As I prepare to go in for my interview, I am exceedingly nervous, but confident. My resume and transcript show that I am an excellent candidate for the job. As I adjust the cuffs of my favorite velvet blazer, I am proud of the outfit I had put together. However, I wished that I had had more time to comb out the kinks in the hair I had placed in a chic, messy ponytail, and had tweezed my eyebrows. Many of you are probably thinking that I shouldn’t worry about these minor details. After all, a candidate for a job should only worry about her resume, experiences, and most importantly displaying an optimistic demeanor. After all, isn’t personality more important than looks?
First of all, what is beauty? Isn’t it subjective? Although we like to think of ourselves as sophisticated and not at all animalistic, humans are still animals. Our subconscious is primitive. Animals will pick their mate based on how fit their potential partner may seem, and one way to judge is the symmetry of one’s face. According to an article from the Ludwig-Boltzmann Institute for Urban Ethology, “Preferences for symmetry might have evolved from completely different reasons, but independent from this, they have an effect on mate choice, related to reproductive success.” Therefore, a beautiful women is said to be one with a symmetrical face. It makes sense, doesn’t it? When we fill in our eyebrows, we make sure that they are evenly arched, and that they look similar. When we go for a sexy cat eye, we make sure that the angle of the eyeliner is the same with both eyes.
But again, isn’t personality more important than looks?
Unfortunately, this rule does not count in the professional world. In a study recorded by Elaine Hatfield, “Personnel managers and employment counselors from Los Angeles to Chicago to New York gave a higher starting salary to a woman when she was made up attractively than when the same woman appeared to be plain.” How was the same woman, with the same capabilities and experience, given a different wage because of how she dressed or put on her makeup? Ok, first impressions may be important, and physical attraction plays a huge role in gaining a positive first impression, but why? Blame it on the glass ceiling. Women have recently entered the workforce. The majority of people who work in prestigious fields, such as science, politics, and business, are men. Women are still trapped by what is known as the “glass ceiling,” which is an invisible barrier that prevents women from advancing in their careers. We may have the brains and the personality to fulfill a job, but the superiors in these fields, mostly men, are still judging them (consciously or subconsciously) for their physical features. As we all know, this is unacceptable.
Women have proven themselves in these same professions repeatedly, and often they were better than the men. Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1903 for discovering the properties of radioactivity. Harper Lee won a Pulitzer Prize for To Kill A Mocking Bird in 1961. Elizabeth Warren and Hilary Clinton have been political stalwarts in the 21st century. Unfortunately, people will still judge us by how we look despite the fact that it is wrong.
In a perfect world, we would be able to have a perfect first impression of someone without judging how they look. But we’re not in a utopian world. As much as we don’t want it to be, looks do play an important part in our lives. Although it shouldn’t affect our professional lives, it still does. It’s impractical to go to every single employer and remind them to judge us base on our resume. After all, some employers may not even be consciously doing this. So this brings up the question: What now?
Now that we have to deal with this looks-based selection, here’s how to do your best in this quasi-pageant.
1. Wear Black/ Blue
It may seem silly that even colors play an important role on your interview, but blue is known to be a trusting color, while black embodies leadership. Avoid bright colors such as red, hot pink, orange, or yellow. It will make you come off as overpowering and even rebellious.
2. Keep it simple
Less is more! Keep your hair in a simple and clean updo. For makeup, use some mascara, some blush, and a natural lip tint. Don’t go too crazy with foundation. Use a nude color on your nails or just keep them trimmed and short.
3. CONFIDENCE
There is no one better qualified for the job than you. A confident candidate will certainly be remembered in a more positive light than a timid one. Love yourself and feel good about your abilities. Remember that if they don’t take you, it’s their loss.