A recent survey indicates that female college students consider
high salary, stability, and career development as three most
important factors they will consider after graduation.
The survey covered 444 female college students with an average
age of 20.1, from universities in cities of Beijing, Nanjing and
Suzhou. Interestingly, the research team from the Education School
of Suzhou University conducted the same survey in 2003; the earlier
survey showed high salary as the first priority, followed by career
development and stability.
Researchers found out that female college students want to be
economically independent through working, but considering the
fierce competition in the job market and the current employment
situation, they did not feel great self-confidence. Some said that
they would like to quit their job after getting married or having
babies. And this figure seems to be rising compared with results of
the survey in 2003.
As for the purpose of going to work, survey results for both
2007 and 2003 had completely the same order of priority: being
economically independent, utilizing their abilities and realizing
their potentials.
Asked about what advantages they have compared with male
students when seeking a job, the 2003 survey listed in order of
priority: working capability, certificates and good-looking faces.
In contrast the 2007 survey listed the priorities as: working
capability, human relations and enthusiasm. Most female students
thought that it was very important to perform and show their
achievements while working but they felt that at times human
relations were more important than their capabilities. They agreed
it would be a positive step to learn how to interact effectively
with others while attending university.
Researchers believe that getting married and having babies would
have a significant effect upon a woman's vocational development.
Two surveys found that even if they did not require a job for
financial reasons, still 90 percent of the female students said
that they wanted one. Yet the numbers of people, who want to quit
their jobs due to the fact of getting married and raising children
is now on the increase, from 0.5 to 2.3 percent and 0.4 to 2.3
percent respectively.
A female graduate, surnamed Yu, who has worked for two years,
said that getting married and having babies are two important
things that most women will experience in the course of their
lives. She asserted bringing up and educating a baby costs women a
great deal of time and energy. If women are not able to juggle
their job and their children, they will inevitably have to give up
one.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, February 14, 2008)