Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
Posted on 10/26/2011 8:43:53 PM PDT by Steelfish
OCTOBER 26, 2011 On the Job, Beauty Is More Than Skin-Deep
SUE SHELLENBARGER
Most people assume being good-looking gives you a career boost. But just how much does it help?
A lot. Good-looking people charm interviewers, get hired faster, are more likely to make more sales and get more raises.
Mr. Hamermesh, author of "Beauty Pays," at Tokyo's Hitotsubashi University in 2010.
Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas in Austin, measures out the benefits in his book, "Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful."
According to his research, attractive people are likely to earn an average of 3% to 4% more than a person with below-average looks. That adds up to $230,000 more over a lifetime for the typical good-looking person, Dr. Hamermesh estimates. Even an average-looking worker is likely to make $140,000 more over a lifetime than an ugly worker.
We asked Dr. Hamermesh to discuss his findings. Edited excerpts follow:
WSJ: You show that good looks are even more influential for men's earnings than for women's. Why do men's good looks pay off more?
Mr. Hamermesh: There are two reasons. First, not as many women work for pay as men. (The Bureau of Labor Statistics says just 59% of adult women hold paying jobs in the workforce, compared with 73% of men.) If you are unattractive and you know you are going to be penalized for that, and if you have an option to stay out of the job market, you as a woman may choose not to bear that pain. Also, women in general are paid less than men; part of it is that they channel themselves into different occupations, and part of it is pure discrimination.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I think there is an element of truth to this. I’ve been in two firms where obese partners had such self image issues that it created problems throughout the department. From adultery to insecurity to ego trips, not to mention the dishonesty in promotions and compensation and quality controls that resulted
and, you owe an extra 10% tax for being ugly
Such phenomena are a tell-tale sign that the firm is making too much money. Eventually, something will happen to change this situation.
I don’t know how true this is. Some of the best sales people I’ve known weren’t particularly good looking.
Most doctors are average looking.
Same thing with lawyers.
As a life long recipient, all I can say is yes it is true us good looking people get more and get paid better (while also more easily getting hired for jobs etc).
As you can see humility may be a trait that could at times be mistakenly projected onto my lovely beautiful self. ;-) HAHA. I so, however, try to add intelligent, ironic humor as a bonus to make up for this. :)
I've noticed that too.
Of course, like most electrical engineers, I look a bit like Pierce Brosnan from some angles, and quite a lot like Ben Affleck from the others. Even so, the other EEs gave me the nickname "Ugly" when I was in college.
(Although, of course, ugly people make up for it with more sex.)
Being tall doesn’t hurt either...
When I was pg with my second child years ago, companies could place you on unpaid maternity leave any time they wished. My boss took advantage of this telling me on my last day that at least he wouldn’t have to look at my “broadening ass” any more. The day after I left he had a new female boss who took over all the hiring and replaced me with someone who was not only a minority but she was permanently obese. She stayed in that job until she retired many years later. Served him right.
Was “Ugly” used the way “Curly” was for the one stooge?
The art of manipulation has everything to do with one thing--manipulation. In fact the better looking a salesperson the less a person identifies with them It depends somewhat on the product.
All purchasing however is based on trust. Sometimes being too attractive may actually be counteractive to the manipulation. If someone feels they can trust you, you can sell them anything. If one is a normal person that is charming or not unattractive they can use incredible manipulation to fool you as we think of them as like us and normal. That is the door that opens the relationship.
A good example of this is the okay looking single brunette next door to you and your wife. The wife isn't threatened by her and sort of gives you and her a wide berth. If she was super hot the wife would be all over any interaction even just a small sigh unrelated while the hot woman is in the same sphere.
The boring brunette gets more access to you for manipulation and also she is also seen by you as less of a threat. Next thing you know girlfriend's got you by the small ones and wifey comes home to find you in bed. haha. Of course I know this would never happen to any FReepers. But you get my drift. Average looking people can be excellent stealth manipulators because your guard is down.
Well, that's how I chose to interpret it.
Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.
Shouldn’t that be mowowie@freerepublic.com
I gonna venture you have explored and confirmed this for the rest of us. haha. :-D
Pics, or it’s not true :p
Okay. I have to say while looks matter, people are people and I personally love ‘em all no matter what the heck they look like. (except liberals :-). haha.
Here in Hollywood, NO ugly receptionist gets hired in the major studios. If you are in sales, and I’ve been employed in sales-driven corporations, good looks WILL get you ahead. It’s that simple.
I was down in the Philippines for business and it did not shock me that it is “common” practice for new applicants to send in their pictures, along with the resume. The HR managers are already conditioned to hire good looking people because they are thought to be more affable in the work environment.
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