University graduates now seek jobs at temples

University graduates in China now seek jobs at temples
CHINA-GRADUATES (INTERNATIONAL)
Created on : 01/08/2007 18:23 (PRI)
Beijing, Jan 8 (PTI) With jobs hard to get in the highly competitive Chinese market, graduates are now stalking the corridors of holy temples.

Famen Temple, one of the four most famous Buddhist Temples in ancient China, has employed four graduate students and five with bachelors degrees.

They were selected at a job market at Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University on Sunday in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province in northwest China.

It also hired 18 graduates from two other universities.

It is the first time the temple has gone to a job market to employ university graduates, said Xiankong, an eminent monk from the temple.

"Our exchanges with the outside world are increasing each year, so we need professional talents in fields such as publicity, reception and management", Xiankong was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

The temple planned to employ two doctors, three masters, 14 bachelors and two technical school graduates who have majored in foreign languages, art, economic management, gardening, information management and Chinese literature.

Nearly 60 students applied for the positions.

The recruitment was a success even if no doctors were hired, the monk said.

The employees need to sign a one-year contract and live in the temple. Unlike the Buddhist monks there, they are free to do what they want in the evening.

The salary for a graduate with a bachelor's degree is 700 to 1,200 yuan (90 to 155 USD) per month, which is the going rate in the province.