Appearance makes a difference in hiring p1 - Military Transition - Military Times EDGE

While we’d all like to believe that we’re judged in the workplace by our skills and abilities, the truth is that the same thing that often influences all areas of our lives — our physical appearance — also is often one of the most important factors in determining our career success.

Specifically, if we’re thought to be good-looking, we’re more likely to get the job we desire, be paid more money, have a higher-level position and boost our company’s bottom line, said Gordon L. Patzer, the founding director of the Appearance Research Institute, who has been studying the influence of physical appearance for decades.

“The truth is, looks present people with an unlevel playing field, and as discomforting as this is, people do judge and react to others based on their physical appearance - even if they do deny it,” Patzer says.

Still, Patzer points out that “we’re not defenseless” to such judgments in the workplace but that it pays to be aware of such attitudes.

“It’s not going to go away,” he said, “but we can take action.”

Patzer bases his opinion on years of research and has put his findings and recommendations in a new book, “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined” (Amacom, $23). He says that looks determine career success, such as:

• If you’re “exceptionally” good-looking, you have a better chance of getting hired for just about any job when you’re up against someone “average” looking with the same qualifications. Scientific research shows this “hiring the handsome” is standard practice, even among seasoned hiring pros.

• Workers who are more attractive earn 7.5 percent to 15 percent more than average-looking peers.

• Taller men (more than 5 feet 9 inches) are seen as more effective, get higher performance ratings and more promotions and earn more money.

• Companies with better-looking managers are more productive and earn more, showing that even though the physically attractive managers were more costly because of their higher salaries, they paid for their wages with better earnings for the employer.

At the same time, Patzer said employees should not become “overly focused” on their looks to determine their career success, since other factors come into play. And employees should understand there are various ways to boost the perception that they are better-looking. For example, he says that those with a good education are “perceived” to be better-looking, while self-confidence and positive body language also can boost the perception that a person is attractive.

“There are so many avenues open to you,” Patzer said. “Just making sure you follow proper hygiene can make people more receptive to you, and then your own confidence goes up.”

But despite all the positives associated with being seen as attractive on the job, there is one downside. Research shows that beauty can work against women seeking a job that is seen as having “masculine” qualities such as strength, endurance and calmness under pressure, Patzer says.

“Attractive females who reach high-level management are more likely to have their success attributed to luck,” Patzer said. “If a woman is unattractive enough, however, her success in business is viewed as the result of ability.”

(Originally published March 3, 2008)