There is an old saying in China: "Men fear to enter the wrong industry, and women fear to marry the wrong man." However, now a lot of female compatriots are very dissatisfied with this statement. Should our life plans be determined by gender? On March 3rd, 2011, at the Women's Entrepreneurship and Employment Support Action and the "East Wind Delivering Jobs" female exclusive recruitment fair, most answers I heard were negative. These female job seekers, who are hesitating between various positions, include female college students about to rush into the workplace with career dreams, mothers who have just finished maternity leave and are pondering whether to change jobs, and those dreaming of becoming "office princesses" like "Du Lala".
No.1 Doing well vs marrying well, which side do you stand on? "Although it can no longer be said that economic status determines family position, without their own independent economic source, women will inevitably find themselves in a situation where they have to look at others' expressions. If one only relies on men for happiness, then absolute independence and happiness cannot be achieved." Applicant Xiao Lu firmly believes that women must have their own jobs, even if hard work only earns them 50 yuan, that is something absolutely belonging to themselves.
Most of the interviewed women hold the same attitude as Xiao Lu, firmly opposing the old saying "Men fear to enter the wrong industry, and women fear to marry the wrong man". They believe, who can clearly divide the roles of men and women with one cut? Women also have their own ambitions.
No.2 Will marriage and childbirth affect your career? Marriage and childbirth have always been two questions that make career women hesitate endlessly: After marriage and childbirth, can one still be trusted with important tasks, will the previously achieved work accomplishments become void?
Applicant Ms. Lin used to be a salesperson. The fast-paced work pressure made her dare to have children only after working for 6 years, but she thus encountered the situation where her company replaced her with someone else. "My previous position has been given to someone else, now I have to start accumulating from zero in a new area, but I don't have the same enthusiasm as before. Because of this, I want to find a new job more suitable for myself," Ms. Lin said. Now she would be more cautious, hoping to find a position that still values married and post-childbirth women as experienced professionals.
No.3 What is your standard for choosing a job? "If one merely views a job as making money for living, sooner or later, one will give up this job. I hope to find a job that can keep me vibrant forever."
At the age of 25, Xiao Xia used to be a nurse. Reasonably speaking, this profession was useful for her nursing major graduation. But the outgoing and lively Xiao Xia didn't think so, "After entering the workplace, one becomes clearer about what kind of job suits oneself best. For example, nurses inevitably need to work night shifts, which I find hardest to accept, so I quit and hope to find a salesperson job." In Xiao Xia's view, women also fear entering the wrong industry, and this so-called "industry" is not only the generally understood careers suitable for female characteristics, but should be careers suitable for everyone's personality, interests, and life pursuits.
"If a position is adaptable for everyone, my four years of undergraduate education would be wasted. I prefer to find a job that provides me with development space, allowing me to truly love my chosen field." Zhang Ziyi Qiong, a senior student of Public Administration at Yunnan University, said so. After looking around the recruitment fair site, she set herself a clear goal: positions with monthly salaries below 2000 yuan and no educational requirements are not considered. She explained that although such requirements seem very money-oriented, she actually pays the most attention to future prospects.
Career Goal: Most Aspire to Be Office OLs
Gray high heels, black tight pants, brown short skirts, and brown leather tops. This is Yang Zhengying's favorite outfit from Yunnan University's Adult Education Accounting Program. For her first recruitment fair, she specially chose this outfit to attend the interview. She hopes to find a position as an office clerk and is willing to maintain a distinct office OL image in her future workplace. "Paying attention to personal image is also a platform for professionals to display their professional and dedicated levels." Yang Zhengying's aspiration for this professional image is also the idea of many young female job seekers today.
Positioning to Become a Workplace Princess
For the interviewed female job seekers, when envisioning their future careers, more people choose not necessarily to become female leaders, but to strive to become respected and admired "workplace princesses".
Applicant Xiao Zhou believed that regardless of the field of work, as a career woman, one needs to showcase one's comprehensive qualities and should not become the weaker sex in men's eyes. To become a "workplace princess", beauty is not necessarily required, but intelligence, competence, and kindness are essential. "Independent-minded career women need to possess the strength that makes men sincerely convinced."
Lessons Learned: How to Strengthen Your Professional Presence?
Wang Xiaojie is the general manager of Kunming Zhugutrade Co., Ltd., whose company mainly operates 105 kinds of wines, covering most restaurants and supermarkets in the four major areas of Kunming. Her company has been awarded as the practical base for the entrepreneurship and employment of female college students in Kunming.
Now, with her successful career, she also introduces her entrepreneurial treasures to many women: One must accurately position oneself, objectively evaluate one's comprehensive abilities, avoid being overly ambitious in the workplace, but always maintain self-confidence. Only with the pursuit of independence in mind can one have the drive for entrepreneurship and employment.