Researchers at University College London’s School of Management and the University of Maryland in the US have found being good-looking is bad for a man’s career.
The researchers found that handsome men are less likely to get their dream jobs and are seen as a threat by their male bosses and are also less likely to be given roles that showcase their individual talents as a result.
The researchers also found that when men were hiring other men to work with, their decision was affected by the attractiveness of the candidate and the type of job.
Being attractive wasn’t an issue for women because being a pretty woman isn’t associated with competence among female stereotypes.
“Managers are affected by stereotypes and make hiring decisions to serve their own self-interests so organisations may not get the most competent candidates,” said Sun Young Lee, the lead researcher of the study and assistant professor of Maryland University.
To get the best workers, the researchers suggest bigger companies may find it more beneficial to have a neutral, outside recruitment company doing the hiring.
The study is published in the journal Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes.
Phil