UAE recruitment: Do looks impact career prospects?

It’s common belief that good looks give your career a boost. But just how much exactly does it matter?

Well, it does to a great extent, if UAE’s recruitment experts are to be believed.

Good-looking people are of course pleasant to look at, they charm interviewers, get hired faster, are more likely to make more business (for example in sales, where they become the face of the company they represent) and, needless to add, get more and bigger pay hikes.

And just like in any part of the world, the so-called beautiful people are likely to go an extra mile in the UAE as well.

According to a new poll run by job portal, Bayt.com, personal appearance impacts hiring decisions. “It might matter more than you think,” the website summarises it.

And, so agree experts in the recruitment industry.

“Candidates that are well-presented, smartly dressed and professional are always the most sought-after candidates,” Jennifer Campori, Managing Director, Middle East and Europe at Charterhouse Partnership, told Emirates 24|7.

Good looks can go a long way, especially in companies where employees need to deal with clients almost on a daily basis. “Being attractive will help you get further in life and also with your career, especially in industries such as retail and media, where there is a lot of client-facing involved,” added Krishna Patel, Managing Consultant, Media and Advertising, at Quest Search and Selection.

The Bayt poll reveals that residents in the region believe looking good in the workplace may be the key to career advancement. A majority (78.6 per cent) of poll respondents believe there is a correlation between being well-groomed and growing professionally.

Looking the part may also have a major impact on the success of a job interview, according to 76.4 per cent who believe that employers make a decision based on a candidate’s physical appearance. Good personal grooming and style shows an interest in the position (as stated by 27.5 per cent), as well as being demonstrative of good character (stated by 24.8 per cent).

“Quite clearly, personal appearance is of importance to many employers and employees in the region. It would seem to have a major influence on decisions to hire candidates or not, while good grooming may continue to have an impact from within the workplace, affecting the possibilities of promotion,” said Suhail Masri, VP of Sales, Bayt.com.

“Always remember that understated elegance really makes a difference. When starting a new job, always keep in mind that how you dress will tell your boss and others in the organisation how you see yourself and how you approach the job,” he added.

While a majority of respondents say that they believe well-groomed professionals enjoy better professional growth, almost half of these (49.4 per cent) say that it influences advancement to a large extent.

Keeping in line with this statistic, 83.4 per cent claim that there is a link between appearance and success.

A good number of professionals (63.5 per cent) in the region are affirmative that they feel judged on the basis of their personal grooming and clothes and only 22.7 per cent do not feel that they are judged by their colleagues on these factors.

“In a conservative business climate, appearances do matter. In other environments, it isn't as important. However, it does make sense to dress your best for the interview, regardless of the dress code at the organisation,” explained the Bayt.com expert.

“Making the right impression at work isn't hard if you keep in mind three basic rules: First, presentation does count. Second, a casual office environment doesn’t mean that you have to dress carelessly. Finally, dress as you want to be seen: a person, who takes his job seriously, is professional, and upward-bound,” he elaborated.

Even though looks may matter to large extent, individual capabilities and mettle of the candidate is supreme.

“Good looks may be a door opener if the position involves communication with clients or, in general, with external stakeholders.  When we put emphasis on the looks, it means that the [candidate] is paying more attention there instead of the work,” said Konstantina Sakellariou, Partner, Marketing & Operations Director at recruitment consultancy Stanton Chase International.

“As the work culture improves in the region, one would like to think that more and more men and women are hired on merit, as opposed to other factors,” added Hasnain Qazi, Middle East Business Manager at Huxley Associates.

Looks can only take you to a certain level. “I believe that a director of a company will not look at someone’s looks in order to promote them or give a pay rise. They will surely look at who is best suited for the position,” as Patel of Quest Search and Selection puts it.

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