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In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

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Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#31

Post by closeparen »

Bahamut wrote: post #17
rayiner wrote: post #12

> Only the previous week, he says, he returned from a 10-day trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Before that, he boasts, he journeyed to a yoga retreat and juice cleanse in Bali, the perfect setting to unload the stress he absorbs working at a well-known tech company in Silicon Valley. After ending a five-year marriage and shedding 10 pounds of subcutaneous fat several years back — his sun-kissed body now carb- and toxin-f…

Tech worker doesn't necessarily mean software engineer.

Yeah. It does sound like a number of product managers I know.

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#32

Post by throw0x1away »

Nothing new here? It's just a basic human factor? Not only essential for the career, even interviews go a lot smoother if you are a pleasant to look at, deal with. It's the first impression that gets you ahead. If you are competent enough not to ruin it by talking, you are golden!

Still, surgeries is kind of extreme, but lets be honest, even some basic things like a shower and deodorant can help a lot of devs.

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#33

Post by TrueGeek »

fortran77 wrote: post #13

I'm 57 years old and work about 8 months/year in Silicon Valley (the rest in Tel Aviv) I dye my beard (my head is shaved) and I've had work done on my face. I'm careful to stay in shape, and not be overweight. It makes a big difference in how I'm perceived.

Is your username accurate or have you moved on from Fortran?

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#34

Post by scarejunba »

longerthoughts wrote: post #20
scarejunba wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't you prefer _longer_ vacations? With shorter vacations you're incurring the carbon cost for flights for less value. Unless that's what you were implying.

They were making a joke about the phrasing because it sounds like it was 10 days of travel to reach Italy.

It's bloody obvious now that you mention it and I feel like an idiot for having missed it haha.

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#35

Post by S_A_P »

I will provide a bit of anecdata. I went from not really fat, but kinda just mushy to my high school weight when I was ~30 and started working out and did a lot of running. The way I was treated be everyone was drastically different(better). I then had a severe foot fracture that required surgery and 12-18 month recovery. Running has proven difficult even 5 years later. I am regaining some pudge, and notice that royal treatment I used to get is not there anymore. I will also say that my mind is nowhere near as sharp. 2020 is the year I get back in shape, and will see if that makes a difference again...

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#36

Post by jm20 »

Attractiveness has always affected opportunities afforded to people and other people’s perceptions of you. This is not just in tech. Hell, it influences elections! This is just human nature and has been studied extensively. It’s just trendy to bash Silicon Valley for this, because, you know, everyone on Wall Street is wearing suits for the comfort factor...

However, I think there’s an upper bounds on where that matters, and I think it mostly matters when climbing the corporate ladder. If you look at the richest men in the world, most are not supermodels.

The moral of the story - if you want to play the game you have to play by the game’s rules. Otherwise, play a different game.

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#37

Post by yters »

anon9001 wrote: post #11

I'm pretty convinced that the most important thing you can do for your career after achieving basic technical competence is to be more attractive, both physically and socially. The reality is that you're going to have an easier time making connections and getting access to opportunities if you're well-mannered, sociable, and attractive.

Yes, totally. I notice a significant difference in how I'm treated, and even perceived technical proficiency, based on whether I'm in shape or not. Being well groomed also helps, but being in shape with sharply defined facial features seems the most significant thing. Losing the glasses and wearing contacts helps, too.

OTOH, if I want to get by based on actual technical merits instead of outward attractiveness, then best to optimize technical and communication skills. Physical appearance comes and goes, but the latter have more staying power.

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#38

Post by j7ake »

oppositelock wrote: post #19

Other commenters may be dismissing this article as obvious, but silicon valley does have a problem, particularly in young, hip startups. These companies want to hire young, hip people, and when products being produced are very vague with no clear market, then things like image matter a lot. Juicero, comes to mind. That's fine, you don't have to work there. However, as you get older, develop wrinkles and grey hair, th…

Sounds like an opportunity for start ups to pick up undervalues talent through some “moneyball “ approach

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#39

Post by thrav »

oppositelock wrote: post #19

Other commenters may be dismissing this article as obvious, but silicon valley does have a problem, particularly in young, hip startups. These companies want to hire young, hip people, and when products being produced are very vague with no clear market, then things like image matter a lot. Juicero, comes to mind. That's fine, you don't have to work there. However, as you get older, develop wrinkles and grey hair, th…

Not only do they only want to hire those types, but I've been in plenty of rooms where the stereotypical young engineer outright refuses to acknowledge the older people in the room, as if they're beneath him/her. They have no respect for that person's opinion, and therefore show zero respect to that person.

We've all been in rooms where someone misses the point, or says something that proves they're not keeping up with the conversation -- it happens. What's unique about people in the bay is how unforgiving and judgmental they can be about those errors, and it's only heightened if the person is above a certain age.

Re: In Silicon Valley, some men say cosmetic procedures are essential to a career

#40

Post by Axsuul »

longerthoughts wrote: post #23
maximente wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

assuming you plan to return does it matter if the trip is 1 day, 10 days, 100 days? you still have two flights.

They were making a joke about the phrasing because it sounds like it was 10 days of travel to reach Italy.

Perfect example of a Dad joke, however.
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