Coming across the Phnom Penh Post for the first time in Olin library of Cornell University

in Feb. 1993, I was very thankful of this newspaper's existence. It is the first

successful attempt to clearly inform readers of the political, economic and socio-cultural

events in Cambodia.

One of the many facets of life in Cambodia that I was shocked by was presented in

the classified section of your newspaper. I was shocked at the number of organizations

(2 or 3) recruiting personnel. As one of the many Cambodians living the U.S. who

are trying very hard to find employment in Cambodia, I have sent resumes and enquiries

to 67 organizations (NGOs and consulting firms) working in Cambodia, all of which

responded "We appreciate your enquiries, but we have no openings at this time."

I was under the impression that the employment market in Cambodia was saturated,

but was hurtfully surprised to learn that some of the organizations I had applied

to posted openings in the classified section of your newspaper.

Hiring policies of private firms are too complex to attempt to understand, but I

would like to know hiring policies of the U.N. and other NGOs in Cambodia. What are

they looking for? Are qualifications such as: Khmer-English proficiency, a Bachelor's

and an Master's not sufficient? If not, are unquantifiable factors such motivations

to reconstruct one's birthplace, ancestral graves, family, heart, and home in Cambodia

of any relevance at all?

- Navi Te, Ithaca, New York