Another Vote for Attractiveness

Last year Money Magazine ran a feature article called Help! I Want a Career Makeover.

Some of it had a few career tips here and there, but much of the piece was doing a real makeover -- changing hair, make-up, what a person wore, etc. to make them more appealing at their job.

In other words, Money was recognizing that making yourself more attractive is a key part of growing your career. Of course it is.

I've covered this topic several times in the past. Some highlights:

• Make More Money by Being Attractive
• Is Your Image at Work Killing Your Career?
• Using Your Looks for Career Success
• How to Make Up for Being Ugly

As I said in those posts, you don't have to be the next Brad Pitt or Jennifer Aniston to get ahead. But you do need to take care of the basics that make people more attractive: proper hygiene, dress nicely, groom yourself properly, no crazy hair-dos, piercings, and tattoos, etc.

It's stuff that should come fairly naturally but unfortunately doesn't for many people.

So consider this a public service reminder to check what you do to maximize your attractiveness. Your career (and your wallet) will thank you.

Comments

[Mrs. Picky Pincher]

It's funny that you mention this because I encountered this issue at work for the past few weeks. I decided not to wear makeup at work for two weeks. I take meds that make me absolutely exhausted, and it's a miracle I wake up every day. Needless to say, makeup is the last thing I want to do at 7 am. So I went without for a few weeks.

I made an error at work and I realized people's tones were harsher when I wasn't wearing makeup. I wore makeup to a meeting with the higher-ups and everything went swimmingly. There was no difference in my wardrobe or demeanor; just my lack of makeup.

So unfortunately the way you look does affect the way your treated. It really, really sucks because I'm an advocate of looking however the hell you want (within reason of course).

[FMF]

There are a lot of "you shouldn't have to dos" in the working world -- how you dress, what you say, the politics, etc.

Unfortunately, that's the way it is -- though I do think things are changing (but slowly).