“A” is for Attractive

Hi Alyse,

I'm not jobseeker but I am a recruiter looking for advice. One of my clients has consistently said to me that he is looking for, "A" candidates. After sending in a number of candidates I now understand that, "A", stands for attractive. I can send in highly qualified candidates and they will be rejected not because of appearance but because of attractiveness. I can send in dimwits who score a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 (in attractiveness), and they get the job every time. Some of the highly qualified candidates don't understand why they didn't get the job and I still haven't figured out what to tell them. What do I do?

Troubled in Seattle, WA

Hi Troubled,

You do have a dilemma, how do you fill positions based on qualifications when the hiring manager seems to be interested in physical attributes? I don't know how long you have been in the business but hiring managers come and go. You do want to continue sending in a variety of candidates, including the highly qualified ones. You want to make sure that you continue to conduct yourself and your business with the highest level of integrity. With respect to your candidates, be sure to let them know prior to the interview process that there are a myriad of factors that will determine whether or not they are made an offer. If you set their expectations properly and suggest that the hiring manager is a tough sell then the candidate will not be so upset when they do not move on in the process or if they do not receive an offer. There's also nothing wrong with letting the candidates know that their grooming can make a difference. Advising the gentleman to dress professionally, obtain fresh haircuts and advising the women to also dress professionally will allow you to put your candidates in the best possible position for getting the job. In the meantime, I would also suggest that you continue to look for other clients who appreciate the highly qualified candidate and not just the attractive one.

~ Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical. ~ Sophia Loren

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