The way you look can help you get a job — here's how

When 23-year-old Taya Reed interviewed for her dream job at a fashion company in London, she knew that how she dressed could matter just as much as what she said. Reed, a science graduate from two top London universities, had applied for a marketing job at a women's clothing brand called Tala. She prepared a full promotional campaign for the company, but she also spent a lot of time planning the perfect outfit for each interview round.

For her in-person interview, Reed chose an all-white look with ballet flats, a long maxi skirt, and a white vest. She described the outfit as 'girly and summery' and felt it matched the company's style. 'I find outfits can be a good conversation starter,' she said. 'I wanted to show I fit in with the company's culture.' Her plan worked, and she landed the job last month.

Youth unemployment remains high in both the United States and the United Kingdom. That means young people are competing hard for every open position. Experts say job seekers need to think of every possible way to stand out in a positive way, and appearance is one piece of that puzzle.

A 2020 study in the United Kingdom found that 51% of employers admitted turning down a job candidate because of how they looked. Managers said they were influenced by things like messy clothes or poorly dyed hair. These numbers show that first impressions can have a real impact, even before a candidate says a single word.

Min-Hsuan Tu is a professor of human resources at the University of Buffalo. She was the lead author of a 2021 research paper about how looks affect hiring decisions. She warns that job interviews can be unfair from the moment a candidate walks through the door.

Tu's research found that good-looking people are hired more often. This happens because many people connect attractiveness with positive traits like being trustworthy or intelligent. Tu says this is a bias, meaning it is an unfair judgment that people often make without thinking about it carefully.

She also explains that people seen as attractive often received more positive attention when they were growing up. This helped them build stronger communication skills and more confidence from an early age. 'Studies show that attractive people tend to have better communication skills and networks,' Tu said. 'They also have a higher sense of power.'

The good news is that physical attractiveness is not just about your face or body shape. Tu says it also includes things like clothing and grooming. Making an effort to dress well and present yourself carefully is something anyone can do, and it can make a real difference in how others see you during an interview.