"I know what wages beauty gives," said the poet William Butler Yeats about a century ago. Modern economics professors know much more precisely. In their published research, Professors Daniel Hamermesh and Jeff Biddle estimate that if you're perceived as beautiful, you probably earn about 5 percent more than your ordinary-looking counterparts.

As beauty is rewarded, so ugliness is penalised. Ugly women earn about 5 percent less than other women, and ugly men earn about 10 percent less than other men. That's right; the market punishes men more than women for being unattractive. Moreover, men's looks haunt them at every stage of their careers: Better-looking men get more job offers, higher starting salaries, and better raises. For women, good looks will get you better raises but usually not better job offers or starting salaries. (A note on Hamermesh and Biddle's methodology: Beauty was assessed by panels of people who judged photographs of the study's subjects.)

Good looks are not necessarily just using the body which you were born with. Have you noticed how a person can improve their appearance markedly just by dressing well. A great haircut, clean fingernails, a smart outfit and hey presto Mr Ordinary has turned extraordinary.

It still amazes me how little importance a person's can place on their appearance. When I am training both corporate workshops and Image consultant training I always will bring out an image of a woman who is firstly in slightly casual attire and the general comments are that she works part time, is on an average wage and possibly has two kids at home. All of this based off a photograph. A few minutes later I bring out a photo of the same woman in a suit and the comments now are that she is upper management, a career girl, on a high income, lives inner city and is running a department or a company. It is the same girl, only her clothes are changed and her hair is brushed.

It is true we do place a value on our image. So why I must ask do people not realise the value of them. We are our greatest asset. Clothing which is suitable to the situation you are in and dressed to a level above where you are will always have you looking a million dollars. I do hope you have actually read what I have said because dressing in a corporate suit is not practical if you are in child care. But that does not mean you should wear a t-shirt which you haven't ironed or trousers which do not fit. The better you look, the better people will perceive you, the better you will feel, the better you will do at work. It is not a vicious cycle but an honest one and once you realise the full potential you can do great things.

At my local Coles there are the standard check out operators who look as if they could do with a good scrub, especially the boys who are enjoying growing their hair but there is also one woman. She stands alone in her appearance. Every time I see her; her hair is immaculately done, she has make-up and she looks happy. I try to go to which ever counter she is on as she makes the checking out process nice.

So what can you do to improve your improve and fatten your pay packet. Ok the looks you were born with don't matter it is how you frame them.
So if you follow these 7 steps you ill be on your way to the top.

1. Get a great haircut which will look clean and fabulous every day. Don't go heavy on the hair gel
2. Have your clothes tailored to fit. Very rarely do I come across anyone who will fabulous off the rack and a cheap outfit can be made to look a million dollars by tweaking the length and fit to your frame.
3. Find clothing which suits your industry and is the best you can afford.
4. Learn how to mix and match the pieces you buy to give you variety without blowing your budget.
5. Learn how to use an iron. Your clothes will always look better when they are pressed properly.
6. Invest in good shoes. You wouldn't believe how many people will notice what is on your feet.
7. When in doubt invest in spending time with an image consultant. Ideally after one visit you should have the tools to last you a life time, make you a million and save you just as much in time and no longer making poor purchases.

It's not that hard. So take the time to look your best. Who knows you could get a pay rise sooner than you think.

For more information on products and services offered by Clare please go to her website www.claremaxfield.com.au.

Cheers

Clare