Looksmaxxing Will Get You Into IB Faster Than Your 400-Question Guide

Looks matter. A lot.

Any objective person knows this:

  • Better-looking people get hired easier
  • They’re perceived as more competent (yes, even if they aren’t)
  • Clients like them more
  • They literally earn more over time

    So if you’re optimizing:

  • your CV
  • your networking
  • your technical prep

…but ignoring how you present yourself visually?

You have:

  • Guy A: knows every single LBO nuance, but looks like he hasn’t seen daylight since 2019
  • Guy B:  9/10 swede  195cm, says he plays paddle in his free time

Who gets the offer?

Exactly.

What to do ?

  • You save your bonus
  • Instead of buying another watch or blowing it in Mykonos
  • Get Nose job, chin implants if, double jaw surgery if you have to.

Hair, skin, teeth, posture, clothes.

Also explains why certain SSE; CBS, place into London at all.

Final RULE::::

We do not talk about Looksmaxxing Club.

If anyone ever asks:

  • “Do you have a skincare routine?” → No bro just water
  • “What do you use for your hair?” → Nivea Sport
  • “Gym?” → Just play some sport casually

Deny everything. Always. Deny deny deny

If you disagree, your iq is room temp.

27 Comments
 

Based on the most helpful WSO content, the topic of "looksmaxing" and its impact on breaking into investment banking (IB) has sparked significant debate. Here's the distilled insight:

  1. Does Looksmaxing Help?

    • While technical skills, work ethic, and networking are the primary drivers of success in IB, presenting yourself well can have a marginal impact. Looking polished, fit, and confident can enhance first impressions, boost your confidence, and subtly influence how you're perceived by colleagues and clients.
    • However, the consensus is clear: your work product and skills matter far more than physical appearance. Spending excessive time or resources on "looksmaxing" is unlikely to yield a significant return compared to improving technical skills or networking.
  2. Practical Tips for Presentation:

    • Focus on basics: well-fitted clothing, proper grooming, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
    • Confidence and energy are key. Feeling good physically can translate into better performance and interactions.
    • Avoid extremes like unnecessary surgeries or obsessing over appearance. Instead, prioritize professional development.
  3. The Reality Check:

    • If you're at a firm where superficial traits like a six-pack or jawline are prioritized over competence, it might not be the right environment for long-term growth.
    • Looksmaxing should never overshadow the importance of excelling in your role, building relationships, and delivering results.

In summary, while looking your best can complement your efforts, it's not a substitute for the core skills and attributes required to succeed in IB. Balance is key—focus on what truly matters while maintaining a professional and polished appearance.

Sources: Does ‘Looksmaxing’ substantively increase your odds of converting an internship?, Q&A: Corporate Strategy Manager at F100 Entertainment Company (came from Non-MBB Management Consulting), IB SA No Offer -> Major Entertainment Strategy + Perspectives on Recovering from Failure, I got an offer, heres how you can too! (MM NYC)

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

+1 to this. Also knowing how to carry yourself in a professional and social setting. I definitely have imposter syndrome on my current project at work but I get along well with leadership and my shortcomings are rarely called out vs. what I've seen with other coworkers that have a habit of ignoring some social cues that makes them come off as aloof.

 

The "halo effect" as a psychological phenomenon is surely real, and there's some level of merit to investing in one's own appearance to "dress to impress" and look better for interviews.

By the same token, it's simultaneously amusing and concerning to see our youth appropriating the terminology of some meth-addled, alligator-shooting, publicity hog.

 

This is true, as someone on the benefiting end of it I’ve experienced it. My boss’ boss pulled strings to promote me fast and he always made positive comments about my appearance. Every happy hour he’d grab me to go around and talk to girls lol


The irony is tho all you queers going to the gym all the time, wearing tight clothing, having a greasy ass face from all the skincare products look worse because you’re visibly trying to attain something outside of your nature.


I’ve never done any of those things, you either got it or u don’t. Focus on other stuff 

 

I think it's hilarious that the clowns who follow this stuff will order untested peptides from a random factory in China/India and inject themselves in the ass because they believe it makes them look hotter. Genuinely as delusional than the plastic surgery addicts out in LA/MIA. 

Just being fit is 90% of the way to not being ugly. 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

The way the mods work on the off section doesn't really make much sense.

There was an exodus of people from the site whenever there was a change to the mods...you can find it pretty quickly if you look it up

 

moneymaker03

The way the mods work on the off section doesn't really make much sense.

(Because the mods are AI bots looking for keywords) 

Commercial Real Estate Developer
 

Yep looks definitely matter and have a subconscious effect on how you're going to do in interviews. The simplest "looksmaxx" is just having well-fitting, tailored clothes. Makes a huge difference. 

 

I don’t have a horse in this since I’m not a guy, but I think you’re confusing favourable response to the confidence that comes from being a naturally good looking guy all your life, and “just” being a good looking guy.

If you have to get extreme plastic surgery for a career that is not about looks, then your self-esteem is pretty low. If you have some major jaw deformity and harelip or something, go correct it, but smashing your jaw over insecurities is crazy.

I’m really surprised by this trend taking off because men usually get a free pass on looks. Just don’t look like you crawled in off the street and confidence takes alot of men very far. And people accept that confidence without question. 

 

Men do not get a free pass on looks anymore, unless you are jeff bezos, I dont think that wanting to improve your looks has anything to do with low self esteem. Women have been looksmaxxing since the dawn of time, obviously they didnt call it that. Banking is obviously not about looks, but ceteris paribus, looking better only has advantages.

 

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"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion

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