[mystical guy]

I was reading a discussion about Big 4 Accounting firms and someone suggested that it’s easier to get into Audit if you are “hot” or “good looking.” Reason for this was that you’re expected to be a good sales person in the audit team, to sell services to client (e.g. people in IT Audit can suggest further services). He said that all the auditors he had seen had one thing in common-very good looks. Is there any truth to this notion or does he have a warped view of reality?

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[LoveEventing]

Attractiveness is subjective. I think the more appropriate term is “well presented.” You don't have to look like a super model to get hired. But being well dressed and groomed has always been a factor in first impressions. I resent that people think I may have been hired based on my looks because I am a woman. I dress appropriately and try to present myself with confidence at all times. I think those qualities are valid factors in making a decision about someone's future in any role.

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[nbad311]

I feel like when I interned and then started working full-time (spring of 2007 and summer 2008, respectively), the economy was good and yes, the best lookings abounded.

But then the economy tanked a year or two later and like many in a recession……….. sometimes you have to take what you can get!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

I feel like when I interned and then started working full-time (spring of 2007 and summer 2008, respectively), the economy was good and yes, the best lookings abounded.

But then the economy tanked a year or two later and like many in a recession……….. sometimes you have to take what you can get!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[jlough]

When I was a senior at a B4, my first year was a (male) former Abercrombie model.

I'm not joking.

I do think that being attractive does help you in the business world. But I think that you can be any gender, size, shape, hair color, etc. and be attractive. It's about carrying yourself well, keeping yourself well groomed, wearing appropriate clothing, being personable, etc. But I agree with LoveEventing- I hate the assumption that if you are attractive then you didn't have the credentials to get the job. A B4 isn't going to risk their reputation with clients by sending a hottie without a brain to an audit.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[jlough]

When I was a senior at a B4, my first year was a (male) former Abercrombie model.

I'm not joking.

I do think that being attractive does help you in the business world. But I think that you can be any gender, size, shape, hair color, etc. and be attractive. It's about carrying yourself well, keeping yourself well groomed, wearing appropriate clothing, being personable, etc. But I agree with LoveEventing- I hate the assumption that if you are attractive then you didn't have the credentials to get the job. A B4 isn't going to risk their reputation with clients by sending a hottie without a brain to an audit.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[LoveEventing]

@jlough, I coudln't have said it better myself! I do not think these are the conversations happening at firms as to whether candidates are “hot” enough to work there. If a partner said something to this extent, then sorry but they are just being an a$$hole. They need people who can best represent the firm and are smart enough to not get them in trouble with the PCAOB.

And if someone gets the job by having a lower GPA, its likely because they are more personable and confident, NOT because they are more attractive physically. These qualities are attractive to many people, but they are also key to being able to successfully communicate with clients. I've always considered personality over GPA in the candidates I've recruited. I've seen too many “book smart” people come into these firms just to fail miserably by the time they are a senior because they can't interact with the team or with clients.

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[LoveEventing]

@jlough, I coudln't have said it better myself! I do not think these are the conversations happening at firms as to whether candidates are “hot” enough to work there. If a partner said something to this extent, then sorry but they are just being an a$$hole. They need people who can best represent the firm and are smart enough to not get them in trouble with the PCAOB.

And if someone gets the job by having a lower GPA, its likely because they are more personable and confident, NOT because they are more attractive physically. These qualities are attractive to many people, but they are also key to being able to successfully communicate with clients. I've always considered personality over GPA in the candidates I've recruited. I've seen too many “book smart” people come into these firms just to fail miserably by the time they are a senior because they can't interact with the team or with clients.

BEC - 68, 76
AUD - 90, 91
FAR - 63, 83
REG - 55, 79

FINALLY DONE!

[mystical guy]

Just to clarify, I didn't post this thread to offend anyone. We're all scientists. We make observations and we ask the right questions. There's even a scientific study on “hotness.” People all over the world were asked to rate men and women on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being, “very good looking.” From Africa to Asia, they rated the same people the same! So, anyone offended by this should look around and see reality. I'm just glad that Jeff has created this forum for us to talk about stuff and learn about the jungle that is the world we live in Lol. You can't make it without being informed! Thanks you all guys!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[mystical guy]

Just to clarify, I didn't post this thread to offend anyone. We're all scientists. We make observations and we ask the right questions. There's even a scientific study on “hotness.” People all over the world were asked to rate men and women on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being, “very good looking.” From Africa to Asia, they rated the same people the same! So, anyone offended by this should look around and see reality. I'm just glad that Jeff has created this forum for us to talk about stuff and learn about the jungle that is the world we live in Lol. You can't make it without being informed! Thanks you all guys!

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[maxspiderx]

I think growing up as an attractive-looking person who's always surrounded by people like a beehive contributes towards that individual's confidence over time, thus bringing him/her to perform better at every task in life including interviews.

[maxspiderx]

I think growing up as an attractive-looking person who's always surrounded by people like a beehive contributes towards that individual's confidence over time, thus bringing him/her to perform better at every task in life including interviews.

[Shel_178]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that in the business world being good-looking is more of an asset for men than it is for women. For women it can be a blessing or a curse because other women sometimes don't like you merely b/c you are attractive. Many people also assume that you only got the job because of your looks and that you are somehow incompetent/less capable because you are attractive. Just my two cents.

REG - 86
FAR - 80
BEC - 79
AUD - 92...I'm done woohoo!

Licensed CPA since Feb. 2014

[Shel_178]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that in the business world being good-looking is more of an asset for men than it is for women. For women it can be a blessing or a curse because other women sometimes don't like you merely b/c you are attractive. Many people also assume that you only got the job because of your looks and that you are somehow incompetent/less capable because you are attractive. Just my two cents.

REG - 86
FAR - 80
BEC - 79
AUD - 92...I'm done woohoo!

Licensed CPA since Feb. 2014

[Study Monk]

What people haven't brought up so much is that attractive people help the image of the firm. Don't kill the messenger 🙂 The reality is that all firms are trying to get repeat business. Public accounting is a sales industry and not a hide your accountants in the back room industry. There are both men and women who would subconsciously and/or consciously prefer to rehire a firm because they have attractive people. Attractive person can be just as good at selling financial services as selling themselves into your bed.

It is also important to mention that people want to hire cool people because they will be spending a lot of time with these people. Attractive people come off to be more cool and fun because this was the case in junior high, high school, and even college. The media has portrayed 2 kinds of smart people which are the “asian/indian nerd” and the “Tom Cruise from the movie Firm” person. Which one would you honestly want to spend 60 hours a week with?

Sure no one should be hired because of their good looks, but the reality is that people are really shallow. Do you guys think Obama would of been elected twice if he was short, fat, and ugly? If every time he smiled he had yellow stained teeth? Every person that can come on this post and talk about how wrong it is that attractive people might be getting jobs with a lower gpa are just as likely to choose a sexual partner due to those same biases.

The real world is dark and corrupt-just look at our politics.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

What people haven't brought up so much is that attractive people help the image of the firm. Don't kill the messenger 🙂 The reality is that all firms are trying to get repeat business. Public accounting is a sales industry and not a hide your accountants in the back room industry. There are both men and women who would subconsciously and/or consciously prefer to rehire a firm because they have attractive people. Attractive person can be just as good at selling financial services as selling themselves into your bed.

It is also important to mention that people want to hire cool people because they will be spending a lot of time with these people. Attractive people come off to be more cool and fun because this was the case in junior high, high school, and even college. The media has portrayed 2 kinds of smart people which are the “asian/indian nerd” and the “Tom Cruise from the movie Firm” person. Which one would you honestly want to spend 60 hours a week with?

Sure no one should be hired because of their good looks, but the reality is that people are really shallow. Do you guys think Obama would of been elected twice if he was short, fat, and ugly? If every time he smiled he had yellow stained teeth? Every person that can come on this post and talk about how wrong it is that attractive people might be getting jobs with a lower gpa are just as likely to choose a sexual partner due to those same biases.

The real world is dark and corrupt-just look at our politics.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Author]

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