iStock/Thinkstock(BOULDER, Colo.) — Not many people would agree that very attractive women have it tough in life but when it comes to applying for a job, especially in a field dominated by men, good looks can possibly work against a female applicant.
So Stefanie Johnson at University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business set out to find ways how an attractive woman can get around this so-called disadvantage.
Johnson’s solution? When comely women acknowledge their looks in a relatively indirect way, such as by saying “I probably don’t look like the usual candidate for the job,” it seems to overcome prejudices an interviewer might have.
The researcher found this out by setting up a fictitious situation where three sets of participants looked at various materials from women and men applying for work at a construction firm.
Invariably, the higher marks were given to women who mentioned their looks or gender during an interview as opposed to women who did not. What also enhanced their hireability was pointing out skills and experience from a resume.
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