Job-seekers ready to go under the scalpel

When it comes to seeking the dream job, personality and good looks for some take an edge over intelligence and self-confidence, for which they are even ready to go under the scalpel.

The 'look good' factor is not confined to women only.

Nearly 30-40 per cent of them are men, say cosmetic surgery experts.

"There is an increase in number of people going for laser treatments, for skin, hair and body care. An area where men go in for surgical procedures is hair transplant," says beauty expert Shahnaz Hussain.

Aspiring airhostesses get a facelift

"Good looks help people to a certain extent in getting a good job and more youngsters are going for cosmetic procedures than ever before" says Dr Manoj Khanna of Cosmetic Surgery Clinic, Kolkata.

According to Khanna, the trend is seen more in professionals like models, executives, airline workers, and in persons seeking secretarial jobs.

Some of the most popular procedures are liposuction, breast enlargement, tummy-tucks and nose job. The costs for such surgical procedures come somewhere between Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on which particular limb the operation is carried out, says Shahnaz, noting "The segment we are talking about is very small, as cost is a major prohibitive factor."

"I think looks really matter when applying for a job," says a final year student of Delhi University who is going for a nose job. "This will make me look sharp," says the student, who aspires to be a public relations professional.

"To look good is a natural urge, and cosmetic surgery only helps in fulfilling this urge. We find many college students going for various surgeries," says Dr Vasundhara Oberoi, Cosmetic surgeon at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

"It is not just fresh graduates who are going for the procedures. Those who have just picked up a job or those who want to move up in their professional fields and feel their looks are hampering their progress are going for various procedures," she says.

Cosmetic way to confidence

However, its the all-round personality development that influences the end result in the entire process of job-seeking and attending interviews, believes Shahnaz.

"Improving the appearance boosts self-confidence and this is a necessary factor in the competitive career world of today. But, I think it is all-round personality development that matters for those seeking jobs and attending interviews," she says.

Moreover, the cost of such surgeries is quite high for those falling in the middle-income group even though it is less as compared to the western standards, according to Dr Khanna.

But those youngesters who go for it, try to take their parents into confidence.

"Most youngsters insist and convince their parents for it, although some guardians, especially of those who are in modelling or the glamour world, are directly involved in decision-making," says Dr Khanna. — PTI