My roommate and I have been living together since our freshman year in the dorms. He’s a good-looking guy who can be a little unmotivated and is constantly under the influence of something. I am the opposite, but we get along great.
I am pre-med, constantly studying, etc. Don’t get me wrong, I do occasionally join him for weekend fun. This year, I decided to take some time off of school to get my finances together before grad school. My roommate and I attended several UC Berkeley career and job fairs. My resume is filled with professional experience and extracurricular. His, not so much. I went through multiple rounds of interviews for top biotechnology firms in the area. He had a few interviews with small consulting firms and start-ups.
In the end, I was left unemployed, while he had multiple offers. I’m currently feeling envious of my 6'4 roommate. And me? Well, I’m nowhere near that. My question is: Does physical attraction increase the chances of being hired?
Don’t worry too much, blame it on the recession. Many people feel the same way you do, at a disadvantage because of the way they look, which is understandable but also untrue. When applying for a job, think about what makes you the best at your craft. For example, in biotechnology, would previous experience as an Abercrombie & Fitch model increase your chances of getting into these kinds of firms? Probably not. On the other hand, would having impeccable techniques and intelligent experimental designs increase your chances of getting into biotech? Definitely. This is strictly on a case-by-case basis. Some jobs do require employees to truly work off of their image, and you brought up a great example of one, being a bartender.
–B