Job Position in China Lure Almost 10,000 Applicants

A job opening in China has lured close to 10,000 candidates. It’s not an important position with a famous tech company like Tencent or Alibaba. Instead, the throngs of applicants are actually enthusiastic to become an office worker for a feeble political party.

The deadline to register for China’s civil service exams was Monday. According to state media, it brought in more than 1 million applications. The entrants have to choose the jobs they’re interested in when they enlist for the annual exams.

Central government positions in China are popular because of their substantial benefits and steady income. More importantly, they can lead to admission to the Chinese Communist Party, which brings additional status. These positions are often described as the “golden rice bowl”.

However, the most coveted job among this year’s hopefuls is more unheard of. A record-breaking 9,504 people had shown interest in the position of head of the reception office of the China Democratic League in Beijing by late Monday.

Phony political parties

Aside from the ruling Communist Party, the league is one of the eight official political organizations in China. Detractors say they are bogus parties that exist only so Chinese leaders can argue the country isn’t a one-party state.

According to state media, the hoards of candidates who aspire to work for the China Democratic League likely aren’t too eager about the job’s responsibilities. Those duties involve arranging meetings, preparing for events, and working in the party’s reception service. The interest probably comes from the job’s comparatively eased requirements for a civil service position in a major city. According to the official recruitment site, applicants only need a bachelor’s degree and two years of work experience.

Chinese Academy of Governance professor Zhu Lijia told the state-run newspaper China Daily that people tend to go with the principle of economics when they make choices. They want their advantages maximized. “It is natural for them to choose jobs with better benefits, more opportunities for development and good locations.”

Even in India, civil service positions that appear to be mundane are also highly in demand. In fact, 2.3 million people in one state applied for 368 positions as night guards or tea servers last year.

 

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