Need to look beyond the looks

Discrimination against candidates who do not "look good enough" for jobs is forcing an increasing number of graduates to undergo plastic surgery, which is a disturbing development, says an article on gmw.cn. Excerpts:

Media reports say a graduate from Wuhan University in Hubei province decided to go under the knife, which cost him more than 10,000 yuan ($1,606), because he thought finding a job would be easier if he "looked better".

Figures from the Union Hospital show that 30 percent of the people who underwent plastic surgery were college students, which is certainly not a good development. It is not a crime to try and look good, but it is certainly worrying to see so many college students go under the knife just to find a job. To some extent, the phenomenon reflects employers' bias toward interviewees who "look good". But the skill, talent or potential of an employee doesn't depend on his/her looks.

A survey conducted by human resources consultant SHL shows that 48 percent employers in China review jobseekers' photographs compared with the global average of 26 percent. Candidates' looks do matter for some specific positions, but they make no difference for most posts.

Although human resources managers deny judging candidates on the basis of their looks, they do admit that "good-looking" jobseekers have a better chance to be interviewed and thus get a job.

The preference of employers to choose "good-looking" candidates is not only forcing some college students to spend huge amounts to go under the knife, but also exposing them to health hazards that come with plastic surgery. Besides, by preferring "good-looking" candidates for jobs, employers might be neglecting outstanding individuals.

Therefore, employers and employees both should rethink the importance they attach to "good looks".

(China Daily 11/29/2012 page9)