Well, in the business market it should be taken seriously.
Image counts heavily in an interview setting and daily on the job.
Performance is highly important and is 'sold' on a superior resume prompting a call from a hiring manager for an interview. Step two is image and attitude at the interview. The purpose of the interview is to determine if the candidate 'fits' in with the hiring authority and the department. These are questions the hiring authority will be 'looking' at in the candidate. Also, he had a beard.