Graduates confront a tighter jobs market

JOB prospects are looking pretty grim for many Chinese college and university graduates this year as a slowing economy takes a bite out of employment creation, but it helps to have a major in engineering, science, technology and education.文件倉Graduates of four institutions in Minhang - Shanghai Jiao Tong University, East China Normal University, Shanghai College of Electrical Engineering and Shanghai Donghai Vocational and Technical College - are facing an employment outlook pretty much on par with last year, according to a recent survey conducted by the district's Employment Promotion Center.The survey found that 67.5 percent of graduates from Jiao Tong, a science and engineering school, had landed jobs as of the end of April. That's up 2.4 percentage points from a year earlier.The employment rate for new graduates from East China Normal was 44 percent, up 0.8 percentage point. For the Shanghai College of Electrical Engineering, the rate was 50.2 percent, while at Donghai Vocational and Technical College, it rose 3.9 points to 69.6 percent.Factors affecting employmentThe employment outlook for graduates is affected mainly by three factors, the survey found. Economic restructuring and a slowdown in growth has led to lower demand for workers.A great disparity exists between graduates of prestige universities and those from institutions of lesser standing. There's also a disparity between majors. At three job fairs at ECNU, employers seemed most interested in people who graduated in software engineering or pre-school education, whereas majors in such fields as German and industrial design found fewer takers.Graduates who are looking for "soft" jobs or think they can wait it out for better job offers are the least likely to find employment.Indeed, a positive attitude toward job hunting is crucial in getting that first job in life.Wu Dongyi, a career development mentor from the Employment Promotion Center, provided some tips for new graduates."There is never a good job or a bad job," he said. "There is only the right or the wrong job. Different people have different ideas of an ideal job. It is related to one's career expectations, which is influenced by interests, ability and qualifications."In past several years, the center provided job search serv存倉ces for 560,000 people, and 56,000 have found employment."Only a few people get the job they want on the first go," he said. "The first step is to know yourself and establish your career goals. Career planning is something that graduates need to think about during school rather than upon graduation. Find your positioning and start your planning early."He said graduates who insist on a highly paid job, with a light workload and near-home are likely to be disappointed.Wu also suggested that graduates inform themselves about a prospective employer's business so they can intelligently discuss job prospects during interviews.Creating new jobsThe economic development underway in Minhang is helping create jobs, with an urgent demand for professionals in different sectors.According to the district's current Five-Year Plan, Hongqiao will become a business district specializing in the high-end services industry. That will require skills in education, culture and medicine.Zizhu High-Tech Park located in the southern part of Minhang is attracting talent from Jiao Tong and ECNU adjacent to it.Together with the Minhang Economic and Technology Development Zone, Shanghai Electric and the Huayi Group, the park is transforming itself into an international innovation center.Pujiang Town in the east of Minhang is focusing on the development of advanced manufacturing and modern services, together with Caohejing High-tech Park and Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.Job prospects there are excellent for graduates with the right qualifications.In Huacao Town, an emphasis on international education and medical facilities opens up job opportunities. There is also a growing tourism industry.Pujiang is seeking professionals in agriculture and modern manufacturing industries in its development drive.Zhuanqiao Town is building itself into an international "smart town." The focus there is on the development of creative industries in design and technology.In Qibao Town, skills in media, copyright trading and digital publishing are in demand. The town is home to cultural projects such as Wenxin Media Valley and Shanghai Century Publishing Group.Leisure industry professionals are being sought in Maqiao Town, where a seven-star hotel will be established by Aman Resorts.自存倉