The face of success: New study reveals how your looks affect your career

 
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Benjamin Russell25 January 2013

You may have an amazing CV and be impeccably dressed but it could all count for nothing if you have the wrong face, according to a study.

The research, in which 100 people ranked 100 faces in terms of business acumen and leadership qualities, found that a person's looks have a big impact on how they are perceived in the workplace.

Men with a strong jawline, where the lower half of the face is wider than the space between the temples, were thought of as having strong leadership qualities, whereas men with faces that got narrower towards the jawline where considered weaker and less credible.

The shape of a man's face also had an impact, with a rectangular face being more desirable than an oval one.

It found women with an oval face with well defined, slightly angular features were rated higher than larger features and rounded, more fleshy face shape.

Women may have to break out the tweezers to get to the top as curved eyebrows ranked higher than straight ones.

Hitting the sun bed before your interview might not be a bad move, as pale skin was associated with anti-leadership qualities.

Men with light coloured curly hair will be reaching for the dye and plugging in the straighteners as the study showed that dark straight hair was better thought of in business.

The research was carried out by facial mapping expert Dr Chris Solomon, to coincide with the launch of new series Suits on Dave.

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