Mc Richard Paglicawan
Do good looks count during the job hunt? This is the question posed by Vaseline Men in its new online campaign, #PogiMatters. The brand conducted a social experiment in which two applicants, having the same skills and credentials, get interviewed for the same job position by the same hiring officers.
Despite being equally competent, the “pogi” candidate got more favorable results than the less attractive one. The hiring officials get a big surprise when they find out that the two applicants they interviewed were actually the same man.
Look good, get hired?
According to a 2013 study in Italy, attractive people have a much easier time getting a job. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Messina, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, analyzed the impact of beauty on people’s chances of getting employed, stressing the first stage of the hiring process.
The researchers sent over 11,000 resumes to more than 1,500 employment advertisements across the country, keeping the content consistent but changing the first and last names, and using different headshots to test gender, ethnic and regional biases.
The average callback rate was 30% across all resumes sent out. Attractive women came in at 54%, while attractive men ranked at a staggering 47%. Unattractive Italian women received a 7% callback rate, while unattractive Italian men got a 26% call back rate. For non-Italian men and women, the callback rates were 13% and 12%, respectively.
#PogiMatters
The Vaseline Men online video sparked a debate among the online community. Some netizens expressed their support for the “honest” video, while others branded it “out of touch with reality.”
“We may not admit it, but the #PogiMatters video is true,” said marketing manager John Perez. “Some people think it’s shallow, but I have seen for myself how HR officers size you up at first sight. Someone who has the looks and the charisma definitely has an edge over unremarkable candidates, especially for jobs that require the candidate to deal with clients and close business deals. He represents your company after all.”
“There’s no use denying that good looks and an attractive appearance increase a person’s chances of getting hired,” said Farrah Concepcion, a flight attendant. “Especially in a job like mine, they’re part of the requirement. You have to be a certain height and weight, with a clear and fair skin. It’s not fair, but it’s reality.”
Some viewers expressed frustration at the video, saying that it is offensive and old-fashioned. “People today are much more open-minded than that,” said Rachel Gutierrez, an HR officer in a call center. “More than physical appearance, a candidate’s competence and eagerness to learn are what matters most to companies.”
Marlon Miranda, a graphic artist, agreed. “What use is a person who looks good? He has to have the talent and the drive. I don’t care if he has weird hair or ugly toes. All that matters to me is that he delivers good output.”
Does a well-groomed pogi look matter during a job search? Is looking good key to success? Join the debate and voice out your opinions online using the hashtag #PogiMatters.
Dapat ipinakita na mas magaling sumagot yung guy 1 kesa sa guy 2. Don talaga malalaman kung pogi matters. Hindi kapanipaniwala.
Its not fair..coz they equated ugliness not being confident…to think its the same guy who acted both roles……^.^ I have known a lot of not ugly but less handsome guys but are confident…. the video is not real…its just plain commercial ….selling just the product.
I strongly disagree with the message what the ad is trying to convey. This is promoting the wrong values to our children. It’s emphasizing the Hollywood kind of thinking that good looks is all that matters. Even then, it’s also in conflict with the principle that American companies live by, “Equal Opportunity Employment”.
It is insinuated in the ad and the write-up that good looks pertain to an applicant’s physical attributes. While it may be true that there are jobs requiring physical good looks, that is not the sole factor why even those with good looks for the flight steward job are hired. Confidence in the way the applicant carries herself/himself, articulateness, pleasant personality (always smiling) are also considered and more. If the HR personnel is basing her/his assessment on the applicant’s physical good looks only, the boss should have him/her fired right away. He/she may be the cause of the department’s downfall, to say the least.
Good looks should cover the overall personality of the person and that includes character. A pockmarked face does not say it all. How the applicant presents herself/himself in the way he/she dresses (if impeccable, neat and tidy – after all first impressions are important), her/his respectfulness and humility, her/his bright and positive disposition, her/his smart, intelligent and confident answers, her/his positive attitude, her/his emotional intelligence, even her/his spirituality and more should be the gauge to hire the right if not perfect candidate.
My son, a young man, who’s out in the world trying to establish himself posted this link. I just pray that he does not imbibe the wrong message that this ad is presenting. I don’t want my wise words of advice to go down the drain because of this very shallow principle that could endanger the future generation on how they perceive life and success to be.
Good looks matter to some extent.With gook looks you must have the confidence and talent also. Rather I must say good looks really don’t matter,its your personality and body language that should be appealing enough to lure someone.