They say beauty is only skin-deep and that it’s ultimately what’s inside that matters, however, research may be showing that attractiveness may indeed have a role to play on the money you’re pocketing and the *job opportunities in Malta that come your way.

Research by Judge, Hurst and Simon concluded that attractiveness can indeed boost a person’s income. However one’s mental ability has a stronger effect on the wage earned. If you’re lucky enough to have brains and beauty, then all the better.

The correlation between attractiveness and income has been highlighted by researchers multiple times. One study by Langlois shows that 68% of alluring adults were above the average on occupational success, which included income, in comparison to 32% of unattractive adults. The phenomenon was also supported by a research experiment conducted in Germany, where interviewers were asked to rate attractiveness of a candidate before the interview. The ratings were then cross-checked with employment and wage. In turns out that attractiveness had a direct effect on earnings – more so for women rather than men.

Some researchers have claimed that attractive people are more likely to be extroverts and socially connected - traits which are positively associated with leadership skills. In a contrasting view, other researchers said that attractiveness is often linked with narcissism – a trait which is not looked for when searching for a leader.

Throughout their research, Judge, Hurst and Simon emphasize that what does matter almost as much as intelligence for employers, is not attractiveness, but self-concept. Believing in one’s self allows for better educational attainment, which in turn leads to better job opportunities and income. The researchers said that good-looking people tend to think more highly of their worth and capabilities which, in turn, leads to more money and less financial stress. But the makeup of self-worth changes from one person to the next – some might place more emphasis on intelligence, while others give more importance to looks.

The million dollar question here is - how was unattractiveness defined? Isn’t beauty subjective, or as they say, in the eye of the beholder?

See also: Jobs in Malta

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