Young People Displaying Resumes on Subway Billboards [Zoom In]

Job Search Activities via Subway Billboards Amid Employment Crisis
Concerns Over Youth Unemployment as Economic Growth Slows

Xiang Yaohan, who lives in Guangzhou, submitted resumes to dozens of companies related to artificial intelligence (AI), but it was difficult to even get an interview opportunity due to fierce job competition. After much consideration, he posted his resume on a subway advertisement board. Five days later, his social media account received more than 400 friend requests. He also received contacts from over 50 companies.

Resume on Subway Advertisement Board...Linked to China's Employment Crisis

Young people in China are actively promoting themselves to the public, such as posting resumes on subway advertisement boards. They also use the boards to celebrate personal milestones like wedding anniversaries, graduations, and birthdays.

Chinese media outlets like SoHu.com have focused on the behavior of young people posting resumes on subway advertisement boards, diagnosing this form of 'personal expression' as a new trend among the MZ generation. Not only in Guangzhou but also in other cities such as Beijing, Hefei, Hangzhou, and Nanjing, self-promotion among young people is spreading in subway stations.

The reason young people choose to reveal themselves in front of many people through subway advertisement boards instead of job search websites is closely related to the severe employment difficulties that have continued in recent years.

According to the '2024 University Graduate Employment Rate Survey Report' released by Chinese job site Zhaopin in May, the employment rate of master's and doctoral graduates from general universities in China this year is only 33.2%, down 17 percentage points from last year. The employment rate for undergraduate graduates from general universities is also 43.9%, less than 50%.

China's economy is currently experiencing a slowdown in growth. The economic growth rate for the second quarter of this year dropped to 4.7%. After maintaining a recovery trend following COVID-19 with 4.9% in the third quarter of last year, 5.2% in the fourth quarter, and 5.3% in the first quarter of this year, the growth rate declined again in the second quarter. Chinese President Xi Jinping recently stated that resolving youth unemployment is the top priority, highlighting how urgent and critical the youth employment issue is for China's economy.

Life Changed After Posting Resume on Subway Advertisement Board

Xiang included his own portfolio aimed at getting a job at an AI company in his resume. However, by posting the resume on the advertisement board, he was able to get interview opportunities not only from AI companies but also from various companies such as AI education instructors, insurance brokerage, and internet live broadcasting. Xiang said, "I conducted interviews and SNS live broadcasts, and I had interviews with many companies," adding that his life changed through the subway advertisement.

Ding Ziming (31), a job seeker living in Hefei, also used subway advertisement boards for his job search. After being laid off in February this year, he submitted resumes on job search websites but received no response, so he turned to subway advertisement boards visible to everyone. He later received interview contacts from companies located in Shanghai, Suzhou, and Yunnan. He especially mentioned receiving a lot of support through SNS, saying, "I even met someone who analyzed my resume, and I had the opportunity to openly talk with others experiencing the same employment difficulties."

Local Chinese media report that subway advertisements have become a window for young people to reveal their identities and a new stage for job hunting activities. Regarding this trend, they said, "It is an attempt filled with the creativity and courage of young people," and "It can provide more job opportunities for youth and serve as a chance to inject new vitality and creativity."