Here in Hollywood, NO ugly receptionist gets hired in the major studios. If you are in sales, and I’ve been employed in sales-driven corporations, good looks WILL get you ahead. It’s that simple.
I was down in the Philippines for business and it did not shock me that it is “common” practice for new applicants to send in their pictures, along with the resume. The HR managers are already conditioned to hire good looking people because they are thought to be more affable in the work environment.
I ran into this in several instances in my career. One example was a female boss that was so threatened by my lovely long naturally blond locks and attention grabbing self that she constantly was telling me to get my hair cut. Most attractive women in a lower position know that they either have to get deep inside that woman as a friend or get a male superior that isn't actively trying to defeat them because they are so threatened.
In LA the woman manager and bosses are terrified of young, intelligent, hard working woman. They know their aging, not so attractive self only stays in their job because the power they hold and once they lose that they have nothing.
I got that early enough and have been fortunate to own my own businesses and be my own salesperson. I create my own success. Let the ugly, insecure, female managers rot in H E double toothpicks :-).
Most my life women--even in my family--were threatened by me. It took years to understand this wasn't about my personality, but they were threatened. Woman are weird. I walk up to attractive woman and complement them all the time on purpose. As I know most woman shun them. I have a lot of friends male and female for that reason. In the end we all just want to be loved and rich anyway. haha.