Career Clinic: Will my placement firm judge me on my appearance?

Working with attractive female staff makes working into the early hours of the morning just a bit more bearable. Between two equally qualified candidates with one clearly looking more presentable than the other, I know which one I would go for. This is the corporate world for you, whether you're an investment banker or a corporate lawyer in the City. If for any second you had utopian notions of the Magic Circle hiring strictly on a meritocratic basis, then the summer placement is already an unqualified success because you are no longer delusional, even if you decide life in the City isn't for you. Just in case you are also holding utopian notions of the sanctity of marriage, I should probably warn you that by week two of your summer placement you will probably hear that some of your fellow interns are sleeping with the recruitment partner to secure a training contract. Should you come round and accept the way things are done in the City, then it never hurts to unbutton an additional button off your shirt and engage in some harmless flirtation with key personnel. These gestures are held in very high regard.

Investment Banker -28 Jun 2007 | 12:49

Investment Banker is overstating the case a tad, though there is some truth in his comments. Some firms are a bit more lookist/image conscious than others, even within the MC. Maybe try another equivalent firm.

Anonymous -28 Jun 2007 | 13:36

The first thing you must do is relax and have a little confidence in yourself. Vacation placements are notoriously more difficult to get than training contracts because there are fewer to go around. The fact that you've managed to secure one at a good firm says a lot about you. It also says a lot about them and what their selection criteria really are. Remember that whenever you feel your courage failing you. It sounds as if what you most need to do is keep up the good work and have a little faith in a selection process that has worked in your favour so far. Having said all that, it does no-one (male or female) any harm to be both personable and presentable. Do your best with what you've got and try to focus on what you have in common with the people around you more than what you don't.

Female lawyer, 34 -28 Jun 2007 | 16:43

I shouldn't worry. There are plenty of unattractive trainees in law firms (not, of course, that you are). Yes it's true that there will be some puerile associates keeping scorecards on the vac students in every firm this summer, but give them a break - they probably can't get girls to talk to them outside of the office.... Seriously though, if you're friendly, enthusiastic and bright, it will have no bearing on whether you get a training contract. Personality counts just as much as looks.

Associate, US firm -28 Jun 2007 | 16:48

We once had a summer student who was very slim and pretty but wore very short skirts and crop-tops exposing a lot of skin - this strategy certainly did not help her as she looked like the other type of solicitor. You need to look professional and well turned-out (even if there is a dress-down policy). If that means wearing make-up/lipstick when you don't normally bother (I'm assuming you're female), dressing up more than you would normally, etc, then you should see it as part of experiencing what City life is about and just get on with it. The great thing about a summer placement though is that it gives you a chance to go beyond the surface of appearance and CVs and to show them what you can really do in terms of work and intelligence. It's true that choosing trainees is often about choosing people you would be happy to spend six months in a room with, but that is all about being good company and a reliable and useful member of the team, not about being pretty wallpaper. Be confident in your own abilities and go for substance over style.

Anonymous -28 Jun 2007 | 16:53

Hey girl. The City IS a schoolyard, don't you know? There's lipservice paid to equality and diversity and all those PC things, but everybody works very long hours and if you think the men prefer to be surrounded by frumps, you need to re-examine the situation. All things being equal, wouldn't you prefer to be working with well groomed, handsome men?

may -28 Jun 2007 | 16:57

I think the key is to look professional, and if you can manage it, powerful. Lots of young women and men try to look sexy, because so much of looking "good" today involves or at least hints at sex. I think sex appeal can get some people so far, but not all the way to the top. If all a girl had to do to get to the top was to sleep with the right people, there would be so many more women at a senior level.That said, some placement students really do not look as if they are dressed for office work; their work quality needs to be outstanding to compensate for that.

female partner, city -28 Jun 2007 | 17:02

Investment Banker is absolutely right in his comments, sad as they ma be. If that is an approach taken by your firm in there recruitment process then i suggest you look some where else. You need not strip to prove your ability to deliver results. Much as you may need to secure a training contract, it is just as important to be comfortable at work. Good luck

Mariam, legal assistant -28 Jun 2007 | 17:05

Certain firms require a minimum level of aesthetic professionalism.

Another Investment Banker -28 Jun 2007 | 17:06

If you feel you are not going to fit into a firm because the people they are homogenous, be this super-sporty, geeky, whatever, then think about whether this is the firm for you. I am afraid that people, men as well as women, are judged on their appearance. Therefore you will have to turn up smartly even when you wish you could get away with less and be presentable and friendly even when you you feel like you can't be bothered. This is not the same as acting as though you are available for anything. For every person who likes the "sexy flirt" approach there will be someone who will find that unprofessional. There was a vac placement student who sent in a CV with a picture in soft focus, who wore low-cut tight tops and was cutsie in manner. She got attention but was also made a bit of a laughing stock. She wasn't taken on.

Anonymous -28 Jun 2007 | 18:28

To be frank, how many gorgeous partners have you seen? Proof that you don't need looks to get ahead in the law.

Anonymous -28 Jun 2007 | 18:41

If i had to work late, i would rather be in a room with a smart and efficient woman rather than somebody who was useless but very attractive. The idea is to get the work done and leave the office. Priorities? Stay in the office and admire your workmates or finish the task and get the hell out of the office.Possibly then those that have a interesting life outside the office may enjoy it.

Senior Associate, US firm -28 Jun 2007 | 20:01

I am afraid to say that this is still the way that large swathes of the legal profession operate. Although you'll find those who deny it, it is quite usual to find young female lawyers attempting to sleep their way to the top, and even if they don't do that the culture is that they have to be seen to be prepared to do it if that is what it takes - it is necessary not to baulk at the advances of lecherous partners, as I have found to my cost! But not all firms are like that. Ask yourself - if this firm operates in this way, do you really want to work for them anyway? Be true to yourself and don't try to conform to something you're not comfortable with. If all else was equal in their applications and interviews then the way someone dressed might swing whether or not I offered them a training contract, but what I would be looking for is whether they would be presenting a professional image of themselves and the firm. By this I mean skirts no shorter than on the knee, tights even in summer, blouse which doesn't show cleavage and discreet jewellery only (small stud earrings, a small necklace and one ring on each hand are fine, anything else should be saved for outside work hours), and long hair should be tied back. Just because some girls (encouraged by some men) think that the way they dress and act will get them to the top doesn't mean that all lawyers are like this. Don't let the experience put you off.

Anonymous -29 Jun 2007 | 14:39

Are we talking about Freshfields? That is the reputation, and there are many people who fit that description, but there are plenty who don't as well.As long as you look professional your looks won't matter. If you don't look professional then that will be a problem at any firm. I wouldn't worry too much about this point, if you dress appropriately for a working environment then you will be dressed appropriately for Freshfields (if that is who we are discussing).

FBD lawyer -29 Jun 2007 | 15:56

Not at all. I have worked in several "top" law firms and have found that they always seem to hire based purely on academics. The number of people in law firms without looks and personality is not just a coincidence. If you are after people who don't just have brains, go into commerce.

Anonymous -02 Jul 2007 | 15:29

If you want to be around really ugly people you could try for a job in accounting?

magic circle, associate -05 Jul 2007 | 13:27

All of the law firms I have worked for (6 now) have recruited mainly pretty girls, and the ones that weren't pretty were very, very bright. Much as it's extremely frustrating, that's just the way the legal world works and I don't think it's likely to change. In several of my jobs the partner who hired me made advances to me (unsuccessful!) and admitted he'd had that in mind when I was hired. I think if you want a job you just have to make yourself look the best you can and treat that as part of the recruitment game. While men are doing the recruitment there will always be a preference for women who look good.

Female lawyer -05 Jul 2007 | 17:11

Once again, Investment Banker provides the most useless and sexist response to the question. If the firm you are at is the one I think it is, they do nonetheless recruit people outside that mould you describe, so don't be intimidated. Many other firms also don't have a particular mould, so there are more options than just that firm if you're not comfortable. I work at a magic circle firm that has all kinds of trainees. You need a professional appearance and the ability to get on with people, but you don't need to be 'good-looking' to succeed.

Magic Circle associate -06 Jul 2007 | 11:38

You should always work in a place where you feel comfortable. If you feel that the place you are at is only looking for pretty types then maybe you should apply elsewhere.

Male in-house lawyer -11 Jul 2007 | 13:14

Female lawyer, stop trying to insinuate there will always be sexism while 'men are doing the recruiting'.

jjlaw -10 Jan 2009 | 16:03