Debate - Do good looking people get jobs over someone not as attractive?

[Hillbeans]

I can't find the link on msnbc today, I saw it yesterday, however I thought it'd be an interesting topic to debate. Do you think that people who are attractive get a job faster than someone with the same qualificaitons as someone not as good looking?

Personally, I think they do. This link stated that statistically it was true.

 

[stinkerbelle]

wow - my company must have been desperate...they hired me, didn't they? hehehehe

 

[Maleficent13]

I do think it's true, but not in the way people might think. I do not hire people based on their physical features. I do, however, give preference to an applicant who shows up in a business suit over someone who shows up in track pants. I think hygenie and grooming are important. If you don't respect me or my company any more than feeling a sweatsuit is appropriate, then I don't respect you as an applicant either.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
wow - my company must have been desperate...they hired me, didn't they? hehehehe

Wowzers -- mine, too! They even gave me a key to a mirrorless bathroom. The replacement costs for the regular bathrooms was getting to be too much for them!

 

[CindysGusGus]

In my experience I think this is the case. Especially when working with the public. I know that I was passed up for a front desk receptionist for this reason. They flat out told the people who were pulling for me that I didnt have the "look" that they were looking for. The person they hired was VERY pretty but didnt have the brains to be a front desk receptionist, which really doesnt call for all that much (that position anyway). She was let go a month after they hired her...seems she was having too much fun (if you know what I mean, nudge, nudge, wink, wink) on the Internet and ignoring people walking in the door.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Sadly I believe it is true. My younger sister (blonde, 32 years old, doesnt even weigh 100 pds) has AWESOME luck finding jobs. She is in sales so that only helps matters.

Her last employer actually said right out they chose her because of her looks. I don't know if I'd take that as a compliment or not.

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by Trish Bessette
Her last employer actually said right out they chose her because of her looks. I don't know if I'd take that as a compliment or not.

Not to insult your sister...but if that was said to me, I'd be insulted and I probably wouldn't take the job.

 

[Jolie C]

I think good looking people often win out over less attractive people. Not just with jobs, either.

 

[CookieGVB]

I know my friend has heard "You're not the right FIT..." more times than not when she was much heavier.

Luckily, I interviewed with firms that were much less shallow than that, and considered skills to be a bigger priority than my size.

 

[Poohbear123]

My example: I have been at my Job for 17 years, making about 10 something an hour. They re-hire a NICE looking former employee, and give her 2.50 MORE than me, and we are both doing the SAME JOB! So, yes it is true true true! Granted, I am not THAT bad looking, I just have a bigger, wider Butt than she does and weigh about 70 pounds MORE than her...and she is ALWAYS on a DIET!

 

[Snowysmom]

I believe that it is true. It just seems easier for good looking people to get jobs. Even if a plain looking person goes to the interview dressed properly, a good looking applicant does better. Luckily, where I now work, they were more interested in qualifications than looks. Also, tall people seem to get preferential treatment too. It pays to be a good looking tall person! I am so out of luck there.

 

[Disney01]

Yes, but I don't know if it always has to do with "looks" as an overall way a person is put together-and that includes clothes, hair, and weight. And, for some jobs, I definitely agree with this policy. If firms want a certain "look" for someone representing them, then I think they have the right to hire that look.

 

[tastelikecandy]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
I do think it's true, but not in the way people might think. I do not hire people based on their physical features. I do, however, give preference to an applicant who shows up in a business suit over someone who shows up in track pants. I think hygenie and grooming are important. If you don't respect me or my company any more than feeling a sweatsuit is appropriate, then I don't respect you as an applicant either.

I agree, plus there is no way any of us can answer that question except maybe speaking of a situation where it happened to someone we know.

It is not debatable because it is not 100 fine either way.

 

[AZ JazzyJ]

Originally posted by CookieGVB
I know my friend has heard "You're not the right FIT..." more times than not when she was much heavier.

Was your friend applying for a job as a rodeo clown? If so, then I might have an answer to why she wasn't a fit. (Just kidding.)

And in answer to the original poster's question, of course we do.

Jeff

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I went to one of those touchy feely work seminars where you talk about stuff like this. We had to pair up with complete strangers and list our first impressions of them. I was amazed at some of the adjectives that I got. Things like conventional, clean -cut, normal....

Thats not really me at all!

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by Maleficent13
I do think it's true, but not in the way people might think. I do not hire people based on their physical features. I do, however, give preference to an applicant who shows up in a business suit over someone who shows up in track pants. I think hygenie and grooming are important. If you don't respect me or my company any more than feeling a sweatsuit is appropriate, then I don't respect you as an applicant either.

I have to agree with this. When I was hiring people one of the first impressions for me is the way you were dressed and how you were groomed (and not necessarily in the latest fashions). If you were dressed in office attire, were neat in appearance and cared about your personal hygenie it didn't matter to me if you were 100 pounds or 300 pounds, pretty or plain, first impressions on an interview are very important. If you walked in with a track suit on for an office job with unkempt hair and smelled it would be very hard for me to get past that even if you were qualified for the position.

 

[RachelEllen]

Some of this is going to be unconcious, though. Even if you think you're not judging people on attractiveness, there still could be some effect. There are enough good studies about this, that I don't doubt it's true.

Rachel

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I don't think it has to do with "attractiveness" so much, but how you present yourself.

When I interview people I look for the following things:
Dressed appropriately for an interview (you would be surprised what some people wear).
Neat in appearance.
Able to carry on a conversation.
Looks me and the other interviewers in the eye.
Is a little nervous.
Asks questions about the company and/or position.
If the person will fit in with the other workers in the office.


Basically, I am looking for the best worker, who will work well with the others already here, and fit in with our corporate culture.

 

[vernon]

Originally posted by stinkerbelle
wow - my company must have been desperate...they hired me, didn't they? heheheh

Did you see the rest of the aplicants LOL

In answer to the OP , I don't think anyone realistically doubts that attractive people find it easier. Maybe some of that is down to confidence and that a slimmer person feels a lot more comfortable in flattering clothes, is likely to "show off" their best qualities as opposed to looking to hide their worst etc. But still, at the end of the day, with two similarly qualified applicants with adiquate personalities I have no doubt that the "attractive" person gets the job in the majority of the cases (and when they don't I'd wager the vast majority of those times they are being interviewed by someone of the same sex).

 

[Sammie]

Oh definitely. You should see photos of the top executives at Disney, they could all be right out of Cosmo and GQ.