Hiring managers: have you made a hire based on how attractive the candidate was?

Not-so-hot take:

People do this all the time, especially in consulting, whether they are aware of it or not.

My only workplace flex is that I know with 100% certainty I did not get hired for my looks.

Dear lord

People don’t start off ugly. You get uglier the longer you stay in consulting.

It’s called unconscious bias

There’s a reason that better looking people tend to have a higher chance of success. Literal studies done on it. Whether it’s intentional or not, attractiveness definitely plays a part in hiring

The beauty bias is real. Let’s say all other qualities being the same (experience, pedigree, etc), I’m guessing the better looking applicant gets the nod the majority of the time.

Walk into any big 4 office and the proportion of good looking people Insha’Allah significantly higher than the national average and it’s not by chance

This is why I conduct all interviews with my eyes closed

Definitely not in tech consulting lol

I think this happens a lot especially at the lower ranks (Analyst/associate/consultant) and specifically regarding women.

I’m a pretty attractive male but I had a client where all the decision makers in the room were men and engagement in workshops was really low. Next day I had my attractive female analyst lead workshops and engagement from the client sky rocketed even though she’s a very average presenter. I’m quite positive her looks played a large factor in capturing and maintaining their attention. So while this practice of hiring attractive people might not be fair it can make a difference.

Everyone here is right, but my question is: how much attractiveness can you get out of staying in shape and being well groomed?

I think most people can be viewed as a solid 7-8 if they are in shape and well groomed.

… at least I tell myself that.

People do this in consulting. They even call it hiring eye candy when they hire on campus at the BTA level.

Are you attractive or unattractive?

This is just a thing everywhere. People considered more attractive are offered better jobs and better opportunities in life in general. Just how it is and it’s always been.

looks is the only criteria in some countries. i worked in korea for some time and u need to attach a photo with your resume or no one looks at it. also explains why 95% of koreans have some sort of cosmetic surgery before they graduate college. u.s should do that too. maybe then the u.s wouldnt be full of fat people.

Never done this, never will. Am conscious of the bias and I make sure it never happens on my team. Any leader who hires this way should be ashamed of themselves. I won’t even joke about it, this topic is too damn serious.

Halo effect baby

Honestly it helps, especially for customer facing roles (mostly sales)

I'm really looking for some opposite perspectives to the popular opinion on this thread. I will give you my perspective. Being attractive can be many things, how someone looks, how they come across emotionally, socially and intellectually. Yes, if a candidate is attractive by all those factors and it's a client facing role where being sharp and carrying the brand of the company is vital, I have no doubt they get hired for being attractive. Not so much just for their looks which could be very subjective.