Looking the part

sweetilemon

Obviously in some careers 'looking good' is a must (modelling for example) but how important do you think it is in careers in general? Not so much clean and tidy, do you think attractive, slim people have a better chance of getting a job/ promotion than the not so blessed?

Does anyone have any examples? Do you agree or disagree?

Just thought this would be an interesting discussion to hear views / opinions.

joeblack066

I've been a bit overweight all my life, no oil painting but scrub up ok. Never been out of work in my life (so far!) unless its been Maternity. Had lots of interviews, well presented, and got the jobs more often than not.

Two4Tuesday

I always value competence and ability over looks or anything else. Most good managers know their success depends upon the people below them.

AP007

At my last company a girl in her 20's got the job over a man in his 40's returning to work after bringing up his children as the management accountant wanted to 'give her one' or so he said so erm yeah depends who you are and who you are interviewed by. She left in 6 months so would have been nice to have had the man who really wanted the job.'

pinkshoes

Statistically a fat/obese person will earn less than a slim person. FACT!

Why? Perhaps because they're perceived to be less healthy? Greedy? Lack of will power?

I have to say it rang true where I used to work; most of the higher paid workers were slim (although not necessarily attractive!!), and a far higher percentage of lower paid workers were obese.

I think looks and appearance play a HUGE part in it.

HiToAll

pinkshoes wrote: »

Statistically a fat/obese person will earn less than a slim person. FACT!

Why? Perhaps because they're perceived to be less healthy? Greedy? Lack of will power?

I have to say it rang true where I used to work; most of the higher paid workers were slim (although not necessarily attractive!!), and a far higher percentage of lower paid workers were obese.

I think looks and appearance play a HUGE part in it.

I am interested in this, can you give me a link to the facts that statistically this is so. Ta

[Deleted User]

http://www.career-intelligence.com/management/Does-Appearance-Affect-Career-Advancement.asp

http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/21/health-weight-career-forbeslife-cx_avd_0521health.html

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/educate/college/business/articles/20050724.htm

http://woman.thenest.com/appearance-behavior-affect-employment-7048.html

pinkshoes

HiToAll wrote: »

I am interested in this, can you give me a link to the facts that statistically this is so. Ta

There's even been a journal written on it testing their hypothesis.

In Michigan state, they've even had to create a law making it illegal to discriminate in employment on the grounds of obesity!

There is clearly enough evidence (although mostly USA based) to show that fat/obese people do indeed earn less than their more slender counterparts.

browneyedbazzi

Perhaps appearances shouldn't matter, but I think in reality they do. I don't think you need to be an oil painting, but I do think you should at least make an effort to look presentable - by that I mean tidy (appropriate to your role) clothing, generally clean, hair brushed etc.

I have a colleague who does the same job as I do and generally looks quite sloppy - she wears ill fitting, tattered clothes and her hair almost always looks a mess - and it gives the impression that her work may be sloppy too. I think it gives a bad impression to our customers and the partner agencies we work with. It's a shame because she's quite pretty and if she took five minutes to brush her hair and/or tie it back and wore appropriate clothes I think she'd look really nice and professional...and probably be taken more seriously at work!

dandelionclock30

Well I know loads of very overweight people who have been in higher management and thus in high paid jobs. Some on 40-70K and thats fairly well paid.
So from my experience the fat people were doing very nicely indeed.
I would like to add that all these people were smartly dressed and well presented.

Fire_Fox

browneyedbazzi wrote: »

Perhaps appearances shouldn't matter, but I think in reality they do. I don't think you need to be an oil painting, but I do think you should at least make an effort to look presentable - by that I mean tidy (appropriate to your role) clothing, generally clean, hair brushed etc.

I have a colleague who does the same job as I do and generally looks quite sloppy - she wears ill fitting, tattered clothes and her hair almost always looks a mess - and it gives the impression that her work may be sloppy too. I think it gives a bad impression to our customers and the partner agencies we work with. It's a shame because she's quite pretty and if she took five minutes to brush her hair and/or tie it back and wore appropriate clothes I think she'd look really nice and professional...and probably be taken more seriously at work!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kk1C6BEThY