Career Advice: Get Paid More (Even If Youre Not a Model!)
May 5, 2005
The results are in, and theyre ugly. Good-looking people make more money. It pays to be tall, dark and handsome . . . literally.Studies by economists show that above average looking people tend to earn higher salaries and get promoted more often than those with average or below average looks. (Visit www.stlouisfed.org/publications/re/2005/b/pages/appearances.html) for more information.) When compared to average looking people:
- Attractive people earned 5 percent more
- Overweight women earned 17 percent less
- Taller people earned 2.6 percent more
- Less attractive people earned 9 percent less.
- Do you like your job? We are going to operate on the premise that you do, but you would like to get paid what you are worth or more.
- Do you know what others in your job category are getting paid? That's a good place to start. Find out how your pay scale ranks with others. Don't go out and start asking all your associates what they make. That's a no-no. Do some research on the Internet. There are dozens of sites where you can get this information.
- Are you planning to stay with your company for a while?
- Do you feel like your job might be in jeopardy?
- Do you think your pay scale is fair?
- Give a speech.
- Attend a conference.
- Write an article. (You might consider contacting the editors of Pharmaceutical Manufacturing to see how your expertise and their topics-of-interest line up.
- Host a meeting.
- Join an association.
- Volunteer to help plan and execute a company-sponsored function.
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