Conventional wisdom has it that those blessed with a pretty face are more likely to be a shoo-in for top jobs. But now a new study suggests that even those not so lucky in life’s lottery have the power to turn the head of an employer.

The secret to a successful job interview is probably more down to locks and socks than looks and sex appeal, according to researchers.

They found that those who make the effort to appear neat and tidy — from their hair to their clothes and their makeup — typically earn around US$14,500 a year more by the end of their 20s.

Chicago and California Universities followed the career paths of 14,600 men and women over 13 years, starting when they were still at school.

In that time, the participants were interviewed four times face-to-face and were rated by those quizzing them for physical attractiveness and standard of personal grooming.

The study — published in the journal Research in Social Stratification and Mobility — found that being well turned-out was the key factor in predicting a person’s salary, regardless of looks, education, family background, weight or race. Those judged to be best groomed earned around 70 percent more than the scruffiest — an average of US$35,500 compared with US$21,000.

A smart appearance wiped out the advantage that naturally attractive men enjoyed over their peers with those taking care to look their best averaging US$40,000, no matter their physical appeal.

Meanwhile, the effect was even stronger for women with the highest earners being those who were well-groomed yet unattractive on US$36,000 compared with poorly groomed/unattractive on US$14,000 and well-groomed/attractive on US$32,000.

The study states, “We find that attractive individuals earn roughly 20 percent more than people of average attractiveness, but this gap is reduced when controling for grooming, suggesting that the beauty premium can be actively cultivated.

Dressing appropriately for occasions is key. If you are going for a work-related meeting then make the effort to follow the dress code for your industry.

    传统观点认为，那些有漂亮脸蛋的人更容易赢得热门职位。但是现在一项新的研究表明，即使不是命运宠儿也能获得领导的肯定。研究人员表示，成功通过工作面试的秘诀不再是诱人外表而是个人装扮。他们发现从头发到衣服再到妆容，那些用心打扮得整洁精干的求职者，在三十岁之前，其年薪通常能多挣1.45万美元左右。

    芝加哥大学和加利福尼亚大学跟踪调查了14600位男女的职业道路，从他们还在学校的时候就开始，该项研究持续了13年。

    研究对象们接受了四次现场面试，根据外表吸引力和个人装扮水平测试结果，他们被面试者评为不同等级。这项研究已在期刊《关于社会层次和流动性的研究》上发表。研究发现在不考虑外貌、教育水平、家庭背景、体重或是种族的情况下，良好的个人装扮是预测工资多少的关键因素。那些最会打扮的求职者往往比最邋遢的求职者多挣大约70%— 平均35500美元，后者为21000美元。

    凭借诱人外表可获得比同事更高的薪

    水，而精干的仪表能抹杀这种优势，而不管外貌如何，认真打扮的男性求职者能够获得平均达40000美元的最高工资。这种效应在女性身上表现得更为显著。平均36000美元的最高工资获得者往往是那些仪表精干外貌并不是很突出的女性，相较而言，打扮平平外貌也不突出的女性工资在14000美元的水平，仪表精干而又外貌诱人的女性工资则在32000美元的水平。

    研究这样陈述：“我们发现有外貌优势的个体比外貌一般的个体薪水大约高20%，但是考虑到打扮的作用，这种差距就会缩小。也就是说，美貌优势是可以主动培养的。”穿着与场合相符是关键。如果你打算去一场与工作相关的会议，那么尽量遵循你所属行业的着装规范。

    (Chinadaily.com.cn)

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【稳操胜券的人】wěncāoshèngquàn de rén shoo-in someone or something that will win easily or is certain to win

【打扮】dǎbàn groom tend carefully as to person and dress, make neat or tidy