Recent graduates lower expectations in tight job market

A college graduate looks at a job listing during a job fair on June 7 in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province. The fair was exclusively for 2014 college graduates. HU YUANYONG / FOR CHINA DAILY

"My anticipated salary each month is only 3,000 yuan, but my upcoming employer is giving me about 6,000 yuan. I'm surprised and excited," said Li Yingyan, 24, who graduated this year from Communication University of China in Beijing.

Li has received an offer from a media company in her hometown of Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province.

"In the beginning, I leaned toward finding a job in Beijing, but I found that employers preferred to hire male employees and I failed. Besides, housing prices in Beijing are high and I want to stay with my parents."

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Li lowered her job expectations and chose to return home after graduation.

"I'm more relaxed and I'm satisfied with my job," said Li.

Li Ang, the service center deputy director, said: "More graduates prefer to work in second-tier cities. About 50 percent of those interviewed said they would like to work in provincial capitals, but less than 20 percent of those interviewed said they expect to work in metropolises such as Beijing or Shanghai."

The graduates have expanded their horizons when choosing a job, Li Ang said.

"The expected salary levels are not their only concern. They also pay more attention to personal development. This means they are not fickle, but becoming more mature."

Other job experts said the university graduates are more competitive compared with those with different educational backgrounds.

"It is not very difficult for university graduates to find a job, and their employment stress is not high this year. The increase in their salaries three years after graduation is also the fastest compared with those who graduated from vocational schools and other educational institutions," said Chen Yu, vice-president of the China Association for Employment Promotion.

Although employment stress has decreased this year, Xiong, the stress management center's director, suggested that graduates can still learn more about dealing with pressure positively.

"They need to improve their own abilities, including organizational capabilities and collaboration skills," Xiong said.

"And the government should strengthen the implementation of employment policies, giving more support and preferential treatment to self-employment."

fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn