Chinese students studying in the United States return to China: It doesn’t matter Jobs are still hard to find

Chinese students studying in the United States return to China: It doesn’t matter, jobs are just as hard to find. The Christian Science Monitor said that more and more Chinese students are studying in American universities, but what if...

Chinese students studying in the United States return to China: It doesn’t matter, jobs are still hard to find. The Christian Science Monitor said that more and more Chinese students are studying in American universities, but if they cannot get a degree from a prestigious university, it will still be difficult to find a job after returning to China. This means that building connections still plays the most important role in finding a job. On Saturday night, a Chinese international student surnamed Wei was eating pizza and French fries in the cafeteria of a well-known liberal arts college in New England. After that, he and his friends were going to watch a football game and then attend a party. At 2 a.m., he returned to his room and browsed the websites of Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company, looking at their recruitment processes and job applications. He couldn't sleep because he was worried about his future. Xiao Wei said: "My visa status and the fiercely competitive job market made me think that I would not be able to easily find a job in the United States." "Back in China, it was difficult to find a job. No one had heard the name of the college I went to. It didn't sound like a university. Under such circumstances, how could I possibly get an interview with a company?" Xiao Wei comes from a middle-class family in China and has no personal connections in China. Friends in China and the United States are envious of his seemingly bright future, but as a recent graduate, he is facing an imminent challenge: not to live up to his own expectations or those of his parents. Xiao Wei's predicament reflects the inherent contradictions in the trend of Chinese students studying in the United States for undergraduate studies. According to data provided by the Institute of International Education, in just 11 years, the number of Chinese students studying in the United States for undergraduate studies has increased tenfold, from the original 7,500 to 80,000. Some Chinese parents sell their houses and spend all their savings just to send their children to study abroad. Ten years ago, people who returned from studying abroad might achieve success quickly. But today, the reality is completely opposite: as more and more overseas returnees return to China, Chinese companies begin not to recognize the qualifications of these people, and Chinese society has returned to the period of relying on connections and finding jobs through the back door. In addition, many parents of only children have unrealistic expectations for their children, which causes them to feel stressed. Xiaoling, a newly graduated college student, said: "After parents have made huge sacrifices, they all hope that their children can have a bright future." "At home, I can rely on connections to find a good job in a good company, but after returning to China, the pressure of worrying that I will not achieve results is scary." Xiaolin said that she was very lucky. She found a job in the United States through campus recruitment, and the company was willing to help her get a work visa. In addition, Xiaolin said that after living in the United States, she felt socially uncomfortable after returning to China. "When I returned to China, it was hard to find that I had too much in common with my high school friends. In the United States, I tried hard to integrate myself into a more open social culture. I went to parties and watched football games, but I knew that I was still Chinese at heart." Although Chinese students are pessimistic about returning to China to find jobs, some Chinese company bosses still recognize the value of an American university education. One of them is Adil Husain, who founded a consulting company in Shanghai after studying in the United States. Adil Husain, who graduated from Middlebury College, said: "I think a four-year undergraduate education in a liberal arts college is much better than studying in the UK or Australia. You can learn critical thinking skills, writing skills, and reading skills from a comprehensive education, and these are what employers value when recruiting."