Facial attractiveness, sexual selection, and personnel selection: when evolved preferences matter

Abstract Using an evolutionary perspective, we looked at sex differences in the influence of facial attractiveness of applicants in hiring decisions, and determined whether expected contact intensity with applicants and experience in personnel selection moderated this influence. We found effects of evolved preferences regarding mate selection and intrasexual competition when the expected contact intensity was high. People showed a preference for attractive opposite‐sex applicants (mate selection). Furthermore, women preferred female applicants with low attractiveness over female applicants with high attractiveness (intrasexual competition). We found no salient differences between HRM professionals and students. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.