{"id":16446,"date":"2025-08-28T05:49:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T04:49:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446"},"modified":"2025-09-28T17:54:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T16:54:56","slug":"from-idealism-to-reality-chinese-graduates-and-the-lost-dream-of-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/from-idealism-to-reality-chinese-graduates-and-the-lost-dream-of-careers\/","title":{"rendered":"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and  the lost dream of careers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">As young Chinese graduates struggle to find jobs in a challenging job market, many have had to completely change their plans and abandon their previous dream careers to pursue new path. How do they deal with the gap and rebuild their confidence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"487\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2.png 865w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2-770x434.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2-293x165.png 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"487\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16372\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2.png 865w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2-770x434.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-2-293x165.png 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">After graduation, because the accountant position was low-paying. Xuanxuan decided to turn her part-time job at Starbucks during his college into a full-time one.    Credit: Xuanxuan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At 6:00 AM, the Starbucks at Yinchuan Hedong Airport was already busy. The smell of baked pastries and boiling coffee filled the air. 22-year-old Xuanxuan, wearing a green apron, stood behind the counter, defrosting the pastries and weighing the ingredients, then preparing a cup of aromatic latte to hand to the customers. Passengers rushed past with heavy suitcases, but she remained focused, greeting each customer with a warm smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a year ago, Xuanxuan was still sitting in her university accounting lecture, buried in ledgers and balance sheets all day. At that time, she thought that after graduation, she would follow the expected path: pass the junior accountant exam, become a certified public accountant, and spend the rest of her life dealing with numbers and financial reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know some people might think I&#8217;m wasting my degree,\u201d Xuanxuan said. \u201cBut honestly, many people choose a major in college that they don&#8217;t fully understand, simply because others told us those majors were good. It&#8217;s only when we start looking for a job that we discover that&#8217;s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xuanxuan chose this job because the salary was high: \u201cThe accounting jobs in our city pay very little. My classmates who are doing internships only earn between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan (Approximately \u00a3200-300) a month. By comparison, Starbucks is paying me pretty well.\u201d She works eight hours a day and her salary is around 6,000 yuan (about \u00a3600) a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Xuanxuan&#8217;s story is not unique. In China, many university graduates&#8217; first jobs are unrelated to their field of study. This isn&#8217;t because they have abandoned their ambitions, but because the job market has left them with no other choice. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.moe.gov.cn\/jyb_sjzl\/sjzl_fztjgb\/202506\/t20250611_1193760.html\">According to China&#8217;s Ministry of Education<\/a>, 11.79 million college students graduated in 2024. However, according to a report by Zhilian Recruitment, the employment rate of Chinese college students in 2024 was only 55.5 percent, which means that &nbsp;nearly half of the graduates cannot find jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446-770x373.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446-293x142.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"496\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446-770x373.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5fae\u4fe1\u56fe\u7247-2025-08-22-225135-446-293x142.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Despite the economic downturn, the number of Chinese university graduates continued to increase annually. Job fairs for graduates are always crowded with people.  Credit:Author&#8217;s image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Even for those graduates who do manage to find work, it remains difficult to realize the career dreams they formed at university, as many are working in jobs that do not match their academic training. According to research from Peking University&#8217;s Graduate School of Education, approximately 40% of Chinese university graduates in recent years have worked in jobs that do not match their majors. This mismatch between education and employment reflects a growing disconnect between the promise of a university degree and the reality of China&#8217;s evolving job market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Xuanxuan, working at Starbucks may not have been part of her original plan, but it also shows that Chinese graduates are looking for instant income in a tight job market, rather than just sticking to the path of finding a job that matches their major. But not all graduates can accept the compromises they have made. It is inevitable that some will feel frustrated and resentful about finding themselves settling for a job that requires little formal education after so many years of hard study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young people need options, according to 24-year-old parcel sorter Kun Wan. \u201cI don\u2019t think it&#8217;s the students\u2019 reason that we eventually do these jobs. Who doesn&#8217;t want a decent job? If we could have other options, we would definitely do. But society hasn&#8217;t given us enough jobs to choose from. We feel like mere chess pieces on a chessboard, manipulated by others and powerless in the face of society\u2019s realities,\u201d said Kun Wan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kun Wan studied Logistics Management at university, and he had hoped to work in supply chain coordination or business operations after graduation. But after submitting more than 400 job applications before graduation, he was only interviewed by five companies. Four of the companies were actually deceptive \u201cscam companies\u201d and the only legitimate company did not hire him in the end. Finally, he chose to work at a parcel sorting station near his home as a way to cover his expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"487\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3.png 865w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3-770x434.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3-293x165.png 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"487\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3.png 865w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3-770x434.png 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/image-3-293x165.png 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kun Wan has to sort out thousands of packages piled up on the ground every day. He feels that the job he is doing now doesn&#8217;t match his ability.&nbsp;&nbsp; Credit: Kun Wan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kun Wan works every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. His daily routine begins with sorting the large sacks of parcels from the distribution center, applying barcode labels to them, and then placing them on the correct shelves. Kun Wan needs to repeatedly squat and stand for hours. Throughout this time, customers constantly come in to collect their parcels, and he helps them as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This repetitive manual labor leaves him feeling exhausted. But what wears him down even more is the constant sense of disconnect between his education and his current reality. Kun Wan said: \u201cWhat I\u2019m doing now has nothing to do with what I studied. It\u2019s simple work, sometimes I think anyone could do it. I didn&#8217;t go to school for all those years to carry parcels every day like a machine after graduation. My parents don&#8217;t want to see me doing that either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As more graduates take on jobs unrelated to their university majors, a new buzzword has emerged on the Chinese Internet: \u201ctaking off Kong Yiji\u2019s long shirt\u201d. It represents those Chinese graduates who choose to do low-skilled jobs unrelated to their university majors in order to pay for their living expenses. Kong Yiji is a character in Chinese literature who wore a long shirt and starved to death, because of his stubbornness to only do work related to his specialty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In March 2023, a Chinese Internet user posted on Weibo (Chinese Twitter), that \u201cEducation is not only a knock on the door, but also a high platform that I can&#8217;t get off, it is the long shirt that Kong Yiji can&#8217;t take off.\u201d This sentence triggered a great deal of empathy among young people. On China&#8217;s Instagram, Rednote, the hashtag \u201cKong Yiji\u2019s long shirt\u201d has received 78 million views and nearly 400,000 discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"445\" height=\"1024\" loading=\"lazy\" data-id=\"16819\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-445x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-445x1024.jpg 445w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-130x300.jpg 130w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-770x1771.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-668x1536.jpg 668w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-293x674.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"445\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"16819\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-445x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-445x1024.jpg 445w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-130x300.jpg 130w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-770x1771.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-668x1536.jpg 668w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/08\/\u5de5\u4f5c-2-293x674.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the same month, <a href=\"https:\/\/mp.weixin.qq.com\/s\/x5ulpnRwQtFw_8wzn4Es6w\">the Chinese official media outlet CCTV published an article on the trending topic<\/a>, stating: \u201cThe reason Kong Yiji fell into hardship was not because he was educated, but because he couldn\u2019t let go of his pride as a scholar and was unwilling to improve his situation through labor.\u201d This implied that university graduates who are still picky about jobs are \u201cunwilling to work.\u201d This statement raised objections among some young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The government needs to do more to help young graduates, said Kun Wan, who believes that the statement reported in CCTV is completely wrong. He said: \u201cThe government doesn&#8217;t explain why the current situation has been caused, they also don&#8217;t say how to improve it. They just criticize us, but our efforts in four years of university have been wasted, higher education is like a deception for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s time to value all forms of work and rethink how society supports young people entering the workforce, according to Dr. Christian Yao of Victoria University of Wellington. He said: \u201cTo help graduates adjust to the sense of failure that their education has been wasted, we need to highlight the value of all types of work, and encourage seeing career change as growth rather than defeat. It is also important to openly discuss the changing job market and the need for adaptability so that young people can build transferable skills and explore new directions with greater confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Long-term solutions may require wider social change, but many graduates still have to deal with the social gossip that comes with their current jobs now. For some graduates, taking a job that doesn&#8217;t require a formal education also means facing misunderstanding and even being laughed at by others. 23-year-old Xiaosu experienced such a humiliating moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"825\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3-770x620.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3-293x236.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"825\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3-770x620.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu3-293x236.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xiaosu said that she feel that is much happier after starting her own stall compared to when she worked at the company.&nbsp;  Credit: Xiaosu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Selling cocktails at a street stall seems a long way from a degree in Digital Media and Arts, but for Xiaosu, it became a practical choice. After graduation, she worked for a company as a short video editor, but the company unexpectedly closed down after only one month of work. After that, she had trouble finding a suitable job and finally returned to her hometown and started selling self-made cocktails. But she had a conflict with a woman selling noodles because of the stall\u2019s location, who used Xiaosu&#8217;s university degree as a point to insult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThat woman mocked me in front of my customers,\u201d Xiaosu said. \u201cShe yelled, \u2018Did your parents pay for you to go to college just to let you sell drinks on the street? If you were my child, I would be ashamed of you.\u2019 It wasn&#8217;t just the conflict itself that upset me, it was that she believed someone like me didn&#8217;t belong there, simply because I had a university education.\u201d Xiaosu still remembers the anger and embarrassment from that moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the humiliation, Xiaosu didn&#8217;t let it stop her. She changed the location of her stall to avoid seeing that woman again and gradually found strength in doing things on her own way: \u201cI used to be confused about the significance of a degree, but I now feel that a degree is something that gives you a wider range of options. I can choose to set up a stall now, or when I become unable to do this in the future, I can rely on my university degree to find a job again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although Xiaosu has not yet found a clear long-term direction, her words reflect the growing flexibility of some graduates. Experts believe that this mindset change is key for young people to cope with an uncertain job market and career change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xiaosu-2-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Although Xiaosu is not sure how long she will continue to sell cocktails, she believes that she will get better in the future.   Credit: Xiaosu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For graduates seeking to rebuild their self-worth after a career change, Dr. Christian Yao offers the advice: \u201cCareer changers can focus on the skills they are gaining and the value they bring to their new role, rather than comparing it to their previous academic achievements. Whether through mastering a new craft, helping others, or contributing to a team, finding purpose in their work helps shift their sense of identity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This perspective resonates with the experience of Tianjiao. 22-year-old Tianjiao majored in Chinese Language Education at university. However, due to a change in teacher recruitment policies in her region, she was unable to become a middle school Chinese teacher as she had originally hoped upon graduating this year. But instead of falling into frustration, she started trying to do different jobs, even if they were unrelated to her academic background. Now she works as a flower arranger in a florist shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Working at the flower shop has not only given Tianjiao income, but also helped her shift her mindset about the academic qualifications. \u201cI have stopped seeing what I can do as so limited,\u201d Tianjiao said. \u201cI used to believe that my academic qualifications would guarantee me something in return. I was once terrified, wondering how I could possibly support myself if I couldn\u2019t become a teacher. But now, what I\u2019ve come to realize is that as long as a person is willing to try, it\u2019s actually not that easy to starve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/tianjiao-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tiaojiao enjoys interacting with  customers and creating flowers bouquets for their loved ones. The realization that everyone is striving so hard in their own lives has relieved her anxiety. &nbsp; Credit: Tianjiao<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike other graduates who think switching careers means wasting their university time, Tianjiao sees her educational experience in a more positive perspective: \u201cI think I should accept what I\u2019ve learned. Maybe I can\u2019t apply it quickly in my current job, but I don\u2019t feel a strong sense of pain or dissatisfaction. I don\u2019t think my major was useless or my university was bad. I\u2019ve had many joyful moments there. The things our teachers passed on to us during class were a great source of encouragement and spiritual support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This shift in mindset is seen as a positive sign of young people&#8217;s maturity, according to Dr. Christian Yao. He said: \u201cWhen young people realize that a degree no longer guarantees a stable or well-paid job, and see a career change as a sign of resilience and growth in adapting to the realities of life, rather than as a setback. It is a sign that they are rebuilding their self-worth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This change in mindset came gradually through daily work experience for Xuanxuan, although she initially worked at Starbucks for purely financial reasons. Especially after a customer called the head office to praise her service, she became even more passionate about the job. Xuanxuan said: \u201cWhen I get the customer&#8217;s appreciation, I feel that my work is worthwhile. I don&#8217;t really care if I&#8217;m successful or not, I think it&#8217;s fine to be happy every day and to be able to satisfy your own subsistence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-16381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/xuan-293x165.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From struggling to complete daily tasks in a crowded airport store to receiving praise from customers, Xuanxuan has experienced challenges and growth in her job.&nbsp;  Credit: Xuanxuan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite feeling upset from being mocked about her university degree, Xiaosu maintains enthusiasm for trying new things: \u201cI\u2019m still young. I\u2019ll try something now and change direction later if needed. Some people love stability, that\u2019s okay. But if you\u2019re someone who loves life, who dares to explore and create, then you should give it a try too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tianjiao hopes that more Chinese graduates will learn to be less anxious about their future path: \u201cSometimes the pain comes from overthinking and taking too little action. I think many Chinese students easily fall into distress because we\u2019ve been raised in an educational system where we\u2019re expected to simply follow instructions step by step, like little robots completing tasks. But the truth is that the script for what life is really like to live is different for everyone. Our degree is not a \u2018Kong Yiji\u2019s long shirt\u2019, but a flexible vest. It&#8217;s warm to put on, but not cold to take off.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As young Chinese graduates struggle in a tough job market, abandoning dream careers for new paths, how do they handle the gap and rebuild confidence?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1227,"featured_media":16345,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[93,402],"class_list":["post-16446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","tag-china","tag-youth-employment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers - Life360<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers - Life360\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As young Chinese graduates struggle in a tough job market, abandoning dream careers for new paths, how do they handle the gap and rebuild confidence?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Life360\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61565970466238\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-28T04:49:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-28T16:54:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"4284\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"3731\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Jingyi Ji\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Jingyi Ji\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446\",\"name\":\"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers - Life360\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-28T04:49:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-28T16:54:56+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/d86f03796d94d844355450349d646852\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg\",\"width\":4284,\"height\":3731},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/\",\"name\":\"Life360\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/d86f03796d94d844355450349d646852\",\"name\":\"Jingyi Ji\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/avatar_user_1227_1729856191-96x96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/avatar_user_1227_1729856191-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Jingyi Ji\"},\"description\":\"A master's student in MA International Journalism.I'm interested in culture, art and literature.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61565970466238\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/author\/jij4\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers - Life360","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers - Life360","og_description":"As young Chinese graduates struggle in a tough job market, abandoning dream careers for new paths, how do they handle the gap and rebuild confidence?","og_url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446","og_site_name":"Life360","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61565970466238","article_published_time":"2025-08-28T04:49:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-28T16:54:56+00:00","og_image":[{"width":4284,"height":3731,"url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Jingyi Ji","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Jingyi Ji","Estimated reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446","name":"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers - Life360","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg","datePublished":"2025-08-28T04:49:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-28T16:54:56+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/d86f03796d94d844355450349d646852"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/\u505a\u5496\u5561.jpg","width":4284,"height":3731},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?p=16446#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"From idealism to reality: Chinese graduates and the lost dream of careers"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/","name":"Life360","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/d86f03796d94d844355450349d646852","name":"Jingyi Ji","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/avatar_user_1227_1729856191-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/avatar_user_1227_1729856191-96x96.jpg","caption":"Jingyi Ji"},"description":"A master's student in MA International Journalism.I'm interested in culture, art and literature.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61565970466238"],"url":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/author\/jij4\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1227"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16446"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16446\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18107,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16446\/revisions\/18107"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/life360\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}