Attractive Students Being Hired First

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It has been painfully obvious at my school that the students that look like super models got GN jobs right away. Yeah the average looking students are starting to get job now too but they didn't land the first job they interviewed for like the good looking students did. How unfair is that. Has anyone else seen this at their school?

Specializes in Emergency Room, Specialty Infusions.
I just want to encourage you that it's not always about the looks! I am 240 lbs and 5' 4" and far from being a super model. I do however have enthusiasm and a passion for nursing that exudes every pore. Nurse recruiters will see how enthusiastic you are about nursing if you just allow yourself to let it fly. Keep at it, you can do it! By the way, I did get a job at the hospital I desired. Part of the application package for this hospital required an essay saying "Why I wanted to be an employee at .... hospital." My passion was able to shine in the essay.

I am so glad you wrote. I will pass your comment on to my daughter. She graduated a year ago and as yet, has not landed a job. She graduated top 5 in her class with a BSN. I am afraid because of her weight she is being discriminated against.

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.

at least we are not in the "pharmaceutical sales" end of the business.....

They all look like super models.........My friend's daughter did not get hired due to "not looking the part" or however they worded it so she could not protest...

what a shame..............

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Thats a normal part of life, you will see that any and everywhere.

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Its is true for almost every profession attractive and thin people get hired first. It is not their fault on how they are viewed, I've always been very aware of it, as long as i've been working and i've worked in an office, retail, service industry. Its a shame that is the way we are judged. What I did was to be good at what I do. I'm me all day. I can't change for anyone, but I can be a professional at all times and staying up to date and be the best I can be. Don't let that stop you from your success.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Define "attractive"???

I am 5'3 and weigh 189 lbs, at one time weighed near 300 lbs. I am still considered overweight, but I am reasonably well shaped. I am (almost) 40 years old, brownish red hair done in a stylish fashion. I dress well. Big eyes, am told I have a good smile, good at doing my make up (read here subtle and natural but definitely there) and I wear it every day. Most people say I am pretty, some obviously feel I am fat. I have a fairly high IQ and am doing well in my courses. In other words, I think I walk the line in terms of whether someone will think I am attractive or not, based mostly on my weight. I have always, always gotten the job offer when I interview. I have very strong interviewing skills, make good eye contact and am a very confident yet subdued, articulate person.

In my case, I think the confidence is the difference. I am certainly not a supermodel, not young and not perfectly formed. I am chubby.

I so so strongly disagree with the above poster who says 90% of nurses are unattractive. I think most of our population in general tends to be of average looks, with crossing over into the "attractive" category based mostly on self presentation and confidence..and that most people easily cross into that category when they make the effort. Dress well. Present yourself well. Look like you care about yourself. Do that 5 minute make up job that Carmody does on What Not To Wear. If you don't know how to put yourself together, watch that show. It helps. Do your hair. If you are going to put it in a ponytail, do it in a way that looks purposeful, not just yanked back. Keep your head high, make eye contact, SMILE, look happy. Happy people are automatically percieved as being more attractive than nervous/sour/unhappy ones.

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Please don't let the thought that you must be beautiful to be hired discourage you. I am (was) a non-traditional student, one of the oldest in my class, have the wrinkles to prove it, have gained about twenty pounds in school, but was the first in my class to get a job. I have been working for about a year as a Patient Care Tech on the unit I was hired on. I considered those past 12 months my interview. I took good care of the patients, assisted the nurses whenever I could, was positive and upbeat. Could they have hired a tender, sweet young thing who was beautiful to boot? You bet ya! But I LOVE bedside care and let it show. DO NOT be discouraged! Be yourself and let the employer know how much you want to be there. If you're older, let them know what other skills you can bring to the table. It's not all about beauty. I've sat on both sides of the hiring desk, and looks were never the deciding factor. It was about enthusiasm, caring and compassion.

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Sorry, it went into the shredder!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

A lot of good points about looks going hand in hand with confidence here, but I want to bring up some things that people usually don't think about.

My kids say I look like a witch in the morning. After a shower, doing my hair, putting on some makeup, and clothes that aren't sweats, they then say, "Ok, you look pretty now."

Good grooming goes a long, long, long way. We can't change what was given us in the bone structure department or skin texture/color department, but we can attend to those things often overlooked that make a big difference in our looks.

I've noticed that after I get my eyebrows waxed, my eyes look younger. A good haircut gives my usually stringy, thin hair some body. A fresh dye job brightens my otherwise dull skin tone (along with the right shade of foundation).

All this is to say that I've never really met an "ugly" person...just people who may not know the tips and tricks that go a long way in appearance.

I'm glad I figured them out--otherwise, I'd be a witch 24/7, rather than just in the morning! :lol2: Same thing goes for men, by the way. There is a subtle, but noticeable, difference in my husband once he's groomed his beard, gotten a haircut, gotten a good night's sleep (!), and put on the black shirts that make me drool like I just met him. (I love a man in black!)

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Specializes in telemetry, med-surg, home health, psych.
If some nurse gets hired because of looks so be it. My experience is that they live to regret such hiring policies. In rural areas it don't take long for the word to get out and the backlash can be very expensive. I worked with one supervisor that gave easy case loads to eye candy (male/female) because she felt that they were hired for looks not ability. I say "that's life":twocents:

OMG !!!! so the perty ones got the looks AND the easy work load !!!! :rolleyes:

I should be so lucky......:confused::confused:

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Psych.

In my opinion, unless you were sitting in on the interviews or got a good, long look at their resumes, it is impossible to tell whether someone was hired for their looks or not. If the person in question is inarticulate and working with two brain cells, then yes, I guess you could come to that conclusion. But maybe these people are great at interviews and come across as sharp and charismatic--that goes a long, long way.

Also, as has been mentioned before, beauty really is a subjective thing. What one person thinks is super model hot, another person may think is average at best. And being good looking in the traditional sense can work against you just as it can work for you. I am not saying I am the hottest thing to come down the pike, but I am good looking based on the usual definition. There have been times in my life where I have paid the price for that (many people, especially women, tend to assume you are stupid) and other times it was an asset to me.

I think the bottom line is that you need to use what you have to your best advantage. Every person has at least one physical trait that is attractive, so play that up! And show your passion, enthusiasm, excitement, and intelligence! Sell yourself! Don't have the thought in the back of your mind that someone hotter is going to get the job--that insecurity will shoot you in the foot every time.

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"I think the bottom line is that you need to use what you have to your best advantage. Every person has at least one physical trait that is attractive, so play that up! And show your passion, enthusiasm, excitement, and intelligence! Sell yourself! Don't have the thought in the back of your mind that someone hotter is going to get the job--that insecurity will shoot you in the foot every time."

Nicely said SydneyJo1- I worked in HR for the last 9 years and the interview is really your time to shine. Play up your strengths, be confident and make sure you're well "put together" and PREPARED for your interview. If you really know how to sell yourself it makes all the difference in the world!:D

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Specializes in IMCU.
I have read all of the posts with great interest.You see, I am a Nurse Manager (over 19 years) in a Pediatric Facility and hire from 2-3 new graduate nurses/year. I usually have between 60-90 applications to wade through before I EVEN try to decide who to interview (read between the lines--I don't have a CLUE what people look like!). I look at background-volunteer work, past work experiences, but MOST IMPORTANT, I look at Clinical Instructor evaluations; they too do not mention appearances. I DO look to see if my interviewees are neat, clean and professional looking--doesn't have to be a suit, BUT I do not want to see wrinkles or unpolished shoes. Definitely do not want to see cleavage or crack if you bend over. Hair should be clean--don't wear a nose ring. I expect you to be nervous, but I should be able to see a love for nursing in your eyes. 4.0 looks good on paper, but can you translate your knowledge to real patients? Do you have critical thinking skills? If you don't know what it is, you don't have them. If you did a clinical on my area and my staff know enough about you to recommend you (Yes-you are applying for positions when you do clinicals!), then you IMMEDIATELY go to the top of my list.

It is NOT about appearances. This is a tough economy--you are competing with experienced RN's who may have not worked, or worked prn 2 years ago. I am looking for skill, ability to learn (that means knowing what you don't know), team spirit and a passion for nursing. Sell yourself to me...

Thanks for this. No one in my class seems to believe me that a clinical rotation can impact your job prospects.

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