Are good looks an asset in the corporate world?
Jul 12, 2009
SHE was good at her job, but the whispers around the office corridors refused to die out. It was rumoured that her climb to a senior managerial position had everything to do with physical appearance and not her capabilities.
By Susan Muyiyi
SHE was good at her job, but the whispers around the office corridors refused to die out. It was rumoured that her climb to a senior managerial position had everything to do with physical appearance and not her capabilities.
There were other individuals who made the mark after all, but she used her charm and looks, it was argued. Who would say no to a Tyra Banks look-alike for a job? Call it a myth or an unconfirmed perception; it hasn’t stopped agitators from claiming that beautiful people have it easy in life, particularly when it comes to getting jobs.
On the contrary, Peter Ojede, the chairman of the Uganda Human Resource Managers Association, says it is not entirely true that beautiful people get jobs easier than their counterparts.
“It depends on the job. There are certain jobs like front desk managers, air hostesses, modelling and public relations where appearance may determine the successful candidate,†he explains.
However, competence can’t be substituted for looks. “Good looks do not get one a job easily and are not a prerequisite for a job. What employers look out for are good presentation skills both spoken and unspoken, appearance in terms of dress code as well as a candidate’s body language like posture and general body movements.â€
According to Ojede, some companies want to present an inviting professional image to their clients. A front desk manager is the first contact person between an organisation and its clients so he/she ought to look pleasant.
That settles Ruth’s concerns of having to attach a coloured photograph along with her application for the position of a public relations manager.
Do the good looks attract heavy money bags? Yes and no, says Sylvia Namujju, a human resource consultant.
Like Ojede, Namujju says the good looks depend on the type of work. “In the movie industry, someone’s looks matter a great deal. When it comes to screening for television, a pleasant look and beautiful face matter a lot.
However, qualifying for a job in professional fields like medicine or engineering depends on one’s ability to perform not their appearance,†Namujju explains.
She says ability to perform count when it comes to considering an employee for a promotion.
A London Guildhall survey of 11,000 30-year-olds found that 11% unattractive men earned 15% less than those deemed attractive. Plain women earned 11% less than their prettier counterparts. In the report, Beauty Productivity and Discrimination, it was found that the possibility of a male attorney acquiring early partnership directly correlates with how handsome he is.
According to an article in The Independent, a UK newspaper, beautiful people earn 12% more than Ugly Bettys. The researchers said their work was applicable across different societies and work settings. They found the main explanation for this trend was because beautiful people are seen as more helpful and co-operative.
The good news for those like Ugly Betty is that when the beautiful people are not pulling their weight, their good looks count against them. Having a beautiful face alone can’t help you make headway in the job market when your personality is lacking. So many factors work hand in hand to help a prospective employee find their dream job. Ojede gives tips:
Be well versed with the company’s operations. Interview questions are likely to come from any area.
A pleasant personality is important because every company/organisation deals with people.
Boldness and confidence plus a proper posture count a great deal.
A well-groomed person makes a good impression on prospective employers.
SHE was good at her job, but the whispers around the office corridors refused to die out. It was rumoured that her climb to a senior managerial position had everything to do with physical appearance and not her capabilities.
There were other individuals who made the mark after all, but she used her charm and looks, it was argued. Who would say no to a Tyra Banks look-alike for a job? Call it a myth or an unconfirmed perception; it hasn’t stopped agitators from claiming that beautiful people have it easy in life, particularly when it comes to getting jobs.
On the contrary, Peter Ojede, the chairman of the Uganda Human Resource Managers Association, says it is not entirely true that beautiful people get jobs easier than their counterparts.
“It depends on the job. There are certain jobs like front desk managers, air hostesses, modelling and public relations where appearance may determine the successful candidate,†he explains.
However, competence can’t be substituted for looks. “Good looks do not get one a job easily and are not a prerequisite for a job. What employers look out for are good presentation skills both spoken and unspoken, appearance in terms of dress code as well as a candidate’s body language like posture and general body movements.â€
According to Ojede, some companies want to present an inviting professional image to their clients. A front desk manager is the first contact person between an organisation and its clients so he/she ought to look pleasant.
That settles Ruth’s concerns of having to attach a coloured photograph along with her application for the position of a public relations manager.
Do the good looks attract heavy money bags? Yes and no, says Sylvia Namujju, a human resource consultant.
Like Ojede, Namujju says the good looks depend on the type of work. “In the movie industry, someone’s looks matter a great deal. When it comes to screening for television, a pleasant look and beautiful face matter a lot.
However, qualifying for a job in professional fields like medicine or engineering depends on one’s ability to perform not their appearance,†Namujju explains.
She says ability to perform count when it comes to considering an employee for a promotion.
A London Guildhall survey of 11,000 30-year-olds found that 11% unattractive men earned 15% less than those deemed attractive. Plain women earned 11% less than their prettier counterparts. In the report, Beauty Productivity and Discrimination, it was found that the possibility of a male attorney acquiring early partnership directly correlates with how handsome he is.
According to an article in The Independent, a UK newspaper, beautiful people earn 12% more than Ugly Bettys. The researchers said their work was applicable across different societies and work settings. They found the main explanation for this trend was because beautiful people are seen as more helpful and co-operative.
The good news for those like Ugly Betty is that when the beautiful people are not pulling their weight, their good looks count against them. Having a beautiful face alone can’t help you make headway in the job market when your personality is lacking. So many factors work hand in hand to help a prospective employee find their dream job. Ojede gives tips: