A woman who lost her job because of the financial crisis has found a new one by putting "herself up for sale" on an online auction site.

The 23-year-old woman got a job for a monthly pay of 3,000 yuan (US$436). She used the false name of tony615_2007 to "post herself" on Taobao.com's website on November 18, she told China Daily during an online chat on Sunday.

A dozen of companies contacted her and one of them is expected to sign a contract with her on Monday, she said.

"The idea occurred to me after I couldn't find a job for two months," she said, refusing to give her real name or the name of the company because she did not want media attention. But she said: "As far as I know, several other people are trying for jobs in the same way."

Cai Yuli, Taobao.com public relations manager, told China Daily on Friday that a Shanghai-based advertisement firm "bought" tony615_2007, offering her a strategy research assistant's post.

In the statement posted on Taobao.com, tony615_2007 said she majored in business administration last year with excellent marks. She scored 710 in GMAT and won the first prize in a national English contest for university students.

"I lost my job in this economic recession and have to find another Labor is also a product and I'm selling it here," she said in her posting, describing herself as a "tough person".

"It's a very creative way of looking for a job," said Gu Xiaoming, a professor in Fudan University. "Sometimes, people don't know the right way to find a job. We don't always have to depend on job fairs and agencies to get a job."

(China Daily December 8, 2008)