Shanghai will hold a month-long election to pick Shanghai's top 10 "career doctors" from consultants, HR professionals and others who are able to solve headaches and problems that plague locals in their career development.

The citywide election, which will run till November 11, will also include a vote for the 10 most common career development problems and 10 best recipes for a happy work life, according to the Shanghai Employment Promotion Center, which is organizing the event.

"We have noticed that many people in modern society, no matter if they are employed or not, suffer from less than healthy conditions in their career development," said Sheng Zuhuan, the center's office director.

"That will hamper one's life and work balance." For instance, jobless people often struggle to find a suitable job with a good salary, while the working class are plagued with social, physical and psychological pressure from low pay, overtime work, complicated interpersonal relationships as well as career burnout.

That can lead to physical reactions including insomnia, anxiety, bad temper and even suicide.

"One of the biggest task for the public voting this time is to remind people of career problems and provide a platform for swapping ideas," Sheng said.

Candidates can apply to run for the "career doctor" title, but the vote is only open to professional career consultants, human resources agents and labor law experts with at least three years of work experience.

An essay outlining three successful cases of career counseling conducted by the applicants should be attached to their applications, which can be submitted to the Websites.

(Shanghai Daily October 31, 2005)