The JobSync Blog
Don't Let Distractions Distract You from Getting a Job
November 30, 2011
Over the years, numerous studies have come out and concluded that, on average, attractive people make more money than less attractive people do. As alarming and dispiriting as that may be for some, a recent study from Rice University has revealed that other physical features beyond one’s control can even undermine one’s chances in an interview by distracting the interviewer. The study’s conclusions are also a stark reminder that candidates must do everything in their power to eliminate factors in their control that might be off-putting to someone interviewing them.
The researchers at Rice discovered that job candidates with facial blemishes such as scars or other discolorations received lower rankings regardless of their interview performances. And it’s not because interviewers were actively discriminating based on looks. Rather, researchers discovered that when the attention of interviewers is taken off of what candidates say about themselves or their background, the interviewers remember less information about the candidate after the interview has concluded. The result? The interviewers tended to rank the candidate lower.
Interestingly, it didn’t matter how seasoned or experienced the interviewer was, as the effect was the same: conspicuous distractions undermined the ability of the interviewer to properly size up a candidate’s qualifications and fit for a job. As one of the researchers explained, “Most people are particularly attentive to novel stimuli and stimuli that are negative.”
The impact of this research can’t be overestimated and is a strong call for candidates not to distract their interviewers through actions that are within their control. In other words, not only must you make sure you aren’t wearing this morning’s powdered donut on your face, but you should also avoid loud ties and restrain any nervous physical gestures that will take an interviewer’s attention off of your discussion and redirect it to your distractions.
And by doing so, you’ll help an interviewer remember how truly unforgettable you are.
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