China Focus: Chinese graduates vie for civil servant

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China Focus: Chinese graduates vie for civil servant

(Xinhua) 10:11, November 03, 2013

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BEIJING, Nov. 2 -- Shuttling between employment fairs and job-related seminars, post-graduate student Han Xiaomeng is stressed. She is preparing for her national civil servant examination on Nov. 24.

Han, who is studying at the School of Journalism and Communication at Tsinghua University is taking the exam as she wants "a stable and comfortable job with secured permanent residence."

She said, "The economic situation is changeable. However, being a government employee is a secure job covered by a sound welfare network."

With government-covered health care, subsidized housing, high pension rates, slim chances of being laid off, for many applicants, a civil servant role is a safe job.

Statistics showed that applicants taking the exam in 2012, 2013 and 2014 totaled 1.23 million, 1.38 million and 1.52 million respectively. However, they stood a slim chance of securing a job in the public service.

On average, 77 applicants competed for one position this year, of which 37 positions have an enrollment ratio of more than 1,000:1. The ratio is 7,192:1 for the most wanted government post.

As usual, an avalanche of applicants applied for government agencies such as finance, taxation and customs, while meteorology and earthquake attracted few.

Han is looking for a post in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its application ratio is around 57:1.

Yang Xiaolong, a student from the School of International Studies at Peking University, has also been preparing for the exam

"My major fits well with the civil service, and I want to put what I've learnt into practice," the 24-year-old said.