When it comes to the business world, regardless of what industry you’re in, there has always been the adage of “it’s not what you know but who you know.” We’ve all heard that, right? Of course, and in certain situations, that adage holds true… you may have all the skills and all of the knowledge for a particular position but that sometimes doesn’t matter if you don’t know the right person who can hone in on your talents and push you in the right direction to make it to the top, especially for success in the corporate world.

Now, we all know about your success in the corporate world not fully being dependent on what you know but more so on who you know, in certain situations… but have you ever considered the other aspect of your claim to success? You may not realize it but the other aspect of your claim to success is based on your appearance, but mostly on how others perceive you. Is that morally and ethically right? No, to a certain degree.

If you’re in a corporate position, you need to look like you’re in a corporate position, meaning you need to dress and look professional. Being in a corporate position with the objective of career advancement, it should be common sense to know that you can’t show up to work wearing jeans and flip flops… if you want to climb that corporate ladder, then you need to look the part. The “higher-ups” need to see that you take your current position serious, in every aspect (including your appearance and attire).

First Impressions

There have been several studies done on this particular topic that revealed that looks can definitely impact career advancement. It’s even been said that during interviews, a candidate’s physical appearance matters more than their cover letter! How crazy is that! But that just goes to show you just how big of an impact first impressions have on people. According to Business Insider, it takes only seven seconds for someone to form a first impression of you.

You don’t get second chances to make first impressions… that’s just the way it goes, and whether you like it or not, you are going to be judged on how you look. It will play a significant role in how you treat others and how others treat you. It’s been known throughout history that people who are more physically attractive have better outcomes practically in all aspects of life, whether it’s for a job interview, dating prospect, or special treatment at a public location, but in the corporate world, your appearance is especially important.

But always remember, confidence is key. The way you project your confidence, along with your physical appearance is the winning combination to claim your success in the corporate world. Take a look at these physical features that one must possess in order to be successful in the corporate world. Yes, they’re superficial but the reality of success in the corporate world is partly based on your skills and talents and partly on how you’re perceived by others.

Claim to Success: A Pretty Smile

Man or woman, your smile is one of the first things that people see when they meet you so in the corporate world, you want your smile to represent you in the best way possible. Oddly enough, there’s a correlation between smiling and trust. A study was done and found that people who smiled were more trustworthy than people who were straight-faced.

If you don’t like your smile, there are definitely several dental procedures that you can consider to improve your smile. A very popular option among corporate professionals are dental veneers. They give you the perfect smile without the pain or hassle of metal braces.

Claim to Success: Women Who Wear Makeup

Is this superficial? Yes, but does wearing makeup help women climb the corporate ladder faster? Yes. There is actually statistical evidence out there that shows that women who wear makeup not only look more professional but they also get better jobs and are promoted faster than women who don’t. The study stated that women who didn’t wear makeup looked like they don’t even make an effort to look professional.

Claim to Success: Men With Hair on Their Head and No Facial Hair

Men are judged just as much as women are in the corporate world. It’s said that men with hair on their head and not on their face are more likely to be more successful. Men with facial hair are looked at as though they don’t want to be bothered with the hassle of having and keeping a clean-shaven face. Beards and mustaches are just looked at as a bad sign in the corporate world… it’s looked at as a man who has facial hair has something to hide.

What are You Willing to Do For Success?

Some of these superficial features might have come off as offensive to some but it’s just the reality of not only the corporate world but it’s also the reality of how people perceive you. Physical attractiveness plays a major role in our everyday lives and you don’t even realize just how much. There are actually several more features not mentioned but those are the top three that are looked at the most.

Now that you know, these physical features and how first impressions play a role too, how are you going to proceed in your daily interactions with others, more so at work? Are you going to make some changes or remain the same?

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