Think Looks Don't Matter in an Interview? Think Again.

In a perfect world looks wouldn’t factor into anyone’s hiring practices but there have been numerous studies that show that attractiveness plays a role in terms of workplace success, particularly in terms of pay.  Many studies have shown that beautiful people are not only more successful but earn more than their less attractive counterparts.  Of course there are always the exceptions to the rule….hello, Donald Trump.

The point being that if good-looking people are earning more in better positions than it only stands to reason that they get preferential treatment when job hunting as well.  So what’s a person to do if they’re not Brad Pitt or Charlize Theron?  Well I’m certainly not advocating any drastic changes here.  No one expects you to go under the knife for a job or anything.  You want to maintain your originality - no cookie cutter nose jobs please. Besides you might end up looking like this.


What I’m talking about is simple steps you can take to make sure you make the best first impression possible:

1. Take a shower.  You can’t go into an interview smelling like body odor, people! You just can’t. And while we’re on the subject of smells, don’t  have a cigarette right before either – no matter how nervous you are.  For those with a penchant for scent, put down the bottle of perfume or cologne!  What smells lovely to you might be tantamount to an olfactory assault on your interviewer. Just step away. Better to be safe than smelly.
2. The hair. A few days before your interview take a moment to step back and really look at what’s on top of your head. Think seriously about the message your hair may send.  If you are still rockin’ the Farrah Fawcett, or your hair is an incredibly unnatural color, or you’re still hanging on to what’s left of your receding hairline and sporting the dreaded comb-over, let me just say you ARE hurting your chances of getting a job. Sad but true. Update your look. Let go of your high school hairdo. Embrace the bald, if that’s where things are going – it’s distinguished.  What you’re looking for is a modern, neat, out of your face look that says “this is a person who is together and capable”.
3. The clothes.  Few people have the unstoppable combination of a perfect body and a great sense of style.  If you are like the rest of us mere mortals, here are a few rules to follow when getting dressed for an interview:

• Nothing too tight or too short.
• Nothing too flashy:  no gold shirts or giant earrings.
• Nothing too casual: no sweats or running shoes – you’re not going for a hike here.
• Try to avoid a lot of bold colors, patterns or over the top designs.  This is one of those times you want to play it safe. This is not the time to get all avante-garde and Lady Gaga-esque.

Keep things simple by wearing well fitted clothes in muted colors. Make sure your clothes are clean and neat and don’t forget to pay attention to your shoes and handbag or briefcase.  You may think people don’t notice your shoes but you’d be wrong. They do, so make sure they go with the outfit and don’t look scruffy.

The bottom line is this: you may think you look great but you might want to take a good, long look at yourself and see if what you think is what the world would think.  You don’t want to be like those American Idol auditionees that think they can sing but actually sound like a dying cat.  They’re in denial about their talent or lack thereof.  Don’t follow in their footsteps. Make sure you make that great first impression with or without the face of a Greek god/dess.

Top 5 Interview No-Nos

1)     Arrive Late
As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression and nothing makes a worse first impression than arriving for an interview late!  Before your interview make sure that you know the exact location and how you will get there.  Print out directions from google maps or anything else you might need. That being said, it’s not exactly a good idea to be too early either so try to time things so you will arrive no more or less than 10 minutes early. 

2)    Look/Act Unprofessional
This should be a no-brainer but sadly people still get this wrong. As I said, first impressions are important so make sure you look presentable for your interview.  Dress in professional, tidy clothing. Nothing too tight, short, loud or over-the-top. Keep it simple.  This goes for hair and makeup as well.

Keeping it classy isn’t just for appearances, it’s for demeanour too.  Don’t chew gum or fidget excessively.  Try to make eye contact (but don’t stare). Definitely don’t swear and try to smile and be polite. People want to hire personable, friendly and well-mannered people.  A little “please” and “thank-you” never hurts.

3)    Be  Unprepared
Coming unprepared to an interview is bad form and could easily hurt your chances for getting hired.  Here are a few to-do’s you should work through a day or two befoer your interview.

• Research the company: check out the company website, get an understanding of the organization's structure, find out who important executives or board members are. Generally familiarize yourself with the company.
• Research what types of questions might be asked and practice answering those questions.  This is especially good for those “Tell me about a time when...” questions that can leave your memory suddenly blank.
• Come prepared with your references and extra copies of your resume and cover letter.

4)    Bad Mouth your previous employers/co-workers
This is a big no-no because employers are looking for employees with tact and they are also wondering what you might say about THEM if you were hired there and then left for whatever reason.

You don’t have to sugarcoat everything but be diplomatic about previous employers and show due respect to former colleagues as well.  You certainly don’t want to be perceived as a problem-employee.

5)    Lie
We shouldn’t have to say this because it’s so obvious but it still happens. People lie on their resume, their references and in their interview and frankly, it’s just not worth it.

If you are going to be hired, be hired on your own merit.  If you’ve made mistakes, well who hasn’t?  Be open and honest and be sure to share what you’ve learned from any mistakes.  Everyone puts a little spin into their resume but lying is not only unethical it is also dangerous.  If you get a position under false pretenses you could be in serious trouble if you are ever found out and what sort of a reference would you get then! In this case, as in so many others, honesty really is the best policy.