Sun Xiaogang was one of 35 postgraduates hired by Guangdong Tiandi Food Group which has outlets throughout markets in the southern city of Guangzhou.

The postgraduate student majoring in Chinese literature at Guangzhou's Sun Yat-sen University, will graduate from college in the summer of next year, according to Saturday's China Daily.

A manager at the company surnamed Lin said the company's one requirement is that all applicants are postgraduates, regardless of their majoring.

To win the post, Sun sold pork in the market for three days.

The 35 successful applicants signed agreement with the company meaning that they can formally start working as soon as they complete their studies.

After they start work, they still need to sell pork in markets for at least two months, Lin said.

"This is training for all of our new employees," she said.

And then, they will be appointed to managerial posts, earning between 80,000 yuan (about US$12,000) and 100,000 yuan a year.

Sun said he did not mind having to work in the market as a pork seller, given the current poor state of the job market. In addition, the firm has offered him a great opportunity, he said.

Li Xiaolu, director of Guangdong education department, encouraged students not to set their sights too high, adding that working in less-developed areas or setting up their own business were two options open to them.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2008)