Creative graduation photos of post-90s generation

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Now to talk more about the graduation season, we are joined in the studio by my colleague Wu Haojun.

Q1: Most of this year’s graduating class belongs to the "jiu ling hou," or post-90s generation. They are often said to be a non-conforming group. So how are they celebrating their graduation?

A: The post-90s generation is often thought to be independent, innovative, and confident. And that’s why it comes as no surprise that they want to have a little more fun with their final photo ops together. First this is what a graduation photo is "supposed" to look like black gowns, neat lines, and a sense of gravity of the occasion. Well now, you have here graduates from the Zhejiang University of Science and Technology forgoing the standard academic style, and opting for the traditional costume Hanfu. And at the other end of the spectrum, going for a classic western look, graduates from the Xi’an Foreign Studies University are posing in the school cafeteria, emulating the Last Supper. And college romance, a bit of a taboo topic just a few years back. But graduates today certainly have no problem with the expression of love, and marriage proposals are increasingly becoming part of the equation.

Q2: Definitely a lot of creativity shown there. Now after graduation finding a good job is gonna be a challenge for many graduates. What are their expectations and what’s the reality?

A: Fresh graduates this year will need a bit of a reality check before they go job hunting. According to a survey done by Zhilianzhaoping, one of the largest human resource services site in China, when it comes to future salary the majority of graduates actually have it right. Both expected and actual starting salary are between 3000 and 3500 yuan per month. However, on the lower end of the spectrum, it’s gonna come as a surprise for some. While only 0.6% of the graduates expect their starting salary to be lower than 2000, it will be the case for over 8% of them. So if you ask me, if you really love what you do, you should take a job first, and worry about the money later.