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In other words, how much does a short, bald guy have to compensate (in terms of intelligence, skills, experience, personality) to have as much of a chance of getting a top-tier job as if he were a tall, handsome guy?
Studies have shown there is a definite advantage in the workplace if you are in fit shape, tall and good looking. It's a group that is apt to be hired first, paid more, and promoted more often, than those who are short, out of shape and less attractive.
Having said that - thought you were leaving the forum.
Those studies are BS. Of all the places I've worked if they had a managers/CEO model contest it would be a huge laughing stock.
Companies get what they pay for. Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it's not the case in companies that attract people commanding higher salaries.
When I look at the highest paid employees at previous employers, they are out-of-shape and definitely not the best looking. Many of them are 100+ lbs overweight. They aren't all that attractive physically and do poorly in the dating scene, unless they flashed cash for the gold diggers.
In other words, how much does a short, bald guy have to compensate (in terms of intelligence, skills, experience, personality) to have as much of a chance of getting a top-tier job as if he were a tall, handsome guy?
Those studies are BS. Of all the places I've worked if they had a managers/CEO model contest it would be a huge laughing stock.
I don't think the studies are wrong. There is far too much evidence that being attractive looking and having a personality that projects self-assurance are advantages in contemporary American society. Ask yourself this: would either Abraham Lincoln or Winston Churchill be able to win a national election in this country today?
Yes, there are people who can overcome these prejudices through the force of their intelligence and accomplishments (Stephen Hawking) or superior communication skills (Oprah). But height, facial attractiveness, and physical fitness are assets. Why else, for example, do people spend so much money on capped teeth and nose jobs? Tina Fey, for example, was never ugly and was quite successful with her natural look. But she appears VERY attractive now, even though she's significantly older. Would she have gone to the trouble she's taken to improve her looks if there weren't substantial benefits to be had? If all quarterbacks were available for the same price, would you hire Tom Brady or Matt Stafford to rep your consumer product?
There are some fields in which non-traditional looks are acceptable. In the IT field, for example, the nerd look is probably preferable to traditional handsomeness. Nobody expects wrestlers, rugby players, or people in the construction field to be good-looking. But in normal offices, and certainly in circumstances where one would meet the public, an attractive appearance is absolutely a financial asset.
There are other assets besides appearance that aren't very fair either. Someone who graduated from an elite college is likely to be hired for a job quicker than someone who went to a school with a lesser reputation, even if the Ivy Leaguer graduated by the skin of his or her teeth. Someone who played college sports successfully is likely to be able to convert that to cash for the rest of their lives. Who your Daddy is counts big, too (I give you Luke Russert for example). Same with spouses. Did you ever hear of Julie Chen before she married Les Moonves, President and CEO of CBS? Not to mention that it's unlikely Mr. Moonves would have left his long-time wife if Julie Chen weren't exceptionally pretty and self-assured.
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