Almost 7 out of 10 job applicants feel discriminated against because of their appearance

The US job market is full of jobs these days, despite the news of layoffs. So if you are thinking of getting a new job, now is the time to research.

A new job can do a lot of good things for you. First of all, if you’re in credit card debt or having a hard time keeping up with your bills, a new job could mean a higher salary. And a boosted income can do wonders for your finances, allowing you to get ahead of your expenses and even make some savings.

But you may face some challenges when applying for a new job. For one thing, you’re probably not the only one looking, so you might have stiff competition. However, if you make a point to produce a strong resume and hone your interviewing skills, you may boost your chances of getting a job.

However, you may also want to consider making a change. Well, not really. But if you think that your appearance won’t play a role in your ability to get hired, you may unfortunately be incorrect.

When a worker looks into the hiring process

in Latest survey by Zety, 69% of the survey respondents believe they have been discriminated against during the hiring process because of their appearance. Not only is this unfortunate, but it is generally illegal.

Employers cannot discriminate against job candidates based on factors such as age, gender, and race. And appearance is directly related to these factors.

But what’s to stop an employer from hiring you when you have strong skills just to give a job to someone they deem more attractive? Unfortunately, not much, because it can be very difficult to prove that employers violated the law in the hiring process.

Let’s say you are overweight and your employer decides not to hire you because of it. Unless they’re dumb enough to come out and say it, which they may not be, they can easily make an excuse for not giving you the job, like finding someone with more suitable skills or they felt your character wouldn’t. Get along well with others on the team.

What to do if you feel denied a job because of appearance

You can always try to consult an employment lawyer if you feel you have been discriminated against because of your appearance during the hiring process. But you should know that proving your case can be very difficult.

It is an argument that an employee experiences discrimination in the workplace because of factors such as age, race, or gender, because at this point, it is possible to establish and document a pattern. But when your only interaction with a potential employer is a 30-minute interview, it’s hard to prove you weren’t hired because of your looks.

However, one of the things a potential employer may take against you is if you show up to an interview not looking professionally dressed. If you’re applying to a corporate office and arriving to your job interview in jeans, you may come across as someone who doesn’t take the opportunity seriously. So your best bet is to make a point of wearing an interview suit, or something similar, so your attire doesn’t make the difference between getting a job offer or not.