It is not illegal to discriminate based on ‘aspect’. In reality, we all discriminate based on that, to some degree. If a person comes dressed like a bum, untidy, dirty, etc. he/she may not be very ‘lucky’ hunting for an office job. If the person appears very distracted, unable to concentrate, irresponsive, etc. will also score very low on most interviews.

The enormous responsibility of the Interviewer is to discriminate the bad employees from the good ones, based on tests, degrees or certifications, grades, previous performance, apparent intelligence and ability to understand and follow direction, to innovate, to become part of a team, etc.

Some recruiters would not hire for a job in fashion (fashion consultant, personal shopper, buyer, etc.) a person that comes to the interview dressed for, let’s say, a little league baseball match on a hot Florida Sunday afternoon.

The question in the mind of the Interviewer may be: “if this is what you do for yourself, what can I expect you to do for my clients or for us?”

Fairly or not, the ‘mean is the message’, and your appearance will likely be considered a testimony of your own talent, taste, concern and ability to handle… yourself and other matters entrusted to you.

Clearly, a person applying for a job in sales, should be able to sell… his/her services as an employee. If unable to do so, the thought of the Recruiter will likely go: if that is how well you can sell yourself, what can I expect you will do when representing me (my Company, services, etc.)?

Somebody said ‘you are what you do’ (J.P. Sartre). For a Recruiter, the reverse is also valid: “you do… what you are”. Or in other words, if this is who you are, I can predict what you will do for me.

When you are looking for someone energetic, capable of controlling complex situations and negotiations, able to lead with will power and block negativity to sip to destroy team morale, etc. you will probably look for somebody that personifies such qualities in the way he/she presents himself/herself, speaks, sits, walks and acts, in addition to all the other conventional tools, references, etc.

That is why, in my opinion, it is important to show such self control, discipline and absence of self-indulgence right from the start, at first sight, with your appearance. The message of a fit person, is that he/she probably has such discipline within themselves. An obese person…. No. “If that is how you treat yourself, how are you going to treat my Company?” “If that is your self control, how can I expect you to perform for me?” Those questions may pop-up in the mind of your interviewer.

Of course those are stereotypes and most unfair in many situations. There are medical conditions that cause some people to be very thin or obese, having no relation with their personality or predicted performance. Nevertheless, the risk is there, recruiters are fallible human beings just as impressionable as anyone else.

If it is up to you, if you can help your chances by improving every aspect of your appearance, do yourself a favor and keep this in mind.