People could be more likely to win supply chain and procurement jobs if they are attractive and present themselves well.
That is according to new research by HireScores.com, a website that rates recruitment agencies, which revealed that 67 per cent of employers admit they are more inclined to give an attractive person a job.
The study of reasons behind employer decisions for hiring specific individuals found that a perceived ability to do the job (81 per cent) is the most important factor affecting the employability of candidates.
This was followed by qualifications (73 per cent) and social skills (71 per cent), with physical appearance (67 per cent) and hygiene (61 per cent) also being selected by employers among the top five reasons.
Lisette Howlett, managing director of the website, urged employers to make sure they consider all the factors when choosing staff to fill vacancies, regardless of what the job in question may be.
She said: "The hiring decision needs to take everything into account; motivation, attitude, short and longer-term business needs and whether the candidate has the best ability to do the job.
"While I do worry that many employers would perhaps subconsciously employ someone who is easier on the eyes, it doesn't always make practical business sense."
Ms Howlett expressed her wish that everyone be treated equally when applying for jobs, a situation that could improve the overall state of the job market.
Meanwhile, Work Wise UK has warned that more small businesses could find themselves the subject of legal disputes with staff if workers are left feeling pressurised into unpaid overtime as a result of the financial situation.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of the organisation, said that it is becoming much more common for people working in certain sectors to log 50 hours a week without being paid anything extra than their standard full-time wage.
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