Brutal Truth: Just Hit Hangzhou & The Main Streets Are...
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Sure, no problem! Here's the rewritten version for your friends who are considering visiting Hangzhou:
Hey, do you enjoy looking up at trees as much as I do?
I am visiting Hangzhou for the first time. During my first week here, what struck me most was the presence of elderly people, especially in the evenings just before sunset. On the banks of the renowned Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, in parks, and small squares, all one could see were content seniors enjoying their senior years. At that time, not having much luck finding a job myself, it almost made me lose heart, but eventually, I pulled through it. Here are some heartfelt words for everyone:
(Just between us, if you are fresh out of school or have little experience, I would strongly advise against coming to Hangzhou in search of a job!)
However, if your visit is strictly for leisure travel, then I’d wholeheartedly recommend it - Hangzhou truly is an amazing place!Here are some insights you might want to know if staying here in the long run:
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Looking for a job? It might be harder than you think!
- Although Hangzhou is said to be a hub for e-commerce and the internet economy, with lots of opportunities. But when actually going through interviews, you’ll find that the competition is extremely intense (our term for this is 'volley'), and salaries offered aren’t high. Consider this, why should companies pay high wages for jobs anyone can do? Unless of course, you already have extensive work experience. Roles like ‘Operations Assistant’ often involve miscellaneous tasks, so you’d need to weigh your options.
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Caution: Living costs are rather steep!
- If you spend all you earn in Hangzhou, how much is really left behind? You may end up feeling like exhausted ‘oxen and horses’, working hard for the city without proper appreciation and return.
- Savings Tips: Accommodation, meals, and even food such as vegetables and fruits, can be pricey. Here are my suggestions:
- Try community group purchases (through platforms where neighbors unite online for shopping deals).
- Buy your groceries via certain shopping apps.
- Keep meals simple by cooking at home; it saves a lot!
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Advice for Fresh Graduates / Common Workers:
- The current job market is tough, so don’t quit your current job on a whim and come to Hangzhou.
- Quitting blindly (without any plan) will only aggravate anxiety.
- However, compared to smaller cities, Hangzhou indeed offers abundant job opportunities. If you’re willing to endure hardship, you can give it a try anyway! (Though it could mean experiencing more challenges!)
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Tips on Accommodation:
- Initially, consider sharing accommodation with others.
- Prefer locations close to your company so you don’t waste time commuting every day (a sense of exhaustion we sometimes jokingly refer to as 'workiness').
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Lastly, feel free to share your experiences if you've had a great time here or enjoying life in Hangzhou, so that I can hear good news, cheer on, and send blessings with likes.
#JobSearch #2024 #HangingzhouLife #NomadicExperienceInHangzhou #YoungGirlInHangzhou #BareQuitAndHowAreYouNow #UnemploymentEmotionRecord #HangzhouTravel #TheOddClimateInHangzhouReallyIsSpecial
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I don't get why people are scrambling to get into Hangzhou. If it's just as tough, why not try Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou?
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Can ordinary folks even afford a place in Beijing or Shanghai? In Hangzhou, it's possible.
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As an economics graduate, let me tell you: you think Hangzhou is tough just because you're here. But if you went anywhere else, you'd likely find employment and life even harder. Both environment and data suggest Hangzhou is currently the best city for young people to develop. The overall economic climate is extremely challenging, making jobs scarce and life even harder for small business owners. If you don't have strong skills, life will be particularly difficult. That's also why birth rates are declining—the 'environment and temperature' are no longer conducive to 'reproduction'.
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But I was in Wuxi before, and I felt like I could get by on 5,000-plus a month. In Hangzhou, I feel like that's not enough. The high cost of living is one thing, but more importantly, rent is exorbitant for often terrible, partitioned apartments.
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Some personal advice: once you're settled, getting an electric scooter makes life so much easier. If you're in Xiaoshan District, you can often find elderly folks selling homegrown vegetables by the roadside, which are relatively cheap. It's good to have a sense of urgency, but use your free time to improve yourself. After all, the goal of working here is to make money, not just to slave away.
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Thanks, got it.
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Without the social security contributions you're paying, how could the elderly enjoy their comfortable retirement?
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And without the contributions of the older generation when they were young, we wouldn't have the standard of living we do today.
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So, which developed, civilized city with high wages, a good environment, and low living costs also offers plenty of job opportunities? Recommendations, please. Don't just criticize without offering solutions.
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Shenzhen.
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I quit my job without another lined up and came to Hangzhou alone by train in mid-May. But I had already secured a new position. Now I live in company-provided housing (an apartment in a residential complex, nice environment), and it's about a 9-minute electric scooter ride to work. I work 9 AM to 6 PM with a 1.5-hour lunch break, have afternoon tea once a week, and our department has a fridge and microwave, so I bring my own lunch. Life is pretty regular, which is great.
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Sounds great, I'm envious! Keep it up!
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It's thanks to us 'beasts of burden'—the working class—that elderly folks who didn't contribute to social security can still have a happy retirement.
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West Lake was just okay. My overall impression of Hangzhou is pretty average.