'Guanxi' key to job hunting
(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-31 09:23

Asking friends and family members for help is the best way to find a job, according to a large number of respondents to a survey on unemployment.

The survey, which was released by the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau yesterday, polled more than 4,000 locals at the city's recent career guidance lecture series about job hunting and employment. Most of the respondents were unemployed and between the ages of 25 and 35.

About 42 percent of people surveyed said that an introduction from relatives and friends was the best way of finding a job in the current highly competitive market. Only 32 percent said online job sites are the best place to find work.

About 25 percent of respondents said traditional job fairs are still the best method to land employment, the report said.

Besides, 57 percent respondents also said that family members or acquaintances were the first people they would turn to if they encounter any obstacles in their job seeking process.

Zhu lin, a local university graduate, said personal contacts seem to be the only reliable job-hunting method.

"A huge number of applicants will easily bury your resume at the bottom if you don't have some guanxi, or personal contacts, with the employer," she said.

Zhu said those without good contacts have to look for positions online, but the success rate is extremely low.

Sheng zuhuan, vice director of the bureau's employment division, said that it is natural for employers to pick applicants that are recommended by people they know well.

"For people who don't have any recommendation, an important task is demonstrating their abilities to employers skillfully," Sheng said.

The report also said many people lack strong job seeking and interview skills.