Hampshire: Job-seekers think personal looks affect their chances of employment

New research from the UK’s leading independent job board, CV-Library, has found that nearly three-quarters (70.4%) of Brits think the way you look affects your career prospects, with 81.9% believing that employers discriminate against individuals based on their appearance.

The study, which surveyed 1,040 UK workers around the topic of physical appearance and career prospects, found that a staggering 78.9% of professionals believe that the way you look can affect your chances of landing a job. Other areas include:

• Over half (56.7%) think it can impact the way your co-workers see you
• With a further 55.2% believe that it can impact people’s confidence
• AND, one third (33.7%) believe it can affect your chances of a promotion

In addition to this, Brits state that your appearance could affect how much your boss likes you (30.4%), your negotiating power (28.2%) and your salary (23.3%). On a positive note, 75.8% of workers said that they wouldn’t alter their appearance to land a job.

Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of Fleet-based CV-Library, commented: “With continued focus on discrimination in the workplace, our findings could be cause for concern for UK businesses. No one should ever be made to feel that they can’t advance in their career because of their physical appearance and this is an issue that needs to be addressed.”

When asked what they think can be done to combat this issue, 44.7% of professionals said that more than one recruiter should be involved in the hiring process, while 22.4% believed that telephone interviews should take place initially. In addition, 18.3% suggested blind hiring, while 14.7% said recruiters shouldn’t be allowed to ‘Google’ potential employees.

Biggins added: “The industry is working hard to remove unconscious bias from the hiring process, through the implementation of new recruitment technologies. Organisations should make a conscious effort to hire individuals that are the best fit for the job and eliminate discrimination entirely.

“But if you do feel like you’ve been discriminated against for your appearance in an interview or at work, you must report it.”