POLL: Does good grooming matter when getting a job?

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – These days, highly qualified job applicants have made the race for some of the most rewarding jobs even more competitive. And while credentials are widely regarded as the needed leverage to stand out, there are reasons to believe that good grooming and confidence can also help getting people the job.

Recently, a social experiment with Vaseline Men as the facilitator of the discussion, went viral on the Internet, sparking debates on whether a well-groomed look or good grooming matters in landing a job.

In the experiment, an actor played the role of two job applicants, applying twice for the same job with the same qualifications and credentials, but with a different appearance each time—one was well-groomed, polished and confident while the other was not.

Three unsuspecting recruitment managers interviewed him in a room with four hidden cameras, capturing everyone’s natural reaction. After deliberating, the recruitment managers unanimously chose the more groomed and confident candidate over the other.

Given the fact that both roles were played by the same person and had similar credentials, how then does good grooming make the difference? How important is it to present yourself with confidence? How big of a factor is good and proper grooming in helping you land that job? 

Initial results on the Vaseline Men page (based on likes and dislikes) show a split of 45 – 55 percent, with more disagreeing on good grooming playing a role on landing a job. 

The conclusion of the social experiment reiterates the findings of a study, “Searching for a Job is a Beauty Contest,” conducted by Italian researchers from the University of Messina in 2013 that physical appearance plays a crucial part in the hiring process. They sent out resumes for job vacancies, with some bearing attractive headshots, while the others don’t. The results of the study, which were featured in the New York Daily News and Business Insider revealed that handsome men had a 54% callback rate compared to 7% of the less attractive ones.

Two separate studies conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney Business School and University of Houston tested out the same theory in their respective regions and still arrived with the conclusion that appearance is a crucial factor when applying for jobs. Statistics imply that good looking candidates have a higher success rate in getting interview callbacks from prospective employers, regardless of the varied nature of employment in every country.

In the Philippines, an uptrend of enrollment in personality development schools has been observed, signifying an increase in awareness of the advantages of having good grooming and pleasant behavior.

John Robert Powers Manila curriculum director Archie Geneta suggests that the outcome was not surprising because it is a proven fact that one’s appearance and confidence may affect the chances of landing a job.

Geneta stresses good looks that exude confidence can enhance one’s chances of getting a call back from employers because that is what makes memorable impressions. “Leveraging on credentials is a given, but physical and social attractiveness has social benefits that an employer would want to take advantage of.”

“We cannot disregard the fact that people who groom themselves well get paid closer attention. So, more Filipinos are starting to build up on their looks by taking care of themselves with proper hygiene and to also build on their personality, apart from their resumes, in an effort to get noticed by employers,” Geneta said.

Looks are one thing, but more importantly, does good and proper grooming matter help you land that job? How can it help? This is what the social experiment aimed to answer.

Vaseline Men continually asks everyone to share their views on the importance of good grooming. Speak up and share with us your thoughts. Does grooming matter when getting a job? Answer our poll below and join our live conversation on Thursday, June 19 at 1pm. 

You can also leave your comments in the comments section below. – Rappler.com

Does grooming matter when getting a job?