A Stanford University graduate sparked heated discussions online recently, after taking an administrative position at a county-level government in Anhui province.

In late June, the public service bureau of Suzhou in Anhui announced the second group of candidates shortlisted for this year's civil service positions.

Su Zhen, a PhD graduate from Stanford University in the United States, was among those listed to be appointed to a grassroots position in Lingbi county, administrated by Suzhou.

The recruitment information showed that the position Su applied for had only two openings.

Candidates are ranked by their overall scores and will be assigned to roles involving public service, rural cultural development and comprehensive management at grassroots.

The position specifically targets residents and requires a five-year commitment to remain in the designated township.

Su achieved the highest score in the written test, interview and overall performance among six candidates for the position, according to exam results released earlier.

Moreover, he was the only PhD candidate among the 434 people listed in the two groups of civil service recruitment announcements from the bureau this year.

Su obtained an undergraduate degree from the School of Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China, and pursued further education at Stanford University, ThePaper.cn reported.

The bureau later stated that the recruitment process for the position did not offer preferential treatment for overseas graduates or exemptions from written tests. All candidates were evaluated equally, it said.

The stark contrast between a top university graduate and grassroots civil service garnered public attention, with many saying that a growing number of Chinese overseas graduates are choosing to pursue positions in their hometowns or smaller counties rather than competing in major cities.

Chen Zhiwen, a member of the Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy, said the trend of top university graduates returning to smaller towns is becoming more common.

"The phenomenon of prestigious university graduates shifting their career focus to less prominent areas is evident," Chen said.

"There might be a misconception that graduates from renowned universities should only have high-profile roles or achieve grand accomplishments," he said.

"The values and choices of this generation are more diversified. While some continue to strive for high ambitions, others opt for stable lives without being passive," he said.

Meanwhile, the current number of high-profile roles is indeed limited, he added.