According to the findings of a study commissioned by the National Youth Commission and executed by the Chunghua Institute for Economic Research, of those students who graduated from ROC institutions of higher learning during 1984 and 1985, approximately half were able to find employment within a month after graduation. However, twenty months after commencement ceremonies there remained two percent who had yet to locate work. The age-old Chinese lesson that scholarly pursuits are superior to all other forms of occupation is meeting with serious tests of practicability in the modern twentieth century.
Only four or five years ago, successfully testing into university was an occurrence worthy to bring glory to the name of one's ancestors, but the joy which accompanied that event has by now turned to anxious worry over what the future may hold after graduation.
University graduates who find them selves unemployed must withstand tremendous amounts of pressure. The apparently excessive concern of family and friends, the comparing of themselves with more successful peers, and the fact that they need to rely on others for economic support may lead to a dampening of self-respect and self-confidence. These factors all work together to create so much stress that they may feel that they hardly have space to breathe. In the end, depression, discouragement, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness all come to take their turns at tormenting the unemployed, to the point that it becomes extremely difficult for them to face up to going out to look for work yet once again, thus completing a vicious circle.
How does one overcome this emotional low? "Put on your emotional stability belt!" experts suggest. For some people going through periods of emotional fluctuation, listening to classical music can help to calm themselves down, some people prefer to absorb their attentions in reading, while others vent their frustrations through the writing of a daily journal. These methods used to maintain emotional constancy have become known as "emotional stability belts".
Seeking the help of others is another useful method of relieving pressure. Generally speaking, in our society the people with the most concern for and the highest expectations of us are our parents. "At times like these, we must first come to an understanding of our parents' concerns and viewpoints, and at the same time let them know the reasons for our inability to find work. Then we will receive their sympathy and spiritual as well as material support," explains Li Ta-wei, director of the Department of Industrial Arts Education at the National Taiwan Normal University.
Secondly, one may rely on the help of friends. "The stimulation provided by one's peers is extremely important," says Hsia Lin-ch'ing, professor of applied psychology at Fu Jen Catholic University. As she suggests, at the time of graduation it might not be a bad idea to form a small group of several close friends, establishing certain periodic meeting times when ideas may be discussed and insights exchanged. It may also be helpful to find upperclassmen to serve as "strategists" for the group. However, as others gradually locate their respective niches and the lines before the offices where interviews are being conducted become shorter and shorter, the stress becomes especially great. At this point one can only rely on oneself.
In the American best seller Tough Times Don't Last, But Tough People Do, Dr. Robert H. Schuller provides an angle of positive thinking on the subject. He argues that we need not fear failure, because failure does not mean that we ourselves are failures, it means only that we have not yet succeeded. Failure does not mean that we have accomplished nothing, it means that we have gained an experience. Failure does not mean that we should give up, it means that we need to put forth more effort. Does this make you feel any better? Indeed, heeding the advice of experts is yet another effective form of alleviating stress.
Professor Hsia Lin-ch'ing reports that "after long-term observation of successive graduating classes at universities throughout the ROC, I have found that students commonly show great uncertainty as to just what it is that they intend to do with their futures." She categorizes the main reasons for such incertitude as follows: a fundamental lack of certainty as to where one's interests and abilities actually lie; an unclear understanding of what one hopes to obtain from one's work; and a lack of conviction as to the kind of person that one wishes to become.
During the years of preparatory schooling, students must cope with the incredible looming pressure of the college entrance examination; they are constantly harried by the prospect of not being able to measure up. Society and educational institutions do little at this stage in the way of encouraging students to pursue a course of self-realization. Given such circumstances, graduating students cannot be overly blamed for their incertitude concerning their futures.
Many experts agree with the concept that personalities do not generally stabilize until after the age of 35. Of greatest importance during this period of flux is learning to know oneself and giving oneself plenty of opportunity and leeway to experiment with a variety of interests. In addition to understanding oneself, understanding the working world and how to go about choosing a field are two other important prerequisites to finding a job.
According to research, the absence of a particular specialty when seeking employment is one key factor in creating difficulties for job-hunting graduates. This is especially true for majors in literature, physics, and the social sciences. Because these fields place heavy emphasis on theory and give less attention to practical courses and specialized training, graduates of these departments have an even harder time in finding employment. For these reasons, educators with an eye to alleviation of the unemployment problem are advocating a move within institutions of higher learning to strengthen students' backgrounds in computer information systems, personal interaction skills, and foreign languages.
As pertains to the actual process of job-hunting, which methods are the most effective? Within the ROC the most commonly used approaches are: searching through the want ads in the newspapers; availing oneself of the connections of friends, relatives, and teachers; attending government service examinations; and participating in National Youth Commission screenings. Though the methods are many, there is no approach which is absolutely certain to be effective. Each has its own advantages and risks; no one is offering any guarantees.
As you go about searching for employment, remember to keep your eyes wide open for any and all possible sources of aid, and don't neglect to ask for assistance. Don't be bashful! Looking for employment is a matter of course in anyone's life, and in this generation it is no longer merely a matter of "finding a job," it is rather more like "grabbing a job."
[Picture Caption]
As commencement ceremonies begin, the faces of graduating students reflect both ecstasy and anxiety. (photo by Vincent Chang)
"How can I make a good showing?" Perhaps the answers are hidden on the "Help Wanted" bulletin board. (photo by Vincent Chang)
Annual Unemployment Rates
[Picture]
At a Japanese graduation ceremony, both men and women are full of smiles. Women, however, have a much more bitter battle ahead of them as they enter working society.
Annual Unemployment Rates
[Picture]
Time Spent on Finding Initial Employment (for Graduates of Junior College and Above)
[Picture]
Letting off steam with friends can help one to get through the awkward period of unemployment.
Self-realization is not an easy task. So many faces, which one is the real me?
Time Spent in Finding Initial Employment (According to Department Graduated From)
[Picture]
"How can I make a good showing?" Perhaps the answers are hidden on the "Help Wanted" bulletin board. （photo by Vincent Chang）
At a Japanese graduation ceremony, both men and women are full of smiles. Women, however, have a much more bitter battle ahead of them as they enter working society.
Letting off steam with friends can help one to get through the awkward period of unemployment.
Self-realization is not an easy task. So many faces, which one is the real me?
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