From the employer's perspective, it is important to hire people who are not only competent but will also remain loyal to the company. And, of course, they must have the right attitude. 

So aside from looking at the applicants' curriculum vitae and having a glimpse of their interpersonal skills from an interview, how else can an employer use fung shui principles to assess their personality?

In traditional Chinese companies, the interviewer asks job applicants about the date and time of their birth. This data is analysed by fung shui professionals who then tell the human resources department whether a shortlisted candidate is likely to be an asset to the company.

Of course, this is a rather sensitive issue as some individuals may prefer not to reveal such personal information to potential employers.

Another aspect of Chinese metaphysics that may be beneficial to employers is face reading, which takes into account the applicant's appearance, and focuses on his eyes, mouth, and nose.

Face reading, or mian xiang, is the Chinese art of physiognomy, that analyses the shape, features, contours and hues of the face to reveal a person's personality, potential and destiny in life.

People trained in this field can judge personal characteristics from photos or an interview. This has a long history in China and is not simply a new trend. The principles of face reading apply to all individuals, regardless of their gender or race. 

E-mail your career-related fung shui queries to Jin Peh, the Classified Post fung shui master, at editor@classifiedpost.com