(Published August 17, 2009)
Earlier this month, I came across a couple of articles that got me thinking about whether a person's appearance helps or hurts their job search. Apparently, some job seekers think it can hurt, and are taking steps to help themselves.
First, Careerbuilder.com released a survey on the adjustments people are willing to make to gain employment. Besides taking a pay cut or relocating, some respondents said they are altering their everyday appearance. More than a quarter (28%) of workers who were laid off in the last 12 months said they have changed their appearance to make themselves more attractive to potential employers, including losing weight, changing their hair color or hairstyle, dressing to appear younger, whitening their teeth, and enhancing makeup and cosmetic procedures. Both men and women are employing such tactics, at 26% and 30%, respectively.
A day later, the Los Angeles Times ran an article about the tattoo removal business. "As more and more people offer up their arms, chest, and ankles for tattoos of all kinds, the market for getting rid of them is growing," it states. There are plenty of workplaces that couldn't care less whether its workers display their tats, but at the same time, there are plenty of workplaces that do. The growth in the market for tattoo removal makes sense if a tat puts one at a disadvantage in a very crowded job market.
I'm sure we can all agree that appearance does matter in terms of whether the applicant is dressed appropriately for the position; is wearing neat, clean clothing; and brushed their hair and teeth. So it's perfectly understandable that job seekers will go the extra distance to update their hair or wardrobe or brighten their teeth if they think it makes a difference.
My question is, does it actually make a difference? I can't say I've ever noticed an interviewee's teeth or thought twice about their hairstyle. I've seen very few tattoos, and I'm mostly just interested in what it is or what it means. I have noticed female interviewees' clothes and shoes (mostly in terms of, would I wear that or not), but since this isn't Vogue and I'm far from being a fashionista, they haven't influenced my hiring decisions.
Perhaps the difference it makes is for the applicants themselves. The reason for tattoo regret could simply be that one's tastes or interests have changed over time, and it's less about whether an employer cares about the Tasmanian Devil tattoo on one's ankle and more about the tattooed individual falling out of love with the Tasmanian Devil and not wanting to be known as the person who is so obsessed with Taz that it's "permanently" inked on their skin.
If an applicant is not confident about their visible tattoo or smile or hair or the suit they pulled from the back of the closet and dusted off, their lack of confidence could be reflected in their performance during the interview. Thus, if removing the tattoo, brightening their teeth, updating their hairstyle, or buying a new suit provides a boost to one's self-confidence, it does make all the difference.
Gloria Ju
Editor in Chief
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