isis

Well, I think most of us here work. I'm sincerely hoping a topic like this hasn't been brought up already, but hey. I'm trying to get the flow going in here

I just got hired at a new restaraunt, called The Keg. I'm sure many of you know about it. Anyways, I'm almost completely positive that I didn't get hired on my credentials, I got hired on my looks. I'm tall, average size, and I think I'm pretty decent looking. A good friend of mine applied a few days ago and never got a call back. After enquiring with the manager, he sort of stumbled over excuses and came up with 'she has a lip ring' as his excuse for not hiring her. I'm questioning as to whether or not he hired her because she has a different style than many of the employees that work there. I mean, a lip ring can be taken out, right?

I think its pretty terrible that things like this are happening. Anyone else here in the service industry, or any other industry for that fact, that have seen the typical .. tall, busty, blonde airhead being hired just because she makes office scenery better? I like to think I'm an intelligent person, but geez, I hate seeing people who are more qualified having to walk because the manager doesn't think they have enough 'potential'.. its frankly pretty disgusting!!

Averett

Ever shop at Abercrombie & Fitch? You're not gonna see a fatty working there. All attractive women/men.

It's a proven fact that out of most job applicants the better looking person will get the job. I'd imagine it's even more so in the service industry. Lets face it, I think we all prefer the good looking waiter/waitress than the trollish looking one.

Does it suck? Yup, sure does. But until people make a stand it will continue that way. And I doubt many will make that stand since it would most likely mean losing their job.

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Janey

I think I'm decent looking. But being a visible minority (chinese) has the same effect as the lip ring. -shrug- so I own my own business! hehe. I will rule the world!

fallenangel

they've got keg's all over the lower mainland, all fit the same style of look. But if you think about it, so do about 90% of other restaurants that fall under that category. Think about it, people aren't going to come to places if the people that are serving them are less than shall we say, perfect. I worked at Milestones before, which fits under the same general subcategory of restaurants, and it's the same deal for all the female servers. Come to think of it, the male servers weren't to hard on the eyes either.

Just a fact of life i guess *sigh*. Restaurants can choose who they want to hire. *shrugs*

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Melka

At our waterslides you have to attach a photo to your application. I always wonder how they can even legally do that. Everyone knows that the goodlooking people work as lifeguards and everyone else is stuck back in the concession stands.

RainbowBright

i work in rehab (the physical kind not the drug kind) and pretty much they don't care what you look like. however you do have to be fit enough to get the job done.

don't forget about hooters. i know they have to hire not so big boobs now because of a law suite but they're not gonna hire anyone ugly either.

indigochild111

My friend used to work at Abercrombie and Fitch. He had to get braces put back on and he lost his job because of that. IT'S IN THE CONTRACT!!! I just couldn't get over how they can get away with BULLSHIT like that.

I am proud to say that my job isn't like that. Like you, I am a waitress. Although one of the employees did have her lip pierced, she wasn't s'posed to wear it. But she was still hired.

amonkie

I've spoken with some people at the call center I work at, and they've told me that they only have luck getting hired in phone jobs, because they are pretty heavy, and their physical appearance is not evident through the phone. I'd hate to think this is really true.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

yellowchef

hahaha my friend works for Hollister(A&F's sister store) and I dont know whos dick/pussy she sucked but this girl who is bigger than me works there

and Im by no means skinny, but I guess Im not ugly either.

Im a chef, so who cares if Im skinny!

but yeah I know a lot of people who work for A&F and when the big managers come through theyre freakin because theyre fat and stuff.. its sad.

KinkyKiwi

*looks ashamed* i have to admit that i am more likely to buy stuff from a better looking sales person then a umm..not so pretty one...as for stores like a&f...i've been shopping there forever...most people who shop there are teens...i know i still go in to flirt and check out the sales guys..its hipper and makes the store and clothes sexier and more inviting...sorry but if i walk into a store and i'm assisted by some huge fat guy i'm just going to leave...i guess like its a matter of..well if hes/shes huge and ugly and fat he /she must not care so much about looks so why would i buy stuff from there/him/her..after all i dont want to look like him/her

and in restraunts..i dunno..having nice clean attractive people makes you feel better and more comfortable and people associate who works at a place with the place.... *shrug* just being honest

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Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

la petite moi

At Starbucks, we have to have clean pressed, super friendly people as baristas. Sure, you'll see overweight people working there, but it's because they are INCREDIBLY outgoing, whereas, I know this skinny little twig girl who I'm sure got hired on looks alone because she's incredibly sullen.

I'm also not the best of looking, but I can sure as heck belt out a drink name, or make a customer happy.

la petite moi

I think that's pretty shameful that you think that all fat people just don't care about their looks. Many women have problems with their weight because of diseases- in these days, hormonal (estrogen) diseases that make you blow up run rampant.

But on another note, it is true that in the whole marketing scheme, a hiring manager thinks about what common consumers think- "I don't want to look like that person so I better not buy that shirt/drink/food."

raeanna74

When you're looking for a job it's all about selling yourself. Make the package look good and people will take a second look. Make it look like crap and they won't look long enough to notice that you've got potential.

Don't get me wrong. It's not right that people are judged on their looks. It's just how we usually function on the surface. We, as humans, are very superficial in our judgements of others.

Janey - you can't forget that you are "selling" yourself to your customers too. You likely will have clients more or less interested in your services based on how you appear to them on the surface.

I run my own business and how my home and person looks matters a lot whether a parent will even see if they like how I care for their child. I also must judge a parent on their appearance as well. I wouldn't turn a parent away based on race or weight. I have noticed incidentally that the mothers who dressed more shabbily, and were heavier in weight were the less reliable, disciplined, and prompt in payment. If you care how you look when it's going to be a first impression then you more likely will care more about your responsibilities. It's not always that way but it seems to hold true in more than half of the clients I've had in 3 years.

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Grasshopper Green

It is unfortunate that this is true. My brother used to be a waiter and was very good looking....and he got better tips than other people who worked there who weren't as attractive as he was. He had to start taking medication later in life that caused him to put on weight, and he lost some of his hair....and his tips went down. Do I think they are related? Sure do.

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Formerly Medusa

KinkyKiwi

i didnt say that i thought it was right..and i have over weight friends...it doesnt bother me and if teh person looks well dressed, madeup and put togther ...but yea i mean if you work at a&f and you look a certain way or dress "unhip" less people are going to buy from you..sorry it really is just how it is..i dont see how being honest is shameful? the whole point is that you want to be as cool and well dressed and sexy as the person selling you the item..being around attractive people makes you want to be as attractive..and espcially when it comes to garments...you need that to sell the stuff

as for food places...weight isnt really a big deal...just of course your still going to feel more comfortable around the more attractive person...

it just human nature

__________________
Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
Play with each other. Play with yourselves. Just don't play with the squirrels, they bite.

Grasshopper Green

I just wanted to add one more thing. I don't really care what someone looks like when I go to a store to buy something....if I want something, I get it regardless what the salesperson looks like. But when I am at a restaurant, I prefer my waiter/waitress to be clean and well groomed...looks and weight don't matter, but I don't want someone serving me food with a dirty shirt or unwashed hair or just generally slovenly looking. It just doesn't seem as hygenic....and thats still just based on appearances, but its the truth.

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"They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king"

Formerly Medusa

Ariel

I work at Hungry Jacks / Burgur King and I know they arn't going to be as superficial as a resurant but i do know that i have a fisical disability ( i have a few fingers missing) and i hav'nt been turn down from a job yet ( though ive only had two). I have to think thats is not just looks but how you act/ present yourself to an employer because though im not really that attractive, i do believe i can be quite friendly and out going which was what my employer needed so i got the job.

StormBerlin

I used to hostess at Chili's and it's the same way. They don't hire unnatractive people. Same with A&F. You have to have a certain "crombie" look, which is weird because I didn't when I got hired.

And to be honest, I'm with Nikki when she says that she would rather buy stuff from attractive people.

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Jonsgirl

Um...she went to the interview with her lip ring in?

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ngdawg

The former principal at the school where I used to work hired a bevy of beauties to teach. They have to meet criteria of course, through the Board of Ed, but it's simple enough if you're certifed. The running joke was the school's name was to be changed to ' Hooters Middle School'. He was also seen pinching the ass of one in the hall, when he thought no one was looking.(I say 'former' because he was 'booted' to the Board office as a result of making decisions that endangered the kids.)
It's unfortunately true in too many instances: qualifications could match, but the pretty one wins the job and too many times, she doesn't need to be as good. (I, as a teacher's aide, have had to correct some of these 'qualified' bimbos in spelling, structure and subject matter)

ColonelSpecial

I am overweight and work in the food industry. I am know how to "sell myself" when I go for a job interview. I have never been turned down for a job based on looks (that I know of) but I don't tend to apply to places that I know I have no chance of working in. Plus, I don't like the A&F look on anyone.

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AngelicVampire

Never been turned down from a job on looks... I am very good at selling myself and for some reason appear enthusiastic about just about any job...

little_tippler

I have to be honest and agree that looks do matter in certain types of jobs. May be shit and a lot of qualified and great workers get turned away because of it, but bottom line is, we all prefer someone well groomed and relatively "standard" (as in no distracting and very personal ornaments - that say, "look at me, aren't I different" -, and a just generally pleasing looking, clean person...someone approachable). The truth is though that many employers will hire people with "above average beauty" because a) it makes office scenery more pleasant, b) the customers come in more often to look at that person and may buy more often as a result.
I also think that sometimes you can get an overly beautiful sales person, and that's intimidating to some. Or sometimes these beautiful people are rather stuck up towards less beautiful people (appearance-wise) and look down at you, completely killing the "beauty attraction factor".

So shoot me. Appearances matter sometimes. I'd much rather be honest than be PC.

edit - just to add something more...I think subconsciously people have this thing whereas if they buy from a nice shop where beautiful well-dressed people work, you think maybe it'll rub off on you. It's silly but on many levels we are still very primal. But it has to be said that you can so easily warm to someone who's not so perfect in terms of appearance, if they have the right sales pitch, smile, attitude. It's not all in the looks...of course!!

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Whether we write or speak or do but look
We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

Fernando Pessoa, 1918

onodrim

One of the first things I noticed when I got my waitressing job was the overall attractiveness of the wait staff, so I'm sure they must have standards of appearance before they hire you.

Also, one of the girl recently got a nose piercing, and one of the managers was upset at her. I think that it really shouldn't be a big deal, but clearly they have an image they want to uphold.

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"The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides"
-Carl Sagan

ShaniFaye

I dont shop in stores like A& F, or Parisian, or Nordstroms etc...I very rarely go into a Richs/Macys....I do know I dont give a crap what the sales person looks like....its their knowledge of what Im buying that impresses me.

Its sad that ya'll are right though....but then again....I dont aim to have a job where my "looks" are more important than my brains so hopefully I wont ever have to worry about it.

Im a "fatty" and I can honestly say that every job I've ever interviewed for was offered to me. Im told my personality is irresistible (never go for an interview when you're pms'ing)

on the flip side...for anyone who lives in the south...you ever notice that Waffle House seems to hire the ugliest/dumbest people they can find? (just my experience....Im sure somewhere there is a waffle house waitress with a full set of teeth)

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