The Attractiveness Paradox

To be or not to be... attractive, that is?  Does begin pretty pay off in the end?

In a highly competitive job market, it pays to be attractive - but not TOO attractive.

Research published this week in Newsweek, The Beauty Advantage, says that 72% of hiring managers surveyed found being physically attractive to be beneficial at work.  Is this fair?  Well, fair doesn't matter if it's reality.  The key may not be actual attractiveness but being 'polished.'  Someone who is 'put together' is seen as being organized, effective, and professional whereas someone who is sloppy is perceived as disorganized, less intelligent, and less professional.  With my clients, we focus on the Five Factors of Image:  Visual, Verbal, Kinesthetic, Sociability and Positioning to make sure the surface reflects the person's best, authentic self in a positive way.  Attractive people are seen to be more favorable in key personality areas:  intelligent, friendly, approachable, competent, and trustworthy.

So, if you're up against an equally qualified candidate, appearance may be the tiny factor that puts you over the edge and gives you an advantage.  In fact, hiring managers rated appearance as more important than education!

But before you go out and get a whole-body makeover, beware.  On the flip side, it is possible to be too attractive - especially when being interviewed by hiring managers of the same gender.  In The Economist, Qualified, But Just Too Handsome, candidates that are too attractive are perceived as being less intelligent or subject to a reverse beauty bias.  In my experience, this works two ways, if the interviewer is less attractive than average, he/she believes that attractive people have it easier and therefore dislikes the person based on assumption that the person hasn't had to work hard in life.  In another scenario, if the interviewer is equally or highly attractive, he/she may instinctively feel romantically threatened by the attractive newcomer - fearing the candidate will be favored or preferred.

What to do if you're possibly too attractive?
1 - Dress nicely, but not too nicely.  Wear nice clothes that are polished and professional, but in the interview don't go over the top with high fashion or obviously expensive labels.
2 - If you hit the 'pretty lottery' be conservative.  For women, that means no cleavage, minimal makeup, short nails, nothing too tight or too short.  You should also adapt your personality if you have a female interviewer to try and connect with her.  If she's less attractive, compliment her intelligence so she feels superior and try to make an emotional connection by talking about kids, dogs, or other areas to humanize yourself and make you appear to be compassionate and 'real' instead of just a face and body.  If the interviewer is quite attractive, be very careful not to be perceived as competitive.  Don't denegrate yourself, but be slightly self deprecating, ask a lot of questions that allow her to brag about herself and feel better, and adjust your posture so it's slouchier and less threatening.
3 - If you're a handsome man:  same basics apply.  Take it down a notch and try to be less threatening to other men.
4 - If your interviewer is of the opposite sex, play your trump cards.  Poised, polished, slightly flirtatious works every time.  Without being inappropriate, the interviewer will feel flattered if he/she thinks you like them.

Is this wrong?  Well, all's fair in love, war, and getting a job...  Looks may help get you in the door but your talent and skills will help you keep the job.