A recent survey indicates that female college students consider high salary, stability, and career development as three most important factors they will consider after graduation.

The survey covered 444 female college students with an average age of 20.1, from universities in cities of Beijing, Nanjing and Suzhou. Interestingly, the research team from the Education School of Suzhou University conducted the same survey in 2003; the earlier survey showed high salary as the first priority, followed by career development and stability.

Researchers found out that female college students want to be economically independent through working, but considering the fierce competition in the job market and the current employment situation, they did not feel great self-confidence. Some said that they would like to quit their job after getting married or having babies. And this figure seems to be rising compared with results of the survey in 2003.

As for the purpose of going to work, survey results for both 2007 and 2003 had completely the same order of priority: being economically independent, utilizing their abilities and realizing their potentials.

Asked about what advantages they have compared with male students when seeking a job, the 2003 survey listed in order of priority: working capability, certificates and good-looking faces. In contrast the 2007 survey listed the priorities as: working capability, human relations and enthusiasm. Most female students thought that it was very important to perform and show their achievements while working but they felt that at times human relations were more important than their capabilities. They agreed it would be a positive step to learn how to interact effectively with others while attending university.

Researchers believe that getting married and having babies would have a significant effect upon a woman's vocational development. Two surveys found that even if they did not require a job for financial reasons, still 90 percent of the female students said that they wanted one. Yet the numbers of people, who want to quit their jobs due to the fact of getting married and raising children is now on the increase, from 0.5 to 2.3 percent and 0.4 to 2.3 percent respectively.

A female graduate, surnamed Yu, who has worked for two years, said that getting married and having babies are two important things that most women will experience in the course of their lives. She asserted bringing up and educating a baby costs women a great deal of time and energy. If women are not able to juggle their job and their children, they will inevitably have to give up one.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, February 14, 2008)