"There are many jobs available for us. We can choose industries including technology services, biomedicine, biomaterials, and bio-devices. Positions from "Front-End" ones such as sales, to "Back-End" ones like development engineers, are all open for us," said Chen Zhuoni, a graduate from GTIIT BFE Program, now working at BGI Genomics.

Wu Nan, also graduating from GTIIT BFE Program and working at Sirio Pharma presently, shared a similar view as Chen that GTIIT graduates would be qualified for a wide range of technical and non-technical positions. She particularly noted that GTIIT students held a unique advantage when applying for positions of business management, "a science and engineering background gives us a deeper understanding of the industry than students from mere business schools."

Jiang Yulin, a graduate of GTIIT CE Program, now engaged in pipeline design for chemical plants, conveyed his thoughts on major. "Chemical Engineering graduates can apply for many jobs. For example, chemical engineering design, which is my current work, or jobs in semiconductors, new energy, organic synthesis of pharmaceuticals and traditional petrochemicals. These areas require chemical background," he said.

Lei Li, a GTIIT MSE Program graduate and an incumbent chip design engineer, found that most of his classmates were taking jobs related to their majors, and a small group chose to take national civil service entrance examination or teacher certificate examination. "Graduating from MSE Program, we can try positions related to semiconductors, energy, polymers, etc. It doesn't matter even if your background is not completely matched since you can learn from work gradually," Lei said.

Several alumni mentioned that major is not the biggest consideration for employers. Employers hope that graduates can demonstrate comprehensive abilities based on the knowledge they have learned in college.

"It's 'experience-matching' rather than 'major-matching'," pointed by Cen Zhinuo, a GTIIT CE Program graduate who received offers from famous companies such as L'Oreal, Budweiser and Huawei. "The job descriptions of the three jobs above are different, and even not fully related to my major, yet relevant working experience can be found in my resume respectively. My association-running experience in GTIIT shows my leadership and abilities to manage a team, which is necessary for distinct positions. The position of L'Oreal was related to sales /logistics/production planning, so I emphasized in the interview that my master program was connected with machine learning, and machine could possibly replace human planning in the future; the production position of Budweiser spoke to my process thinking in chemical engineering during undergraduate; the position of Huawei was about battery development, which was easier for me to understand because I had studied electro-chemistry at GTIIT," Cen shared his experience and thoughts on how to win offers from famous companies by combining his study and abundant experience at GTIIT, "big names value more on candidates' potential, such as your abilities to learn and adapt, rather than your knowledge only."

Salary is the most concern for many graduates looking for jobs. In the interview, several alumni said their monthly salary was more than 10,000 yuan. According to their feedback, the salary of traditional industries is relatively conservative, while the new energy and semiconductor enterprises can provide generous pay. Lei Li introduced that chip design and domestic EDA (Electronic Design Automation) software have been booming in recent years, and the industry is in urgent need of talents, with a higher starting salary. "In the job market in Shanghai, the annual salary for fresh graduates in this direction is about 200,000 to 300,000 yuan, and the annual salary of master graduates can reach 300,000 to 600,000 yuan," he said.

Most Valuable Skills Gained at GTIIT

According to the GTIIT 2021 and 2022 Further Education and Employment Reports, GTIIT graduates self-evaluate six career advantages namely English ability, math and science fundamentals, logical thinking, team work, creativity and program discovering and solving skills. On the other hand, the top five satisfactory competencies of GTIIT graduates rated by employers are listed as: science and engineering thinking, program-solving ability, critical thinking, resilience, and creativity.

Stepping out of the campus and into the workplace, several interviewed graduates mentioned that "English ability" is the most important ability they have gained from GTIIT, which really helps them to be competent in multinational companies or international business.

"Now most companies attach great importance to English because nearly all of them need to deal with foreign customers, and you will take English interview and submit your English scores," Jiang Yulin shared. Chen Zhuoni, who is responsible for international business in her daily work, also believed that English ability that she acquired in GTIIT has enabled her to adapt to the English working environment. "Four years of English teaching provided me with knowledge as well as effective communication skills," she said.

Wu Nan mentioned that GTIIT provided courses that were closely related to the actual research and development process. It considerably contributed to the offer from Sirio and quickly allowed her to get started on the job. "As a BFE Program graduate, I can quickly understand the needs of the R&D team. All the experience and learning in GTIIT, including the factory design and food development courses, the business projects I participated in, as well as the working experience in the laboratory, can be transferred to my practical work."

Lei Li, who is engaged in chip design, often reviews the slides of semiconductor and packaging courses that he took at GTIIT. "I took these courses on my own initiative and decided to dive in this direction. These slides are good reference for me to conduct chip design and tape-out process."

In addition to a solid foundation in science and engineering, GTIIT graduates have also benefited from the communication and thinking skills acquired here. Cen Zhinuo shared, "we are encouraged to ask questions and make presentations, which is conducive for our expression skills and English ability; the science and engineering thinking, logical thinking and critical thinking cultivated here are highly crucial in the workplace; laboratory experience with following reflection truly helps us stand out of the applicants.”

Missing You, My Alma Mater

Looking back on the four years in GTIIT, the alumni are full of gratitude towards the university.

Cen Zhinuo is the founding President of GTIIT Association of Commercial Entrepreneur. He said, "I didn't waste my time in GTIIT, and I did as much as I wanted to do in the association. I also harvested a lot, expectedly or unexpectedly. I am grateful that GTIIT has offered me such a great platform and I sincerely hope that my junior fellows spend more time discovering meaningful things on campus. It's their value that we should care about, rather than the energy and time we have put in. At the end of the day, you will realize it's so precious to study in GTIIT."

Amongst the first batch of undergraduate students from GTIIT, Jiang Yulin has witnessed GTIIT grow from bricks to a beautiful campus. "I sincerely thank GTIIT for its excellent learning environment. What impressed me most is that we can use independent ventilation for each person. It is incredibly lucky to spend four years here!"

"Thank GTIIT for everything you have brought me!" As Chen Zhuoni recalled the life in GTIIT, "days of experiments in the labs, staying up for reports, and strolling around campus in the cool night breeze remain fresh in my memory. Four years is not that long, yet I will miss it for a life time. Whenever someone asks me about GTIIT, I will give compliments without reservation. I sincerely wish my Alma Mater a better future!"

Wu Nan appreciated GTIIT and the professors for offering her great opportunities to work in different laboratories and research groups. She was able to explore freely to find out her way. "The teachers gave me the greatest support, encouragement and respect when I wondered whether to choose further study for scientific research or embark on a career. Although I didn't pursue an academic career, these experiences did help me grow and equip me with relevant skills in work," she added.

In accordance with the teaching methods and teaching quality assurance system of Technion, courses are delivered entirely in English at GTIIT. GTIIT provides students with a multi-cultural, interactive, innovative, and international learning environment, to cultivate students with a wide knowledge system to take challenges and develop innovative thinking. In addition, through various activities and projects, students are able to apply theoretical knowledge into practical problems in the laboratories and social practices, and explore innovative solutions in the real world, getting well-prepared for further study and employment.

We wish GTIIT graduates shine bright in distinct realms, and hope that students studying at GTIIT currently learn from their seniors and pursue their own dreams!

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, interviewees