Thursday, February 16, 2012

Money & Business

Career advice for the unattractive

By Marty Nemko
Posted 5/22/06
Page 2 of 2

You're getting (or feeling) old. Get at least seven hours of sleep a night–fatigue adds years to your face.

Walk purposefully, even quickly–that conveys youth and energy.

Stand straight. Legendary Cosmopolitan editor Helen Gurley Brown once said, only half joking, "After 40, it all comes down to posture."

Age shows most in our eyes and hair color. So wear flattering glasses, and consider coloring your hair. Men, include your mustache or beard.

Your face is unattractive. Draw attention elsewhere. A great hairstyle or accessories such as jewelry, scarves, handbags, and shoes can refocus people's gaze.

If you're considering cosmetic surgery, here's one way to find a good doc: Call a cosmetic surgeon's office, then ask the receptionist to recommend a few plastic surgeons other than her boss. The names that come up multiple times are good bets.

Consider working alone or with the same people each day. If you've tried everything and still feel your appearance brings you down, you might be more successful in a job where you work alone or with the same group of people each day. That provides time for your personality and competence to override other negative impressions you're worried about.

STAYING MOTIVATED

It takes effort to convert yourself from creepy to captivating. To get motivated, think how you'll benefit from projecting a better image at work: You'll get more praise, enjoy better job security, maybe earn more money. It might be hard to stick with your plan, but it may yield bigger payoffs than being good at your job. Alas.

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