I haven’t updated my blog for almost a whole year. It was simply because I had to work hard to support my life and study, so there was less time left for online writing. “Was she telling the truth?” Don’t doubt about it, for the answer is always positive. Last year, I paid off my tuition fee and my student loans—a total sum of 56,000 yuan (about 8,000 dollars), and lived on my own. For most of you with jobs, it is not a big deal. But for me, still a student, this is no less than a long march. Whenever people around me needed English services, I would sacrifice my eating and sleeping to earn the money. That’s how I have been surviving.

Back to the point, as I will graduate this June, I want to discuss with you the heated topic of this season—the JOB market. To begin with, I have to confess that I still haven’t found a job yet. Any reason for that? I DON’T know. As you read this, you may assume that I am not excellent enough to get a job. Is this really the case? I can’t agree on that. I believe you can tell what kind of person I am from the following backgrounds.

First, I am a postgraduate from a prestigious college, majoring in English Interpreting, and I do well in my study. Though a student, I have at least four years of translation experiences in various fields. Besides, I have provided several interpreting services for institutions and corporations concerning foreign affairs. Once I even worked as an interpreter for Chen Xiaohua, Vice Minister of Agriculture in a foreign affairs reception. As I mentioned before, this is my way of make a living in Beijing.

Second, I have rich experiences in working with people from different cultures. If you happened to read my blog before, you may remember that I was a Chinese teacher in South Korea a year and a half ago. I worked with an American English teacher and some Korean English teachers in the English Department. What’s more, I was responsible for two training seminars for agricultural officials from developing countries. We now are good friends to each other and still keep in touch.

Apart from these, I have great skills in organization and coordination, and I can speak three foreign languages, namely English, French and Korean. If you don’t believe that, there are two ways to dissolve your doubt. Option 1: you can test me online. Option 2: Leave your email address here, and I will send my language qualifications to you. This is not all of me. I am sensible in working, but sensitive in life. So I turn this aspect of me into creative writing, both in Chinese and in English. I can write novels, prose and sometimes poems. Here is my Wechat public account: Captain亚秀, on which I always publish my works and introduce my translation experiences.

Seen from above, I am never a lazy or incompetent student. Here comes the question: Why couldn’t I get a DECENT job?

There was a time that I sent my CV to one company, and got refused for a translation post. The human resource manager told me after reading my resume, “it seems that you’d better work for governmental institutions. I am afraid you cannot adapt to corporate working environment well.” Serious? How could he know that even before he interviewed me? After hearing that, I calmly replied to him on Wechat, “Thanks for your suggestion and guidance.”

There was another time that I had INTERESTING experience in an interview. One employer promised that there might be a chance for staying after three-month internship without pay. It was not bad. But when I prepared to be on board, my predecessor warned me to take a second thought because no interns have ever stayed after the internship, which means the so-called “chance” was nothing but an empty promise. Isn’t it CRAZY? How could I survive in Beijing without any pay? So I gave up the golden chance of working for a senior governmental institution.

This is not all of the cruel stories in the job market.