How Important Is Your Appearance In A Job Search?

How many times have you heard the following? First impression is important and don’t judge a book by its cover. They certainly express the eternal dichotomy between appearance and ability. Many people looking for a job wonder how much appearance really matter. Let’s try and clarify the situation.

Does Appearance Matter in Business?

When you attend a job interview, you obviously try to dress in the most appropriate and respectful manner. So, we can clearly say that appearance, in terms of what you wear, is an important factor. If you turn up at the office in a swimsuit and flip flops, it might well be a problem.

The importance of physical appearance when applying for work varies according to the type of job involved. For example, if you’re applying for a job in a fashion agency, or to work in television, physical appearance could play a big part in the selection process. These are jobs where image is a key factor. So here the interviewers will be on the lookout for someone who is special looking (but not beautiful), and who will attract the attention of the viewers at home.

By contrast, there are other types of work where physical aspect doesn’t matter, because what is needed is intelligence and expertise in the field. If a company is serious, it will know that physical appearance counts for little if the technical skills are lacking. So if it choose its staff on the basis of appearance, it probably wouldn’t get very far.