As annual recruitment of civil servants starts this month, positions in government departments became popular for both fresh university graduates and working professionals.

The Shanghai Personnel Bureau announced Wednesday that the city planned to hire about 2,000 civil servants to work in government departments this year - about the same as last year.

People under the age of 35 that hold a university degree or above - including fresh university graduates, working professionals and returned overseas Chinese - qualify for the civil servant application.

Applicants have to pass a general test of analysis and communication ability, a professional knowledge exam, as well as interviews and health checks before being employed, the bureau said.

"We will continue to adopt a strict selection process to ensure that people admitted are elites devoted to serving the government and the public," said Zhuang Wei, director of the bureau's civil servant division.

Detailed position information will be published on the bureau's Website (www.21cnhr.gov.cn) from Saturday. Applications will be available from November 13 to 20.

In recent years, civil servant positions have become increasingly popular, especially with fresh university graduates.

"Compared with business companies, working in a government department could earn me a steady income, favorable welfare benefits and high social status as well," said Zhu Lin, a graduate at East China University of Politics and Law.

"That's almost the best choice for us university graduates who struggle to find a good position in a fierce job market," she added.

According to a recent survey by Zhaopin.com, one of the country's leading Web-based headhunters, more than 31 percent of working professionals said that they would be willing to take up a civil servant position if opportunities developed.

Shanghai saw more than 25,000 people apply for the 2,000 civil servant jobs last year, meaning 13 people competed for one single position. The bureau predicted that competition will increase this year.

(Shanghai Daily November 4, 2004)