The current issue of Psychology Today asks: Are you too sexy for your job?
This article has good information about managing your image. Here are the nuggets I liked best:
1. Wear short, low-maintenance hair.
"Both sexes perceive women with long, straight, blond hair as being sexy and those who have short, highlighted hair as smart and confident, but not sexy. More hair equals more femininity but also less intelligence. Likewise, high-maintenance hair makes others suspicious about a woman's competence." (From Marianne LaFrance, psychologist at Yale University.)
2. Wear a little bit of makeup.
"Women who wear excessive makeup are seen as trying too hard. But both sexes rate women who forgo makeup as less committed to their jobs." (From Sherry Myaysonave, author of Casual Power.)
3. Don't dress like the guys.
"When male executives are asked what holds top women back in the workplace, appearing too masculine is always in the top five. Most men think women should be business-like, but should not try to join the club." (From Debra Benton, author of How to Think Like a CEO.)










I think medium-long hair can be done right but it is certainly more difficult. It can't be too flashy or trendy but you really can't go ultra-conservative either. Short hair makes sense for a lot of reasons though but if it doesn't work for you personally, you probably shouldn't try it.
Posted by Your HR Guy on 07/25/2006 at 11:58am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I suspect it may be more nuanced than that, actually. For example, at my prior job, which was heavily male and technology dominant, the less a woman looked "feminine", the more she was treated as a colleague. In general, the more a woman looked like a woman, the less comfortable they were around her. I am painting with broad strokes, but as a woman who likes to dress stylish (read not just jeans and tshirts like the males in that environment), who does wear makeup, and who wears her brunette hair just below the shoulder, well this was how it was for me.
Posted by bauhaus_sea on 07/25/2006 at 11:59am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Wish i had the choice…long or medium length hair :(
Posted by Gordon on 11/09/2006 at 10:04am | permalink | Reply to this comment
I think the sexier the better…Most REAL men LOVE to hang around women who look like women….What red-blooded male doesn't want to hang around women who look and dress that way?
Posted by Robert on 01/02/2007 at 03:51am | permalink | Reply to this comment
To answer Robert: Those of us who have discovered that the "sexy" girl is just that, a sexy girl, not someone who can be counted on to get the job done right. Send her over to marketing where they all seem to be nothing more than booth bunnies, but keep her out of my IT department!
Posted by jrandom42 on 01/09/2008 at 05:48pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Misogynistic and offensive, jrandom! Shame on you for being so insensitive. Being beautiful and being smart are not mutually exclusive.
Posted by p.random.1234 on 08/26/2009 at 02:56pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
"Most men think women should be business-like, but should not try to join the club" What club? Can we please retire this tired phrase? It implies that women should stop trying to belong on an equal footing.
And what is business-like, if not looking as asexual and as little like an individual as possible? Trying to keep sexuality out of the office clearly has not worked so can we give up the act and be ourselves again? Wear your hair how you want. Lots of sterotypes reinforced in the comments here! Come on you guys, women with long hair are not as smart? really? Amazing.
Posted by Diana Maus on 01/21/2009 at 06:52pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Hear, hear, Diana!
From the perspectives of being female and having had short and long blond hair….
I have no problem coming across as intelligent in the workplace, regardless of hair length. (FWIW, I wear conservative makeup and live in Florida.)
However… I've found it a little easier to get along with men in the workplace with longer blond hair and a slightly sexy image. Maybe it lowers their defenses — who knows?
Posted by Jen on 01/23/2009 at 05:45pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
The points you've mentioned are all simply true. Especially the third. I was working at a company few years back and that was one of the things women did there. Trying to join the club :) Your blog is really awesome Penelope. Keep it up.
Posted by Veterinarian on 02/16/2009 at 09:46pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I really liked your blog!
Posted by skinny jeans on 02/17/2009 at 01:14pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
I have long, brown hair and I have never dressed masculine, but I'm not perceived as unintelligent, I have recently got a new job over plenty of men in business development and am already on track for a pay rise!!! I think your just looking at the stereotypes of women and not the reality!!
Posted by Ellie on 03/17/2009 at 04:47am | permalink | Reply to this comment
Ellie, you mean to say "I think YOU'RE just looking at the stereotypes of women…"? Yeah, spelling counts when trying to be perceived as intelligent!!!
Posted by The translator on 04/08/2009 at 09:50pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
Interesting article indeed. In my earlier job being the sex kitten type got me lots of things done in less trouble. Certainly helpful at times. But you have to make sure you done over do it.
Posted by Lap dancing jobs on 07/25/2009 at 11:18pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
True, it can definitely get you up the ladder, whether you are enjoying it in the process is all up to you :D But I guess it is always good to be prepared!!
Posted by LMS on 08/07/2009 at 09:39am | permalink | Reply to this comment
3.Don't Dress Like The Guys
lol that's a loss for the lesbians (well some of them)
Posted by Jeffrey on 10/12/2009 at 08:33pm | permalink | Reply to this comment
that's extremely true. all 3 points are correct.
Posted by nick on 10/26/2009 at 02:30pm | permalink | Reply to this comment