Ploughing through prejudice: Chinese farmer’s job rejection due to being ugly

A rural farmer in China recently faced a peculiar predicament after multiple job rejections, not due to a lack of qualifications but, because he was too ugly and his facial features were deemed too angular. Pursuing better work opportunities, the farmer, named Truong, relocated to Chongqing, attracted by numerous job openings in local electronics factories known for their decent salaries and benefits.

“I am a farmer from the countryside, seeking work to improve my life, so I had to travel to a different area for more opportunities.”

Despite applying to over ten factories within ten days, he was consistently refused employment. One Human Resource manager politely rejected him because his “physical appearance is not good, we cannot accept you for work.”

Truong was deeply upset by this.

“Working in an electronics factory requires good health and the ability to commit time. But what does it have to do with my face? I genuinely do not understand. Is the factory hiring regular workers or models?”

Despite his disappointment, he remains resilient, continuing his job hunt undeterred. He is unable to return to his home village just yet and hopes for employment opportunities to come his way. He stressed that his angular face is not a crime and should not be an obstacle in his job search, reported Sanook.

After sharing his story on social media, it quickly gained traction, with many netizens expressing their views on the matter.

“Your face is indeed quite angular, but as a worker applying for a factory job, not a makeup artist, does the factory need to be so strict?”

“I really don’t understand, he looks healthy, tall, and can work very well, but the HR personnel refuse to accept him.”

Some suggested that the job rejection might be due to Feng Shui, a factor that some businesses take into consideration when hiring. However, others argued that rejecting candidates based purely on physical appearance was psychologically damaging.

Some speculated that too angular might be a cover-up for other undisclosed issues. They advised Truong to reassess his interview responses and skills, suggesting there might be issues or flaws that the employers were unable to accept.