Careering down a new path

On a chilly Friday evening, the mood was upbeat at the bars and restaurants around the Houhai Lake area in downtown Beijing. Only a few boats floated gently on the lake. One, covered in black, appeared not in good control. It seemed that the paddle was too heavy for the controller.

"I'm new, I have been here only five times," says Ding Jingnan. The sophomore javelin major from Beijing Sport University is one of many students preparing for future employment.

There are some 6 million university graduates this year hunting for jobs. Feeling the growing pressure, undergraduates have been seeking chances with new channels.

"I love doing this," says Ding, smiling enthusiastically. Trained by the old staff, she has already mastered a larger boat with sculls.

Ding and 9 schoolmates from the university have come to the lake not to enjoy themselves, but to look for work.

Qu Xisheng, manager of the boat terminal at Houhai Lake, is quite satisfied with the students who came two weeks ago.

Nearly all students have volunteered in last year's Beijing Olympics. They were trained to welcome tourists, boat, save lives in emergency cases and divert boats from crowding under the Yinding Bridge, one of the most famous scenic spots in the area.

"Considering their background, you can imagine how quickly they master the skills," Qu says.

"All of them have diving certificates, none of my old employees can reach this standard," Qu adds, saying that he plans to ask the Life Saving Association to give them special training.

Apart from diving skills, Qu encourages the students to improve their English to provide better services to foreign tourists, who throng the bars and hutong alleys in the area.

Earlier this year, a senior student named Gao Xi called Qu to ask for job opportunities. At the time of an unfavorable employment situation, Gao is trying to extend his network.

It proved a right choice. Qu controls five terminals, running 186 cruises and six speeding boats. Among the 30 students that Gao gathered, Ding and 9 others have stayed.

They will be on duty, following a flexible timetable, from May Day. Qu hopes each of them can work at least eight days every month, on a salary of 800 yuan. Once they become full-time staff, the monthly income will be 1,500 yuan.

"We need students to enhance our overall quality. Old employees get along quite well with them. New blood brings in vitality and vigor," Qu says.

The students, however, don't consider it a good full-time job. "I'm enthusiastic about learning new things, that's why I chose to work here," says Zhang Lichao, a senior student. "But it might not provide an ideal development platform as I expected."

"My dream is to join the police, special police will be the best," Ding says.

"I can understand that," Qu says, adding that he sees it as a good exposure for young people. He plans to introduce one-year contracts, with a 4-month half-paid leave in winter. "They could have more choices and I don't mind their leaving."

(China Daily 05/04/2009 page8)