A college graduate fills a form at a job fair. (Photo/Shanghai Morning Post)
(ECNS) - A majority of Shanghai parents think it's OK if their children choose not to apply for a job after graduating from college, and encourage their children to pursue government jobs, the Shanghai Morning Post reported on Tuesday.
The Shanghai branch of the National Bureau of Statistics interviewed 806 parents about the influence they have on the job preferences of college graduates.
More than 55 percent support their children in taking a gap period after graduation, provided they have solid reasons. During the period, graduates will neither find a job nor pursue advanced education, but they will rest or travel instead.
It's common for parents to accompany children to job fairs, send resumes to potential employers, and undertake interviews on their behalf, according to the survey.
The survey found that 51.5 percent hope their children end up as civil servants, and 27.8 percent prefer that they work for state-owned enterprises. Nearly 15 percent say they would accept their children working for foreign companies, while only 2.2 percent favor work with private enterprises.
Compared with a survey conducted last year, the number of parents wanting their children to take stable jobs with government organizations and institutions is rising.
The survey also shows that parents who work as civil servants and in state-owned enterprises are more likely to want their children to follow in their footsteps - 64.6 and 40.6 percent respectively.
Of six factors influencing job seeking - namely salary and benefits, hukou (household registration system), location, future prospects, matching personal interests and personality, and work environment - 79.9 percent of parents think salary and benefits are the most important.
Nearly 30 percent think that "guanxi," which translates into "networks" or "connections," is important in securing an ideal job.
The survey also finds that 71.2 percent hope their children will work in Shanghai, while 14.4 percent choose first-tier cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Only 4.2 percent don't care about the employment location of their children.
Parents expect their children to earn 5,100 yuan ($821) per month and to focus on accumulating more experience or developing capabilities in their first job, the report said.
