University graduates seek jobs, what are their chances of success?
Print Edition
ONLY two months left before a record 7.27 million college students in China graduate and head for the job market. This year that market is expected to remain tight, after an estimated 7 million graduates entered the work market in 2013.
Zhaopin.com, an online recruitment portal, said job openings for fresh graduates have risen about 10.8 percent in the year, and about a third of new job-seekers in China had secured at least one work offer by the end of February.
The equation between those looking for work and those offering is skewed by the fact that so many young job-seekers want certain kinds of job and want those jobs in big cities.
Shanghai Daily sat down with Rex Gao, director of education and development at Zhaopin.com, to talk the trends in college graduate employment.
Based in Shanghai, Gao works with companies in staff training and is also a frequent lecturer in colleges and universities.
How does the job market for graduates look this year in Shanghai?
A: The market for fresh graduates is not much more difficult than in previous years. I don’t have detailed data for Shanghai, but I can see that in eastern China, at least two-thirds of graduates have already obtained an offer. More than half said they felt it difficult to find a job. Generally speaking, things are not very different this year.
Are large cities such as Shanghai and Beijing still the favorite places for job seekers?
A: Honestly speaking, nearly half of university students wish to work in the large cities of Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. But actually job opportunities in these cities are not as abundant as people have expected, so there are people willing to take better jobs in smaller cities. The number of big companies and better business environments in the largest cities are major attractions for young workers.
How wide is the salary gap between expectations and actual offers?
A: We found the gap has narrowed by about 300 yuan (US$48) a month from last year. Our survey found the average salary expectation is 4,357 yuan a month for undergraduates students, and the actual offered salary is 3,945 yuan. Students seem to be adjusting to the difficult job-hunting season.
What kind of jobs are the hottest pursuits among university graduates?
A: We found graduates are more interested in technology jobs and seemingly highbrow positions, such as administrative, human resources, trade, and management. They tend to neglect increasing demands for services positions and sales. Many university graduates who are educated think they are elite and jobs like sales do not match their status. But, actually, we find sales and services positions can greatly improve a person’s capabilities and can offer more promotion potential than clerical work. The majority of company executives actually start from these junior positions.
What about industries?
A: Newly emerging industries, such as information technology, environmental protection and energy, seem to attract the most graduates, while traditional industries like pharmaceutical, manufacturing and processing are losing their appeal. Tencent, Huawei and Baidu are the three most searched companies among job-seekers. However, this rush has also created saturation in newly emerging industries. In the past four years, salary growth in Internet, information technology and finance have been declining, while traditional industries are more willing to offer high salaries to attract talent.
Are state-owned companies still the preference for young job-seekers?
A: It depends. In some industries, state-owned companies are undergoing reforms that won’t ensure stable positions as they used to do. Staff are now employed as in any other companies. They sign contracts that do not guarantee benefits, such as pension and housing. Still, we find state-owned companies, though they do not offer as many openings as sought, remain a favorite among students. Most graduates actually are employed by private companies. I don’t think enthusiasm toward state-backed jobs will be diminishing anytime soon.
Seniors in universities now were mainly born around 1992. People used to have stereotypes about the post-90s generation, such as they are self-centered and pompous. What do you think about this generation?
A: The environment where the post-90s group grew up is different from that of earlier generations. Most of them were raised as single children, and they have not experienced harsh conditions. Their personalities tend to be assertive. But these are only personality traits, not shortcomings. In terms of work, some employers may think this generation is moody and doesn’t take orders well. But on the other hand, they are quick learners, and when they find a job they like, they will be more passionate than the older generations.
Are companies adapting to cater to the personalities of the post-90s generation?
A: Yes, many companies and institutions are studying how to address the needs of the new generation. For example, previously companies used the carrot-and-stick approach, applying strict performance assessment, but neglected the personal needs of their staff. The new generation may prefer to set their own goals and develop at their own pace. Some companies, mainly private and multinational, are more flexible in meeting the needs of the new generation by crating more relaxed work environments for them.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
