

Alibaba has withdrawn an advertisement seeking female candidates to take on the role of “programmer encouragement specialist”, the demanding job requirements of which include looking like porn star Sora Aoi, good complimenting skills and, somewhat inexplicably, the ability to tolerate spicy foods.

The ad was pulled down after criticism came pouring in on social media, and Alibaba has since offered a half-hearted apology, calling the post ‘an attempt at humorous marketing’, according to Bloomberg. The company is still posting ads for an encouragement specialist, but has deleted references to porn stars.

Here’s a translation of the original ad (screenshot here) from Quartz:

Alibaba opening: Programmer Encouragement Specialist

You didn’t read that wrong. This isn’t a job for a programmer. It’s for a Programmer! Encouragement! Specialist!

What the job is: Effectively encourage teams of developers, bring them closer together, inspire excellent and lasting work.

Basic requirements: Recognizably good looks. You don’t seek to be a peerless talent, but strive to adequately inspire programmers.

Location: Hangzhou city, the one and only origin of Alibaba.

First off we are very social and talkative. Job requirements:

1. Your appearance is adequately stunning to programmers. Even a quick glance at you should excite and inspire them greatly. You might be an open-minded lolita like Sora Aoi, who can face the greatest of challenges. Or you’re like Song Hye-kyo. From a wealthy family and with a Korean demeanor, possessing female beauty that exceeds nature itself; even without makeup countless programmers chase after you. You could also have a foreign demeanor, with bold style, a dignified way of speaking, encouraging the team the way a martial arts master does her students.

2. You must understand how to compliment and encourage programmers, and you can recognize the difference between praise and flattery. You can put engineers and programmers at ease, developing a spirited relationship with these co-workers and removing barriers between them. This relationship will develop like the inseparable bond of soldiers on a battlefield, together able to overcome the greatest challenges.

3.You must wake up programmers early for morning meetings, communicate to them their daily responsibilities, and verify and encourage completion of their duties.

4. You are able to identify the hidden potential in every programmer and engineer. With excellent listening and communication skills, you can turn them into soft-hearted men and women. You are warm to the complicated and difficult work they do, encouraging excellent and lasting work.

5. You are open to new things. You can tolerate highly garlicky and spicy foods that may contain strong flavors such as MSG and soy sauce.

6. You are capable of going anywhere in the world—whether to the United States, Canada, France, Japan, Hong Kong, Brazil, or the Philippines—to praise and encourage local programmers.