The way you look can help you get a job - here's how

The way you look can help you get a job - here's how Taya Reed, a 23‑year‑old London‑based postgraduate who studied at two of the UK’s top universities, applied for a sales position at the womenswear brand Tala. She researched the company thoroughly and created a promotional campaign for the business. In addition, she devoted considerable thought to what she would wear for the interviews, which included an initial online meeting followed by an in‑person session. “I find outfits tin beryllium a bully speech starter,” she says, adding she showed up to her main interrogation wearing an all‑white ensemble with ballet flats, a agelong maxi skirt, and a achromatic vest, each “girly and summery.” “I wanted to amusement I acceptable successful with the company's culture.” Her approach succeeded, and Reed secured the role last month. With youth unemployment remaining stubbornly high on both sides of the Atlantic, young adults are being urged to consider every possible way to stand out in interviews. While substance matters, research indicates that appearance also plays a significant role. A 2020 UK study found that 51 percent of employers admitted rejecting a candidate solely because of how they looked, citing scruffy clothing or poorly dyed hair as deciding factors. Min‑Hsuan Tu, a professor of human resources at the University of Buffalo, warns that interviews can be unfair from the moment a candidate walks through the door. As the lead author of a 2021 paper on the subject (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/peps.12469), she notes that good‑looking individuals are hired more frequently because observers associate attractiveness with trustworthiness and intelligence. “Studies amusement that charismatic radical thin to person amended connection skills and networks. They besides person a higher consciousness of power,” she says. Tu adds that people perceived as charismatic tend to receive more positive attention and preferential treatment from an early age, which helps them develop stronger non‑verbal communication skills and greater confidence. Consequently, they often demonstrate better communication abilities, broader networks, and a heightened sense of influence. She emphasizes that physical attractiveness is not limited to facial features or body shape; it also encompasses clothing and makeup. Making an effort to present oneself well, she says, remains important.