The Workplace Guru Stephen Viscusi on CBS News gives advice on how to keep your job

Recession Resilience: Is Cosmetic Surgery the New Career Strategy?

In a competitive job market rattled by frequent corporate layoffs, job seekers are exploring unconventional methods to gain an edge. According to CBS 2 News, some professionals are turning to cosmetic procedures to appear younger and more competitive to potential employers.

The segment features individuals like Teresa Rampalo, who opted for treatments to reduce facial lines in hopes that a rejuvenated appearance would make finding new employment easier in the event of a layoff. Expert recruiter Stephen Viscusi, author of Bulletproof Your Job, argues that these procedures have shifted from being a luxury to a practical consideration in a tough economic climate. Patients interviewed in the piece report feeling more confident about their professional prospects immediately following procedures.

Age Bias in Hiring — What a Recruiter Sees

Whether or not cosmetic surgery is the right answer for any individual, the underlying issue Viscusi addresses in this segment is real: age bias exists in hiring, and it affects candidates at every level. As a recruiter who has placed professionals for over three decades, Viscusi has watched hiring managers make snap judgments based on a candidate's perceived energy, vitality, and cultural fit — all of which can be influenced, fairly or not, by appearance.

This does not mean that older candidates are at a permanent disadvantage. In many industries, experience and deep relationships are valued above all else. In the contract furniture and interiors space, for example, a seasoned sales professional with two decades of client relationships is often far more valuable to a dealership than a younger candidate who would need years to build the same network. The key, as Viscusi sees it, is presenting yourself in a way that projects confidence and competence regardless of age.

Confidence as a Career Tool

One of the most interesting points in the segment is the connection between appearance and confidence. Whether a candidate chooses cosmetic procedures, invests in a sharp professional wardrobe, or simply commits to better health and fitness, the real benefit is often psychological. Candidates who feel good about how they present themselves tend to interview better, network more effectively, and project the kind of self-assurance that hiring managers respond to instinctively.

Viscusi has long emphasized that the interview process is as much about presence as it is about qualifications. Two candidates with identical resumes can leave entirely different impressions based on how they carry themselves, how they make eye contact, and how comfortably they occupy the room. Anything that helps a candidate show up as their best self — whether it is preparation, practice, or personal investment — is worth considering.

Navigating a Tough Job Market

The broader context of this segment — a recession-era job market with widespread layoffs — is a scenario Viscusi has navigated with clients and candidates multiple times throughout his career. His bestselling book Bulletproof Your Job was written specifically to help professionals protect their careers during economic downturns, and its strategies remain relevant in any uncertain market. From making yourself indispensable at your current company to positioning yourself for a fast transition if a layoff does come, Viscusi's approach is always proactive rather than reactive.

About Stephen Viscusi and The Viscusi Group

Stephen Viscusi is the CEO and founder of The Viscusi Group, a retainer-based executive search firm that specializes in the interior furnishings industry. He started his career at Haworth and has spent over thirty years placing talent across the contract furniture, residential furnishings, and architectural products sectors. Viscusi is also the New York Times bestselling author of On the Job (Random House) and Bulletproof Your Job (HarperCollins), published in 18 languages worldwide.

On television, Viscusi has been a recurring workplace expert on NBC/Universal's Steve Harvey Show, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, and NPR. ABC's Charles Gibson called him "America's Workplace Guru."

Contact us at stephen@viscusigroup.com or call (212) 979-5700.