In China, the economy is in a slump, with the unemployment rate, especially among the youth, remaining high. Many recent graduates, including those from prestigious 985 universities, are struggling to find employment opportunities. One particular third-year graduate student shared his experience of being rejected by several major automotive and internet companies due to his undergraduate degree from a non-985 or non-211 university, sparking a debate online.
According to reports from mainland media, Li Zhiyu (pseudonym) graduated from an ordinary university with outstanding results that allowed him to secure admission to a 985 university to study electronic information. During his postgraduate studies, he received multiple scholarships and published four papers in SCI (scientific citation index).
“I applied to several major automotive and internet companies for job opportunities, but I was rejected because of my undergraduate degree,” Li Zhiyu said. While companies do not explicitly state it, the preference for graduates from top-tier universities has become an unspoken rule, with students jokingly referring to such companies as “degree factories.” Even students from the same university, same major, and the same class can face different treatment based on their undergraduate alma mater.
Furthermore, a survey conducted by the human resources service agency “Zhaopin” revealed that 70% of respondents faced restrictions based on their undergraduate alma mater. Among them, 40% encountered companies explicitly prioritizing graduates from 985/211 universities in their job postings, while nearly 30% felt the presence of “invisible thresholds” even when companies did not mention specific requirements for undergraduate backgrounds.
On April 24th, the topic “Master’s graduate from 985 university rejected due to non-985 undergraduate degree” gained traction on social media platforms.
Digital influencer and prominent Weibo user “LoveforTech” commented, “I wonder where this snobbery towards undergraduate degrees comes from. Do we need to trace education lineage through three generations now? If someone can go from a non-985 undergraduate to a 985 master’s, doesn’t that demonstrate capability? Isn’t failing the college entrance exam and pursuing a master’s degree proof enough?”
Netizens expressed their concerns, noting, “While it’s said that every profession is noble and leads to excellence, nowadays, every profession seems to be facing fierce competition. You not only need the highest degree but also the first degree. The college entrance exam has truly become a watershed in life. Finding a job is becoming increasingly difficult, and many seemingly qualified university graduates are struggling to secure employment. What should ordinary people like us do in this era?” “Some Ph.D. holders have to resort to delivering food.” “It’s out of our control. When they recruit ten people and receive hundreds of applications from 985 universities, the HR will naturally favor candidates from those prestigious institutions due to the sheer volume of applicants.”
An IT industry writer and well-known Weibo user “ITGuru” mentioned, “The crux of this issue is quite simple: the supply of talent exceeds demand, and any criteria can be used as selection factors, including but not limited to education background, appearance, height, IQ, gender, hometown, accent, communication skills, family background… Luck also plays a significant role, with numerous factors influencing the outcome. Therefore, attributing rejections solely to one reason, as in this case, is unreasonable and detached from reality.”