Ten of thousands of Chinese college graduates applied for some 1600 vacancies at the accounting firm Ernst& Young last fall, according to a Feb 8 report.

Ernst & Young partner Michael Wong said that after 5 years as an auditor, a graduate has great chance to become a manager, and three years later, senior manager, so that 11 years after graduation there is a chance to become a partner.

As to the frequent overtime work that accounting firms such as Ernst & Young demands, Wong said, "Extra work is an usual practice for accounting firms to meet the demands of customers, but we do our best to relieve our employees, for example to hire more people during busy periods and using flexible work hours."