FindinFinding a job is becoming increasingly difficult for many young people in China, with some now turning to unusual methods, including dating apps, to improve their chances of employment.
The shift comes as pressure builds in the job market. The unemployment rate for people aged 16 to 24, excluding students, has remained above 16 per cent in recent months. For many graduates and first-time jobseekers, the path to employment is no longer straightforward.
Young people say they are sending out dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications each week, but receiving very few replies. Some describe the process as exhausting and discouraging, with long waiting times and little feedback from employers. As competition increases, even well-qualified candidates are finding it difficult to stand out.
In response, some jobseekers have started thinking outside the box. Dating apps, typically used to meet potential partners, are now being used to make professional connections. Instead of focusing solely on personal interests, users are adding details about their education, skills and career goals. Some even directly state that they are seeking job opportunities.
The idea behind this approach is simple: reach more people and increase the chances of being noticed. Dating apps often have large and active user bases, and conversations there can feel more natural and less formal than on traditional job platforms.
At the same time, the opposite trend is also emerging. On some recruitment websites, where people usually post CVs and apply for jobs, users are beginning to interact more casually. What starts as a professional conversation can sometimes develop into a friendship or even something more personal.
These trends reflect both creativity and pressure. On the one hand, young people are finding new ways to adapt and use technology to their advantage. On the other, it highlights how challenging the job market has become, pushing people to try options they might not have previously considered.
Experts point out that while these methods may occasionally lead to opportunities, they are not a reliable solution. Long-term improvement will depend on stronger job creation, better support for young workers and a more balanced job market.
For now, the boundaries between job hunting and social networking are becoming less clear. In a difficult employment environment, some young people in China are not just swiping for relationships, but also hoping to swipe their way into a job opportunity.
Pakistan is pushing for urgent global action and greater climate funding as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends COP31 in Türkiye, warning th...
Armenia has lost its voting rights and the ability to nominate officials for certain posts within the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organi...
Four million workers across Spain joined a general strike on Wednesday over the country’s deepening housing crisis, unions said, bringing dis...
Delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for their first formal talks in nine months. They did so with no agreement on what a ceasefire would be tied to or who gets to keep the land currently under Russian control.
At least 17 people have been reported killed in an explosion at a steel plant in western Türkiye, after a crane collapsed during maintenance work. The disaster has prompted a criminal investigation into what went wrong at the industrial facility.
Armenia could lose its voting rights within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on 11 November after failing to pay membership fees for more than two years, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said.
U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said Washington believes the Russian President is prepared to reach a peace agreement under the right conditions, as U.S., Russian and Ukrainian delegations began trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 10 November.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 11 November. Today, we cover Russia-Ukraine peace talks, political tensions in Washington, strikes in Spain, espionage allegations involving Nvidia's CEO, and climate negotiations at COP31 in Türkiye.
NASA is inviting people to send their names to Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, aboard its Dragonfly spacecraft. Set to arrive in late 2034, the mission will explore dunes and an impact crater in search of clues about how the chemical ingredients for life may have formed.
Environmental organisations worldwide are increasingly using artificial intelligence to monitor wildfires, protect endangered species and analyse climate data, even as the technology's rising energy and water consumption raises concerns about its environmental impact.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would support states seeking to generate wealth through artificial intelligence, pledging to work with them as Democrats outlined plans to address the technology following Tuesday’s elections, which unsettled markets.
Dubai will host GITEX Global 2026 from 7 to 11 December, bringing together global technology leaders, governments and investors as surging demand for artificial intelligence (AI) puts pressure on energy supplies, computing capacity and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Aramco's acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in artificial intelligence (AI) company HUMAIN is putting a spotlight on a wider investment question: why are some of the world's biggest energy companies moving deeper into AI, and what do they expect to gain?
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment