Chinese Workplace Rules

Author: Tian Xian / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: Lin Qiang’s first attempt at entering the workforce ended in failure, which had a negative impact on his later career. For a long time afterward, he remained stuck in failure, unable to extricate himself. Many newcomers, like Lin Qiang, blame poor placement and hope for immediate success. In reality, many seasoned professionals say that the first job one takes often lays a solid foundation for future career development. This raises the question: where should one’s job be positioned? This is a concern for those just starting out in the workforce—no one wants to get the main door right but the side door wrong.
Zhang Jian was a top student in the Journalism Department of a university, with the online alias "Flowers Flying on the Pen." During his time in school, he had published numerous articles, some of which gained significant attention in society. His name frequently appeared on the university website, making him a sought-after "white horse knight" among many girls. Upon graduation, Zhang Jian and several classmates were assigned to a newspaper office. He assumed, naturally, that he would be placed in the "News Department" as a "reporter," covering important meetings and breaking news—that was what he considered truly meaningful work. However, the results announced by the leadership left him disappointed. He was assigned to the Editor-in-Chief’s office, while the other two classmates were placed as intern reporters in the News Department.
Zhang Jian began to complain about "poor placement" and privately criticized the leadership for not recognizing his talent. In reality, the leadership’s arrangement was not born of ignorance but rather a desire for him to gain a comprehensive understanding of the newspaper’s operations and the bigger picture, so he could better fulfill his role. Unfortunately, he failed to appreciate the leadership’s good intentions. These young people often believe they are being "underutilized" and tend to "have lofty ambitions," but some young people also seize the opportunity.
Xiao Liu graduated from a university’s Computer Science Department and joined a bank. He could write programs and design various complex systems, so logically, he should have been working in the technical department. However, unexpectedly, he was "sentenced" to a branch of the bank as a cashier at the counter. This left him somewhat "confused." He spent his days dealing with depositors, making one transaction after another—truthfully, he found it dull. Yet, he still performed his duties impeccably and even improved the computer system of that small branch.
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