I'm looking for a sense of personal achievement

Last year, I quit my job as a salesman at a Ciming Health Checkup Center in Beijing and started a six-month short-video development course. Classes were suspended for several months as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, so I am still studying.

I paid 20,000 yuan ($3,096) for the course, and the school promised to recommend all the students for job interviews until we found employment.

I am learning to make videos to promote companies and analyze the audience data. I believe short-video platforms will remain one of the most popular communication methods in the coming decade.

A friend is earning 20,000 yuan a month at an internet company after studying Java, a programming language. The sector is full of job opportunities. I don't expect to work for large companies such as Baidu, though, because I know they require a bachelor's degree or higher. Medium-sized businesses are fine for me.

In 2012, I graduated from Beijing International University, a private technical school, with a major in information technology.

My first job was with Vancl, an online clothing retailer. I quit after a year and started working as a salesman, handing out leaflets on the street and visiting different companies to develop relationships with customers. I didn't like the job because I always had to ask people for something. It was like begging them to do things.

If I learn the technical skills that are needed in this new age, I won't have to go out every day to deal with interpersonal relationships or beg anyone. My job will revolve around sitting in an office, enjoying the air conditioning and tackling technical issues.

My goal is to become a manager after five years and use my experience to instruct young technicians. That's the usual career path for technicians.

I come from Xilin Gol League, the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, but I couldn't find a good job in internet technology at home.

I have heard that programmers in Beijing always have to work overtime, so I have prepared myself for that. I believe my new career will bring me a great sense of achievement.

Cai Cheng spoke with Li Hongyang.