Due to increasing employment pressures, China's university
graduates are now taking a more practical and rational approach to
finding that all-important first job. General services, urban
administrative management and funeral industry positions, which
most first-time job hunters used to shun, are growing in popularity
because of competitive salaries, welfare benefits and promotion
prospects, according to a Xinhua News Agency report on October
10.
Xiao Cao, a graduate of Shanghai Normal University who majored
in biological sciences, went through a series of unsuccessful job
interviews before finally deciding on becoming an "Ayi" at the
university. "Ayi" is the Chinese term for a person, usually a
woman, who is contracted to clean. Xiao Cao's daily work includes
cleaning the dormitories, going on security patrol, student
registration, and managing equipment maintenance. She is also in
charge of organizing university publicity and social
activities.
"I was hired because of my university experience. I used to be
on the committee of the Communist Youth League and also served as
assistant to the dormitory manager," Xiao Cao said, adding,
"Dormitory management is my favorite aspect of the job and I am
happy working with students."
Like Xiao Cao, four other graduates, with majors in
administrative management, biology and chemistry, were employed by
the General Service Group at Tongji University earlier this year.
The group apparently has an established career development system
in place. For example, the system provides free training for staff
in management and skills development. Moreover, the promotion
opportunities offered by the group are no different from those in
large state-owned or private enterprises.
The funeral industry, a sector previously ignored by graduates,
is becoming increasingly popular not least because of its
competitive salaries and generous welfare benefits. "The monthly
salary for a university graduate is between 5,000 and 8,000 yuan
(US$633-1,012)," according to a Beijing funeral parlor
employee.
Jiao Jin, who recently returned from Germany, now works in a
funeral parlor in east Beijing suburb. According to Jiao, this is
her first job. "I hoped to find a job in a foreign-funded or
privately run Chinese company. I tried my best; surfing the
Internet, sending résumés and going to job centers frequently. But
it is not easy finding the ideal job. Still I hate to have to rely
on my parents, so after weighing the pros and cons, I finally
decided on this job in the funeral parlor."
According to Xinhua, Beijing's funeral industry has plans to
employ five or six university graduates this year. Since publishing
recruitment information on the Internet, the industry has received
more than 500 résumés from students from Peking University,
Tsinghua University, Nankai University and Renmin University of
China, a quarter of the applications from postgraduates.
In Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, a funeral service center
organized an event earlier this year, which attracted 178
university graduates who were vying for just 23 positions.
"Interest was so low in the 1970s and 80s that we had to go to
remote rural areas to recruit workers," according to a director of
the center. "We didn't have any university graduates until 1999.
But now, one vacancy attracts more than 20 applications. This is
why we introduced an entrance test this year. The test comprises an
oral and written exam."
Sociologists explain that university students have become more
practical and rational in their job search. Key considerations for
them are income, welfare, promotion and career development
opportunities.
Yu Hai, a professor in social development and public policy from
Fudan University, said that it is not at all surprising that
university graduates are now more open to the so-called grassroots
jobs. It reflects the severe employment challenges facing China as
well as a change in mindset that "university graduates equal
elites".
Gu Jun, a professor of sociology also from Fudan, said that
"maintaining a low profile" when seeking a job is the best option
for university graduates. Grassroots jobs seem not to be worth
mentioning, but they have great development potential. He said:
"Under the current crunch employment circumstances, university
graduates must open their minds to options and have a clear idea of
their future development goals.
"Starting with a basic-level job that is suitable in most
respects, one can still achieve his or her goal step by step."
(China.org.cn by Li Jingrong October 12, 2006)