Businessmen (N = 160) rated causal attributionsfor the importance ofjob skills, dress, and luck in acquisition of a middle management position in marketing, a traditionally male-linked occupation. Independent variables were the attire, resume, model, and success in job acquisition for female applicants. Overall, businessmen's ratings for the importance of dress were lower than ratings for job skills but higher than ratings for the importance of luck. Applicants' attire, which was at least minimally appropriate, did not affect the ratings for the importance ofjob skills. Luck was important when success in job acquisition was not logically matched with the applicant's level of resume or attire.
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