On October 21, a job fair specifically for the Northeast Five School Employment Cooperation System, focusing on Jilin University graduates, took place at Jilin University. Over 810 employers participated, offering nearly 50,000 job positions, attracting a large number of graduates.
The Northeast Five School Employment Cooperation System, established in 2004, comprises Northeast University, Dalian University of Technology, Jilin University, Harbin Institute of Technology, and Harbin Engineering University. These institutions not only co-host job fairs but also collaborate closely in areas such as job market development and information resource sharing to improve students’ employment rates and quality.
The job fair featured a diverse range of employers, including 332 private companies, 227 state-owned enterprises and central government enterprises, 46 governmental and public institutions, 36 higher education institutions, and 34 healthcare organizations.
In terms of geographic distribution, there were 336 employers from Northeast China, 175 from the Yangtze River Delta, 92 from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and 32 from the Pearl River Delta. Compared to last year’s job fair for the 2024 graduates, the proportion of Northeast employers increased by 10%, while the proportions from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Pearl River Delta regions decreased.
Manufacturing firms made up the largest segment of participating employers, with substantial job offerings in scientific research and technical services, as well as information transmission and software services. The demand for positions predominantly favored graduates from information technology and engineering disciplines, while areas such as humanities, social sciences, geology, agriculture, and medicine saw relatively lower demand.
Zuo Fangyi, a recruitment manager from China First Automobile Group Corporation, noted that as the company pivots towards renewable energy, their hiring needs have evolved. They are now focusing more on candidates with expertise in renewable energy and smart connectivity rather than solely on those from vehicle and mechanical engineering backgrounds, aiming to recruit more versatile talent.
When asked for advice regarding employment for university students, Zuo emphasized the importance of seeking practical opportunities during their studies to understand employer needs better, suggesting that students adjust their academic and career plans accordingly.
Gan Jiaxin, a master’s student in accounting at the School of Business and Management at Jilin University, shared her success in securing a position with a state-owned enterprise. She highlighted that her university provided ample resources and platforms that boosted her confidence in finding a suitable job, urging her peers to pay close attention to job postings from their universities, as they can be highly beneficial.
In the afternoon, Jilin University hosted a “Supply-Demand Matching Employment Discussion Forum” inviting recruitment representatives from various companies. This initiative aimed to enhance communication and collaboration between the university and key employers, exploring effective pathways for high-quality graduate employment and fostering comprehensive engagement in high-level employment education.
Sun Zhuo, head of the Employment and Entrepreneurship Guidance Service Center at Jilin University, mentioned that in recent years, the university has encouraged students to prioritize career planning and stay informed about industry trends to identify suitable positions for themselves.
