Does it really take 4 seconds for a person to get hired by an employer?

You would be correct. It is common in Asia that you have to place your photo onto your resume before they even bother to take a look at it when you apply for a job. People view your face first before they look at anything else. I have come to the conclusion that the person who is doing the interview is looking for a certain 'type' and has this in his head before you even arrive.