A friend of mine called me the other day and a girl who had applied for a job at the same place as her - she did not get the job because she apparently was lacking something in the ‘looks’ department.
I thought that was really ridiculous. Yeah I understand that in the work place a professional appearance is always a good idea. However, to actually base a persons abilities to work, on physical looks, what the heck is that?
There was something here about a woman being hired over a man because she would attract more people (customers) etc. Utter bs. Is there a law against that or not?
And why are people so stuck on appearances anyway? :o
Yes there are laws against any kind of discrimination. But lets get real here. If you're a computer science grad and going for a job supporting finicky users....who will you hire? Skill levels etc being equal....a beautiful person is more calming and soothing than an ugly. I could make so many more examples but I think you can imagine and get the idea. Being attractive is the most helpful, beneficial thing to have in your hat as you persue a career that has anything at all to do with people. Sad but true. If you are an intern and you are beautiful, you'll be almost hounded with helpful hints, tips and assistance from the "old-timers"....if you're not attractive, you'll be left to do the tasks assigned and otherwise ignored.
...just a dose of reality here, not really personal opinion just personal experience.
There is a law in the US - yes. Other countries not so sure.
Once apon a time young and/or pretty women would be hired and guys used to joke openly about eye candy and even felt free and confident enough to tell them their job hinged on quid pro quo. Old women were regularly laid off, if you gained weight, you would be laid off, if you got married or pregnant, you were fired. Women got together wondering how to support their families and themselves and generally got upset over this BS so they changed the laws. This was in the seventies in the US.
Feminists have one or two useful qualities going for them I guess. Might need to import one or two.
I am not saying people should not take care of themselves. That they should. They should care about their appearances, their clothes etc in order to look good. Why not? I mean yeah it would also give them confidence etc. However, if a person has a really huge nose or something, and dont get hired, what bs is that?
mamaof3 -- I have a hard time getting used to that. I mean isnt it really pathetic. And I know it is true in a lot of places.
I think its unfair to all those people who are seen as not so attractive. I mean thats like holding it against them how they were born. Hows it their fault?
Let's face it: We all want the HR lady to be hot and well-endowed. How else we'd get the nerve or even the interest to ask what benefits come with the job?
hey listen, we're talking about human nature here. No matter whether the job is waitress at Hooter's or executive assistant to the president of a bank. Attractiveness is a plus, more so if you are female. Sorry but its true. I dont mean that women need to go job hunting with tongue wagging. Just that attractive people attract customers, attract help to make them successful. Ugly people do not. Fact of life. I worked with an extremely smart intern, female. She was not attractive at all. Ignored and left to do whatever work there was to be done. Another intern, not nearly as intelligent, but REALLY attractive, had all kinds of execs offering a helping hand, lunch, advancement opportunities etc. WAhen I worked in trading floor technology, I always made a joke of the situation when there was tech trouble on the floor - "I better shorten my skirt and get out there!" I never compromised my principles and I was good at what I did. But making yourself attractive is the most helpful thing a gal can do for a good career.
But Im not a piece of meat. If Im going to work it will be with my brain , not with my skirt. Thats how I think anyway. And anyone who is willing to hire because of looks isnt worth it. I would not wish to work for such a person. Its degrading. I mean being promoted and such because one looks good is actually being put down. The opposite of what it seems.
Plus I thought getting along with others and being friendly and helpful would be more important than looking good?
gadha.. haha