CRI听力:Post-1990 Generation Picky about Jobs: Research

A new study shows members of the "post-1990" generation here in China are becoming more picky about their employment options, with many applying for multiple positions and holding out high expectations for their job prospects.

CRI's Li Dong has more.

The study, conducted by leading Chinese recruitment website, 51job.com, shows that, when a fresh graduate snags a job interview, he or she is also more likely to miss it, turn down an offer and has no qualms about quitting if the work is not to their taste.

The website surveyed 2,357 enterprises and 1,230 fresh graduates nationwide over 15 days.

Of those surveyed, 45 percent of employers say more than half of job candidates within this demographic failed to turn up on time for interviews.

Shanshan is a manager of an IT company in Beijing.

"There was this case in my department. The new recruit came to work one day. The next day she said she was pregnant and wanted to quit and refused to give us any proof. Similar cases also happen in other departments as well. Their excuses to quit may be 'mom is seriously ill,' or 'the work pressure is heavy.' Extreme cases are rare, but they still resign by giving excuses. But our company incurs the losses caused by their sudden departure."

The survey also shows more than 60 percent of fresh graduates also felt they needed help to look for a job.

Zhang Zhixin is a professor of public management at the Capital University of Economics and Business. Part of his job is to provide employment guidance to his students. Zhang Zhixin says the post-1990 generation cares more about the working environment, the happiness they derive from their work and respect from others.

"For the post-1990 generation, their living conditions are much better than the post-1980 and post-1970 generations. They are also an only child in a big family. They grew up in an era when China's economy is booming. Some students already have several properties under their names. I know a student who quit a job just because he didn't like the people he worked with. The post-1990 generation tends to be more self-oriented and lack a spirit of diplomacy and teamwork. It takes time for them to learn what they really want and make long term plans for life--they need time."

However, You Rushi, who will graduate from university this July,says she and her classmates know what they want to do in life.

"We are still young; we still have opportunities. If we don't work hard for the lives we want to live, we will lose passion and can't afford to pursue our dreams when we become old. That's maybe why many of us often redirect our goals and are very flexible in making decision."

Feng Lijuan, the chief consultant at 51job.com, says its members can access lots of information online every day and can find many work opportunities through the site, so they compare and deliberate on different positions.

Feng also suggests employers should communicate with their post-1990 employees regularly and provide counseling to help them deal with obstacles.

For CRI, I am Li Dong.