'Pretty privilege' in job interviews is a real thing, say experts. But you have more control than you realize.

Despite laws against bias, "pretty privilege" persists and influences workplace decisions, with attractive people being deemed more hireable.

• TikTok creator Erin McGoff recently shared her top job interview tip: "Look really hot."
• Studies have shown more attractive people are considered better at a job.
• Despite existing laws against bias, "pretty privilege" persists and influences workplace decisions.

A TikTok creator who makes life and career advice content gave her top tip for job interviews in a recent video.

"Look really hot," she said.

Erin McGoff, who has 2.8 million followers, explained this is because of the "halo effect," a psychological phenomenon where positive impressions of a person influence one's opinion of them.

For example, it means that people will assume that someone conventionally attractive is also intelligent and kind.

"It's deeply embedded in human nature and something that everybody is guilty of, whether they know it or not," McGoff said.

"Pretty privilege" is a real thing in job interviews. A 2021 study from researchers at the University of Buffalo found that attractive people "are more likely to get hired, receive better evaluations, and get paid more."

Researchers used data from 300 video interviews and concluded that more attractive individuals had a greater sense of "power" and thus were considered more hireable.

Numerous studies have also found that good-looking people tend to earn more money and are put forward more often for promotions.

Robert I. Gosseen, a labor and employment attorney, told Business Insider that even with multiple laws in place to protect people against bias, "discrimination based on appearance persists."

"These laws protect against bias, but attractiveness and image often unfairly influence workplace decisions," he said.

"There is little probability of new legislation — on any level — that will infringe on employers' right to hire or retain individuals whom they deem attractive and to shun the unattractive."

We don't live in an ideal world

McGoff told BI that in her video, she didn't mean that people should "look sexy" in a job interview. She said that dressing up and looking your best just means putting "your best foot forward."

"I always say, have them think you're as put together as you look," she said. "Because in psychology, there is so much evidence to back this up. It's just factual. It's not something that we should shy away from."

Humans like to look at other "pretty humans," she said, and this has been true throughout history.

There are two sides to this. The unfair side is that some people are born beautiful. People who naturally fall into the cultural ideals of beauty and have "pretty privilege" from the get-go.

The other side, McGoff said, is there are things you can change that give you an advantage that some people choose not to or simply aren't aware of.

"Like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, combing your hair, ironing your clothes," she said. "Just like things that everybody has control over that a lot of people just don't do because they don't really understand the importance of it."

McGoff said she always looks at situations from two angles: how things should be and how things are.

Women shouldn't be expected to wear makeup to a job interview, for example. It's an unfair pressure and expense they face that men don't have to think about.

However, some hiring managers may pick up on a fresh face and perceive it as not making an effort.

McGoff advises treating an interview "like a first date."

"Just try to look good," she said. "And if that means curling your hair, not wearing makeup, or whatever that means for you, then do it."

While looks may matter to a degree, Christian Lovell, a career expert at SoFi, told BI it's important to differentiate between appearance and professionalism.

"Your natural looks or 'level of attractiveness' is out of your control and can be extremely subjective," she said. "But your level of professionalism and preparation is 100% within your control. "

Presenting oneself professionally is less about meeting subjective beauty standards, she said, and more about "demonstrating respect and showing that you are prepared for the interview."

Beware of red flags

Sebastian Morgan, a senior career coach at CV Genius, told BI that even if someone appears neat, wears jewelry, has nice hair and clothes, and puts in as much effort as possible, a recruiter may still judge their natural looks due to bias.

This is often the case in client-facing roles, he said, such as sales, PR, and media.

"What some may consider to be 'pretty privilege,' others will see a candidate's natural features as an important factor in addition to their skills and ability to bring results during the interview process," he said.

Recruiters should recognize that unconscious bias can influence their hiring decisions, he added, and make an effort to mitigate them.

McGoff said overall, it's just a good idea to advocate for yourself when walking into a job interview, and making an effort in the way that suits you. After all, it's just as important the company is the right fit for you, and a recruiter who is obsessed with someone's looks may indicate a toxic work environment.

"If a job doesn't hire you because they think that you should be wearing mascara, then yeah, that's a red flag," she said. "I'm glad you found that out earlier rather than later."