As a new force in the job market, China's 20-somethings seem emotional, lax
in discipline, self-centred, and psychologically fragile. Meanwhile, they are
also passionate, creative, self-motivating, and open-minded.
"We should not clearly say what are their advantages and what are their
shortcomings," says Zhang Tingwen, vice president of ChinaHR.com, an on-line job
website. "We had better say those are just their characteristics, which have two
sides."
He explains that the current youths' focus on individual interests, on the
one hand, make them less concerned with teamwork. On the other hand, this same
trait impels them to be aggressive and devoted to their jobs.
These youth, usually called the post-1980s generation in China, are mainly
born in one-child families, receive a good deal of attention and affection from
parents and grandparents, and have grown up with China's opening to the world.
"They are living in a relatively loose environment in terms of the economy
and household burdens and absorbed lots of western-styled concepts, which helped
them build their unique personalities, very different from people born in the
1960s and even 1970s," Zhang says.
Expectations of youth
Feng Shuo, 24, graduated from university in 2003 and is working in a
foreign-funded advertising company. He argues that he and cohorts his age are
not as indulged a generation as most people think.
"Actually we are growing up under heavy pressure from childhood to
adulthood," Feng says, elaborating that when they were children, there were high
expectations from parents and grandparents that forced them to sacrifice playing
time for arduous study.
"Say nothing of heavy burdens in middle school," he complains, explaining
that job competition after graduating university is far more terrible.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education show the employment rate of
university graduates stands at 70 per cent in the past two years, while the
number of graduates was 3.48 million and 4.13 million in 2005 and 2006
respectively.
"Meanwhile, society is changing so rapidly, what we should do is take care of
ourselves, which will contribute to both our families and societybut then people
regard us as a self-centred generation," Feng says.
A survey released by ChinaHR.com in June showed university students eye
self-development as their top priority along with finding jobs.
The survey, conducted from October 2005 to May 2006 and with over 90,000
valid votes collected, covered over 600 universities and colleges and 1,100
enterprises across the country.
ChinaHR.com's Zhang says that it further proves that the post-1980s
generation pays great attention to their own interests. "On the other hand, if
you give them space, they will devote themselves to jobs," he adds.
"What we want most is a combination of happy work and a happy life," says
Feng's girlfriend, 23, who works as a civil servant in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
The couple agrees they work hard during working hours, while overtime is
unacceptable.
A comfortable and exciting working environment, with an acceptable
compensation package, good training opportunities, and sound human relations are
the most important elements when selecting a job.
A survey from Peking University, however, suggests graduates' salary
expectations are too high, compared with the bottom line of employers.
In 2005, graduates with bachelor degrees hoped to get a monthly salary of
1,800 yuan (US$225), while the highest payment from surveyed companies was 1,550
yuan (US$194). The figures for masters' degree holders were 4,500 (US$563) and
2,700 yuan (US$363) respectively.
Payment wishes and actual salaries may frustrate the new workforce, says Lu
Lingmin, senior HR director of Baidu.com. "The post-1980s youth should adjust
their targets, considering they still have no work experience and there is
serious competition in the job market."
Employers' efforts
As a senior HR consulting expert, ChinaHR.com's Zhang suggests that, given
the unique characteristics of the post-1980s generation, employers should try to
create an environment that stimulates passion among new employees.
ChinaHR.com itself employed over 100 graduates last year, who are mainly
working for the sales department at the company.
According to Zhang, ChinaHR.com offers them compensation packages that are a
little higher than the average level in the industry, and bonuses in line with
their business performance.
In addition to technical and professional training, the company carries out
team building training and encourages every young employee to air their opinions
and express their views.
"No matter whether we like it or not, the future is those youth, and we
should give them time to grow up," says Zhang, believing that each generation
has its unique characteristics, which is a result of social evolution.
"There should be no simple judgment of good or bad on those guys," Lu
agrees.
