It's the time of the year again when legions of students soon to graduate are hunting for their first jobs in life. And the Chancellor of NTU, Li Si-chen, recently offered some timely advice on the issue for the class of 2011. However, it didn't take long for the well-meaning chancellor to come under fire on the Internet for his remarks.

A graduate of the National Taiwan University, the most prestigious school on the island, is supposed to be a hot commodity in the job market.

But over the years, there is also talk circulating among local businesses that many NTU graduates are less-than-ideal employees, with undesirable qualities such as arrogance, self-centeredness and reluctance to take new challenges.

So during the graduation season this year, Chancellor of the NTU Li Si-chen issued an open letter to the class of 2011, offering some advice on workplace behavior and attitude, which include:

First, don't be too picky about salary.

Second, don't be over-insistent on getting off work on time.

Third, don't find excuses to avoid tasks you consider too easy or too hard.

And despite the chancellor's apparent best intentions, some students find his advice hard to swallow.

"Would a starting salary of NT22,000 good enough for you?"

"Probably not." "Why?"

"If I work part-time in a factory in Taichung, I can make 30,000 a month."

"I can make 22,000 simply by tutoring younger students."

And some NTU students even felt irritated by Li's letter, criticizing the chancellor for favoring the employers and trying to "enslave" the workers.

But an NTU professor sees nothing wrong about the chancellor's remarks, saying that the most important thing for the graduates is a constant willingness to learn.

"Basically, I think it's more important to have a learning attitude.

With that, you won't turn down any challenge."

And that may be something that all job seekers, NTU graduates or not, should keep in mind.