In a bid to impress potential employers, some college students in Qingdao, Shandong province, are spending loads of money on flashy Western suits and expensive leather shoes.

Zhang, a senior, got 1,000 yuan (about $140) from his parents to buy new clothes. After buying a Western suit and shirt, however, he could not afford to buy leather shoes and a tie clip, so he had to posted a letter on the Internet asking people to rent their leather shoes and tie clips to him.

Upon hearing about Zhang`s story, a human resources official in charge of personnel at the bank where Zhang was applying to work said companies would consider applicants according to their ability, rather than appearance.