Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Imagined
Posted on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 by Frank Roche
I have a face made for radio.
I wish I could have started this post with, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” Ah, for the sake of a little more symmetry, a few more inches, perfect hair and I could be…who am I kidding? (Once, when I thought I was being particularly funny and Sarah didn’t, I said, “It’s funny when Chris Rock says it.” And she retorted, “Well, you’re no Chris Rock.” It was my Dan Quayle–Lloyd Bensten moment.)
Looks Matter, or U-G-L-Y, You Ain’t Got No Alibi
Um, yeah, looks matter. Author Gordon Patzer brings that home with all kinds of research in Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Imagined. In a chapter titled “How Looks Determine Career Success,” Patzer writes that personal attractiveness (PA) is a financial boon. Beautiful people make more money. And they have an advantage when interviewing:
Exceptionally good-looking people are more likely to get hired for just about any position when competing against averaging-looking candidates with the same qualifications, scores of scientific studies show. Hiring-the-handsome is a routine practice among even seasoned HR pros who sincerely believe they are able to ignore such superficialities as an applicant’s PA. That’s because they think the person with high PA is actually better qualified or, if not, will nevertheless turn into a better employee.
The funny thing is, I’m not sure what we can do about it. Looks was an interesting read. It’s well researched. But short of of plastic surgery and shoe inserts, what we can do about looks and height? I’m just hoping that we don’t have to start doing sensitivity training for “uglyism.”
Looks: Why The Matter More Than You Imagined
Author: Dr. Gordon L. Patzer
Pub Date: 2008
ISBN: 0814480543
Bonus Feature: U-G-L-Y Cheer from “Wildcats,” Starring Goldie Hawn
rick
Jan 16th, 2008
It is important to look beyond this “Looks” thing.
First of all it does not mean that those of us not born with exceptionally good looks cannot be successful.
Second of all dress, confidence, an outgoing personality and saying intelligent things can and will change a person’s perceptions of how we look. I am basing this on experience rather than scientific research.
I do believe that the untalented but beautiful may have an easier time in life than the untalented and not so good looking. Oh well. life is not fair. Next subject.
Frank Roche
Jan 16th, 2008
Rick, it’s so funny. It’s not that the less than supermodels can’t get by…I’m proof of that. But it’s one of those deals that the beautiful people get more breaks. I do agree with you that there a lot more to personal attractiveness…and confidence is a big one. Health, too.
You’re right, life’s not fair. When I come back, though, I’d rather be the Dali Lama than Brad Pitt…unless it’s the Brad Pitt from Legend of the Fall.
melina
Jan 17th, 2008
I once worked with a manager who hired female employees based on looks. AND he had the audacity to talk about it openly. The lawsuit potential made me shudder.
It would be an ideal world if all hiring/HR managers were able to see beauty, but look beyond it to “fit”. I think a major player in avoiding hiring just for looks has 2 parts.
1. Have a hiring process that digs in deeper than “tell me about your last job” and “why do you want to work here?”.
2. Include multiple people in the hiring process. This ensures different viewpoints and interpretations. I have found group interviews to be highly effective.
JT
Jan 17th, 2008
After I read this I went and took a long hard look in the mirror. I felt really bad.
I kept thinking how hideous that poor bastard must be that came in second when I got hired. He’s probably working in a side show even as we speak.
Frank Roche
Jan 17th, 2008
JT, I am literally LOL. The lede of this story was going to be the old Rodney Dangerfield line: “When I was born I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother.” Ba-boom.
Dr. Gordon Patzer
Feb 12th, 2008
Frank,
Thank you for writing such a great review/comment about my book.
In regard to your question, what we can do about looks and height? My response is that we are not defenseless. Because many factors, both physical and non-physical, determine a person’s PA most people have actions and alternatives available to them. Furthermore, people should “not do nothing,” just because they can’t do everything.
Actions and alternatives to increase PA range from routine to non-routine. Basic hygiene, industry-appropriate clothes, proper nutrition, and optimal sleep represent one end of the continuum alternatives to raise PA. The other end of the continuum includes liposuction procedures, pharmaceutical facial filler injections, face-lifts, hair transplants, gastric bypass operations, and other cosmetic surgeries. Of course, technology, ethics, religion, societal norms, social pressures, and financial resources, as well as an individual’s own judgment and motivation, define pursuits and alterations acceptable for any one person.
Gordon Patzer
author of “Looks” book
http://www.GordonPatzer.com
Frank Roche
Feb 13th, 2008
Hi Dr. Patzer,
Thanks for stopping by. I really enjoyed your book, and besides how well researched it was, it was also accessible and brought up some very important points. What you say here, “…we are not defenseless,” is great advice. It’s so true. And from an HR perspective, people can do more to raise their PA.
Continued good luck with Looks. I really enjoyed it.