Appearance experts - including representatives from a plastic surgery hospital - gave Shanghai college students lectures yesterday on how to prepare for a job interview.  

But rather than recommending a few hours under the knife, some of the experts told participants they need to find ways to let their inner beauty shine.

The job market is exceedingly tight for new graduates, and many are looking for an edge that will help them stand out in an interview. For some, cosmetic surgery is seen as the fastest route to a better appearance.

"June, July and August are the peak periods for senior students seeking plastic surgeries for better images in advance of their interviews," Peng Bo, president of Shanghai Time Plastic Surgery Hospital, said during the session at Shanghai Shanda University.

The hospital performed about 300 surgeries on students during those three months last year, a 30 to 40 percent increase over the year before.

About 85 percent of the patients were young women, and most wanted double eyelids, nose reconstruction or skin treatment.

He said most students are reasonable about their expectations, but some place too much emphasis on appearance alone.

"About 1 to 2 percent of the students asking for surgery have mental problems and consider cosmetic procedures a last straw to ensure a bright future. We always provide psychological direction for those patients," Peng said.

Other experts on image design pointed out in the session that recruiters don't consider appearance to be the deciding factor.

"Academic performance, inner qualities and communication skills are more important," said Xu Jiahua of the Shanghai Theater Academy. "Students can upgrade their images through proper dress and makeup. A clean and proper appearance is more impressive than just a pretty face."

(eastday.com May 26, 2005)