In an earlier post, we were discussing if beauty is an advantage in getting a job, and if so how much of a difference does look make? Is beauty a necessary part of finding a job? Are the ugly doomed to receive second rate jobs and, as it follow, second rate income? Is cosmetic surgery almost as important an investment as a college education?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons seems to think so. But what do professionals think about the beauty bias?
In a survey, done by Newsweek, of 964 people, including everyone from corporate hiring managers to senior vice presidents, it seems for everything from getting hired to getting promotions, beauty is critical. The respondents went on to say that women should wear clothing that shows of their figures and that job seekers should spend as much if not more time trying to make themselves attractive, as they do working on building their professional networks and polishing their resumes. According to one recruiter surveyed-
“This is the new reality of the job market, It’s better to be average and good- looking than brilliant and unattractive.”
So what are those of us who don't look like models to do? The employment market right now is grim enough without having to worry about wearing designer heels or expensive suits. So many of us are unemployed, underemployed or stuck in a job where salaries or benefits have been cut that it just isn't financially practical to get professional manicures and $100 haircuts. And not only do we have to be beautiful, we also have to be young. Men and women alike often find that in a job search they have to contend with a great deal of ageism. They find themselves in the unenviable position of not only having to compete with younger applicants who will work longer hours, without any competing obligations from having a family, and will work for less because there are still trying to climb the corporate ladder, but now they have to worry that they may not be deemed as beautiful as their younger competition. So do career counselors advice older job seekers to get botox? Sadly, the answer is oftentimes yes.
What are we to do with this information? I think we can take from this that the beauty bias is alive and well and it is ugly. Still, armed with this information, it is something to consider when marketing yourself to a new employer. I don't think that taking it as far as plastic surgery is a good idea, but taking the time to polish your look, get a new, updated hairstyle and look can certainly help. There are many ways to find designer work clothes for less or even to find much less expensive versions by comparing department store offerings that have a similar look to a designer line. There are also websites that can help you wear the latest designer products without actually having to buy them. Bag, Borrow or Steal is a site that allows you to rent designer handbags and accessories in the same way that you would rent a DVD. You pay a weekly rental and return the bag when you are done and receive a new one from your waiting list. In the same manner, there are several sites that offer designer dress rentals well. Some of the more popular are weartodaygonetomorrow and renttherunway. Whether you decide to rent a new outfit or buy a few versatile pieces, when you are looking for new job, it can be the perfect time to reassess your fashion image and consider all of the ways that you can enhance your own beauty. This applies to men as well, and all too often professional men can get in a slump with the same suits that they have been wearing for years along with the same haircut. Adding a bold color dress shirt that matches your eyes is the power tool for dressing for success for men. Mixing it up with a new tie and haircut from a salon rather than the barber can bring out that something special that makes you look more attractive. Don't look at it as pampering yourself, but rather as a business expense. Because the sad truth is that in this market where employers have a much larger pool of candidates to chose from, how good you look can determine not just where you work, but if you work.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.
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