A serious face is often deemed professional-even the dictionary associates unsmiling with being businesslike. It's why hopeful new hires may tap into their inner Victoria Beckham or Kanye West-who famously scowl or pout-when they want to look like they mean business. But actually having a poker or somber face in a job interview may be a less successful strategy to landing a role than flashing potential bosses a big, cheesy grin. That's because, according to new research, a smile exudes confidence and consequently, makes you more hirable.
If you've ever spent time fine-tuning your dating app bio only to get fewer matches than you'd hoped, you're not alone. A new study suggests that your bio may matter less than you think, and that your photos do most of the heavy lifting. But before you close your apps in despair, take a breath: Those findings tell us something important about the first impression stage of dating, not the whole journey. And there are encouraging lessons there for anyone navigating today's digital dating world.