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Students splash cash on looks for jobs
(eastday.com)
Updated: 2004-10-20 08:25 Competition among university students for jobs has
led many to spend lavish amounts of money on their physical appearance.
Two girl college
graduates ask for employment information at a employment fair.
[newsphoto] | Students, especially women, say they need a competitive edge and want
to look better to impress prospective employers.
More than 2,000 students lined up yesterday outside Shanghai Qunlin Photography
Workshop, one of the most popular photo studios nicknamed "magic studio" by
students, to make reservations for a session.
Students will be charged 50 yuan (US$6) for a set of job-seeking photos with
makeup, double the common price. Employees say they can not take any photos of
the students until the end of November.
Others are spending money on expensive suits, going to beauty salons or even
having plastic surgery - just to enhance their competitiveness in the job
market.
Zhu Lin, a senior at East China University of Politics and Law, spent about
1,000 yuan to have her hair treated and dyed this week to prepare for an
upcoming campus recruitment fair by multinational firms.
To appear more beautiful and professional, Zhu, who has no income, also
purchased a line of skin-care products as well as several suits this semester.
She has spent a total of 3,000 yuan, her scholarship savings.
"I already have a deficit and almost have to starve starting next month," Zhu
said.
Zhu said a couple of her classmates even had plastic surgeries to make their
eyes bigger in preparation for future interviews.
"Everyone wants to look great. That will help raise confidence for
interviews," Zhu said.
She is not alone. A recent survey of 3,475 fresh university graduates
indicates that more than 30 percent of students surveyed believe cosmetic
surgery will improve their employment prospects.
However, investing large amounts of money on appearance is not wise, said Jim
Yang, general manager at ChinaHR, the survey's conductor.
"For most positions, appearance plays only a tiny role in recruitment and
getting hired," Yang said. "It is more important for students to compete with
their internal qualities, skills and intelligence."
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