What Chinese graduates should do in this tough job market

A record seven million students are expected to graduate from mainland Chinese universities this year, up 2.8 per cent from last year. But with the employment market tightening and competition rising, how are they all going to find jobs?

It should be easy; Chinese students have to be the most diligent bunch of students in the world. From secondary to post-graduate school, they spend every spare minute nose-in-book, cramming for the next test, completing endless hours of homework and taking extra classes at the weekend. A little boy of a friend of mine is six years old. He’s allowed to watch 30 minutes of television a week and play with his friends for an hour. The rest of his time is spent either studying or doing extra activities, such as practising Chinese calligraphy and English, using the abacus, playing tennis and swimming. Surely all of this should lead to a well-rounded student, or could it be a question of quantity exceeding quality?

Let’s examine a few of the reasons why graduates are finding it more difficult to find work. The Chinese economy’s growth is slowing, which would tighten the job market. And often graduate recruitment is the first area to be cut. The Ministry of Education has reported that 15 per cent fewer jobs are on offer for new hires this year than in 2012, according to a survey of 500 leading firms. This causes more competition for the fewer jobs that are available.

While a decade of rapid expansion in China ’s higher education sector has brought many benefits, it has also brought unrealistic expectations from students and an economy that cannot absorb so many graduates into well-paid jobs. This is not limited to undergraduates. A recent survey of Chinese MBA students showed that, on average, they expected to increase their salary by 345 per cent after graduating!

For many graduates, the first choice would be to go into government or to state-owned enterprises; large foreign-owned multinational corporations would be next on the list. The top levels of state-owned companies reserve their places for students from elite universities or those with good connections, and many firms are under pressure to reform. Multinationals are still looking for excellent graduates, especially those with science and engineering backgrounds, but again the competition is tough.

It’s wise to choose as carefully as possible for your first job, but certainly a degree of open-mindedness is needed. Perhaps it is time for grads to forget the brand and consider joining a smaller, local company that can offer real, practical hands-on experience.