weeks. I tend to pick at mine after a couple of weeks. Gel is so easy and looks great, but it does require some maintenance every few weeks. I love doing the colored tips.
My problem is that if I don’t have my nails done at a salon, I pick at the nails and cuticles and they look terrible. I take breaks where I just do a clear coat or light pink on my own, but it never looks all that great.
“I think as a woman…depending upon the job, you may not want to look like you are putting too much effort into “girly things”. But I just read more posts after I wrote this, so it sounds like you figured it out.”
In our case, it is not about looking girly, it is about practicality and futility. 
Organic chemists handle gallons of ethyl acetate and other solvents and use acetone to wash glassware. Even though we wear gloves most of the time, an occasional drop of those nail polish removers ruins the polish like there is no tomorrow. Long nails rip through thin gloves… it is a safety issue. So when I see someone with long, beautifully painted nails interviewing for a lab position, I naturally question how much time she actually would be willing to spend in the lab.
I usually do my own nails. I have been blessed with great nails and have worn polish 90% of the time since I was a teen. I think my hands are one of my better features. But I just wanted to do something special for this interview as it’s my first one in so long.
Thanks for all the well wishes. They are going to have to sell me on them as much as the other way around, which is one reason that I’m not too stressed out about it. I know this dept has some turnover and is a bit dysfunctional, but this particular division is somewhat isolated from the crazy so I thought that I’d give it a try.
@BunsenBurner - When I was in grad school I TA’d the “Organic Chemistry for Home Ec Majors” section (yes, all those who majored in Home Ec/Family & Consumer Science were required to take an organic chemistry course, and it was pretty hard.) In the very first lab meeting, I always told them NOT to wear nail polish - mainly because it was futile to take chem lab and protect your manicure at the same time. Of course, there was always at least one student who did not listen and who paid the price.