More than half of UK employers have admitted turning down a candidate because of the way they looked, a 2020 study has found, as research highlights the role of appearance in hiring decisions.
Taya Reed, a 23-year-old London-based science graduate, knew she had to make a good first impression when applying for her dream marketing job at womenswear brand Tala. She devised a promotional campaign and carefully chose an all-white ensemble with ballet flats, a long maxi skirt and a white vest – “girly and summery”, she says. “I wanted to show I fit in with the company’s culture.” The strategy worked: she got the job last month.
“A 2020 UK study found 51% of employers rejected candidates due to appearance, as dressing well can boost chances.”
Min-Hsuan Tu, a professor of human resources at the University of Buffalo, warns that job interviews can be unfair from the moment a candidate walks in. The main author of a 2021 paper on the topic, she says good-looking people get hired more often because attractiveness is associated with positive traits such as trustworthiness and intelligence. “Studies show that attractive people tend to have better communication skills and networks. They also have a higher sense of power,” Tu says.
However, physical attractiveness is not limited to face or body shape – clothing and make-up matter. Tu says making an effort to present well is important.
Matt Cohen, a 31-year-old American who moved to London two years ago, aimed for a confident demeanour in his recent job interviews. After sending out more than 100 cover letters and spending almost a year looking for work, he landed his first post-graduation job – an entry-level executive role at a media company – this month.
The findings come as youth unemployment remains stubbornly high on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving young adults searching for every possible way to stand out positively in interviews.