You get the job you've always dreamed of and on your start date there is only one thing on your mind: what to wear. I know because I've gone through the same stress-inducing situation. You want to make a good impression (whatever that means), look confident, stylish, competent.
We struggle to impress our peers and collegues based on how we look because we've accepted the old adage that beauty matters. Not only does it matter but it gives one an advantage (just look at Newsweek's series of articles about the "Beauty Advantage" if you're not convinced).
Yes, it's no longer solely competence or work experience that gives you the one-up on other candidates. In retail, that's the bottom line, you are the face of whatever company it is that hired you. This is probably why most companies (at least in retail) require employees to wear uniforms. It's all about the first impression.
I didn't want to believe it either, especially since beauty is such a subjective word. It means many different things to many different people and can even be cultural. Yet, there are studies out there that prove beauty is not that complicated a term to understand and that it really does matter.
“Handsome men earn, on average, 5 percent more than their less-attractive counterparts (good-looking women earn 4 percent more); pretty people get more attention from teachers, bosses, and mentors; even babies stare longer at good-looking faces (and we stare longer at good-looking babies). “
“Fifty-seven percent of hiring managers told NEWSWEEK that qualified but unattractive candidates are likely to have a harder time landing a job, while more than half advised spending as much time and money on 'making sure they look attractive' as on perfecting a résumé. “ [Interested folk should look at this article: http://www.newsweek.com/
The quotes go on and become even more disturbing, believe me. The preoccupation now becomes what do we do about it. For your job, sometimes you have to “grin and bear it” as they say. Even if (or especially if, according to the article) you are one of those people who think it's disgusting or shameful.
Personally, knowing these studies and facts are out there empowers me. If it makes me more marketable, more successful, or even if it makes my boss happier....save plastic surgery or going to work naked. I do like to pamper myself after all. One does have to find the silver lining sometimes.
By: Samantha Taylor
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