"Job positions in some novelty businesses have become popular among local young job-seekers in the city's labor market this summer," said Zhang Dezhi, director of the Shanghai Job Replacement Center.

In july, Aquaria 21 Shanghai at Changfeng Park posted a recruitment notice on the center's Website (www.12333.gov.cn), asking for four dolphin trainers.

Nearly 50 locals, aged between 19 and 25, applied for the position within several days.

"Owning to a large supply of applicants, we finally decided to employ two more dolphin trainers," said Ding Hongshun, the aquarium's human resources manager.

Recently, a golf course in Pudong began recruiting 16 golf teachers under the age of 60 to showcase the sport in major Chinese cities.

Over 200 youngsters handed in online applications for the job within five days, the job center revealed.

"Since young people are always pioneers for fashion and new things, such novelty jobs can not only help them make a living, but satisfy their personal interest as well," Zhang explained.

The low academic requirements as well as high salary also helped attract local youngsters.

While the average salary for a vocational graduate is some 1,500 yuan (US$180.72) a month, the golf job pays 8,000 yuan for full-time work plus between 200 and 400 yuan per hour for some part-time work. That is really irresistible, said Wang Fei, a local vocational school graduate who applied for the position.

"So long as the job can satisfy my personal interests and the salary is rewarding enough, there's no reason that I won't choose it," said Wang, adding that her parents are also quite supportive of her choice.

For a long time, young people tended to find a job with a high social status and steady income.

Job positions like office workers or civil servants in government departments were extremely hot among job-seekers while short-term jobs or positions in small companies, even if they came with high salaries, were sneered at by locals owing to their poor welfare policies, according to Zhang.

(eastday.com September 30, 2003)