Beauty is in the eye of the employer... or so it seems.

Jessica Stillman's January 2008 article "Should You Hire the More Beautiful Candidate? Ask An Economist " intrigued me.  Are good looks really an advantage and necessary in today's competitive job search? 

According to an article by CNN.com, citing a 2005 Federal Reserve study, the research is in the favor of beautiful people gaining premium jobs and raises. 

What about the rest of us mere mortals, including myself, who weren't in the line where God handed out all of the beautiful genes. Are we doomed to low-paying wages and bad jobs.?

So what should you do if you didn't win the genetic lottery? Can you compete with the beautiful ones and gain an advantage? There's hope... and a strategy.

Step 1 -Dress for success 

Your feminine inspiration for this strategy is Jackie O and SJP (Sarah Jessica Parker.) These two style icons were not botoxed into oblivion or possessed boobs the size of Pam Anderson, but both are revered and known for their impeccable style, grace and intelligence. 

Need a promotion?  Command the room with your own figure flattering apparel and you'll feel more confident, beautiful and prepared. Dress for the job that you want not for the position that you are in. This advice really works.

Step 2 - Highlight your best features and use good grooming 

Got great legs? Show them. Your hair is the envy of all your friends? Get a cut that will make your girlfriends say... WOW.  Not everyone has the money to pay for an extreme makeover; so find the most fashionable boutique in your city and ask the best dressed sales associate for their advice.  

Step 3 - Seek professional help for your style transformation

A professional stylist or salesperson whose career depends on their fashion sense will tell you the honest truth.  Your friends, as loving as they may be, won't tell you if you look fat in capris or if you need your eyebrows arched. 

Step 4 - Treat yourself to a professional makeover, and get a great haircut

Love those Oprah show schlumpadinka overhauls? Or Clinton and Stacy's What Not to Wear?  Makeover yourself. Find a silhouette that flatters your figure and wear it until it becomes your signature look. Change your accessories, not the cut of your suit or dress for variety.

Dressing well and an awesome haircut has always given me an advantage, whether I was the best candidate in the interview or not.  Most of the jobs I secured in my early 20's up until this present day, were based upon my confidence, preparedness, my power interview suit and undeniable interviewing skills.

You now look marvelous darling reader, but don't forget the five important areas that are not looks-dependent: likeability, your unique skill set, positive energy, charisma and ambition.  Slay the competition with your undeniable intangible skills and you'll gain an edge over chiseled features and six pack abs.

If you don't get the job of your dreams after trying these tips you'll have the confidence to make new friends, find a better job or even start a business.  Well-dressed, intelligent, kind and painstakingly groomed women will always be employable, no matter what their age.  Beauty fades. A well dressed woman is unforgettable.

Beauty is no guarantee of a good job, pay raise or happiness.

Strive for sartorial elegance, knowledge and inner beauty. You have my permission to unleash your inner sophisticate for your next interview.  Clothes matter.  Even Princess Diana wore tiaras for a reason.

Mechele Pellebon's career advice gives working women the know-how to turn failure into success, and the encouragement to not spend another second in a job they don't absolutely love. Follow Mechele on Twitter and join her network of friends on Myspace and Facebook.

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