Dress and Physical Attractiveness of Women in Job Interviews

This study was an investigation of the independent and combined influence of physical attractiveness and dress on impressions thatfemale and male hiring agents form about the personality characteristics of females applying for either male or female dominated jobs. Three hundred college campus recruiters served as subjects. Each subject received a questionnaire with a photograph of a job applicant attached and a written request to rate the applicant on 26 personality characteristics using a five point scale. Data were subjected to factor analysis, analyses of variance and the Scheffe Test. Results indicated the dress of the applicants exerted a consistent influence on subjects'ratings. The physical attractiveness of the applicant, type of job applied for, and the sex of the hiring agent had only a slight effect on ratings. © 1987, Sage Publications. All rights reserved.