A rather bumptious pupil at the school I went to submitted an application to a prestigious Oxford College. They rejected him, without explanation. He complained, alleging Collegiate bias against students from grammar schools as opposed to public (i.e. "posh") schools, or those from the North of England. The college replied that he had applied to take a course in "Polotics" (sic). They did not offer such a course.

I have found employers who went for stereotyped backgrounds and attitudes as opposed to appearance. One high street bank seemed to promote the smug, loud-talking types with 2.4 children or whatever while holding back the careers of those divorced or single. Likewise, those who could sprinkle their CVs with only with references to three-letter acronyms relating to the most arcane aspects of finance software were at an advantage compared to those who could demonstrate a breadth and depth of experience and initiative.