The bar chart above reflects what undergraduates plan to do after graduation. 35.2% of undergraduates plan to sit the Civil Service Exams, and 31.9% plan to take examinations for a graduate program, each accounting for approximately one third of the total. Just under 10% plan to be teachers; 13.4% wish to work for companies; 3.7% aim to start their own business; and 6% have alternative ideas.
With the job market becoming increasingly gloomy, undergraduates are opting for two main career paths. The first is to improve their career prospects by opting for further studies, whether for a master's or doctoral degree. The second is to aim for an "iron rice bowl" to give themselves job security. Whereas before most undergraduates' preference would have been to work for a company, these jobs are now harder to attain and the financial rewards less than before.
It is becoming more and more apparent that to find a job and then to keep it are the key driving forces behind graduates' decisions today.
关键词：考研英语
