Job ad written in odd style raises doubts about sincerity

BEIJING - Written in a casual style often associated with online shopping, a job advertisement elicited an enthusiastic response from Internet users and the public after it had appeared on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' micro blog.

Posted on the leading Chinese micro blog website Sina Weibo, the notice read, "Dear, do you have a university degree? Can you master office computer software? Do you have a driver's license? The ministry is planning to establish a new international organization that will work to promote cooperation among China, Japan and South Korea, and it has created six positions for someone like you. If you want to work in Seoul, the hometown of many famous stars, please get in touch with us."

The ad was written in imitation of Taobao style, named after the most prominent online shopping website in China. Those who employ the style often begin their messages by addressing the reader as "dear".