3 . “When I was a child, I enjoyed watching Chinese dramas such as Princess Pearl and Journey to the West. Fascinated by the Chinese language and culture, I finally pursued it as my major for both my undergraduate and master’s degrees,” said Dinh Thi Thu Ha, a 32-year-old Vietnamese woman working at the waste burning power factory of China First Metallurgical(冶金)Group.

When she first applied for the job in 2019, she aimed for the translator position because the company was preparing for a Vietnam project, its first overseas waste-to-energy factory, in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, and it was in great need of translators. “At first, I wasn’t sure how long I could do the job since the working environment was harsh. We were surrounded by garbage, the smell was terrible and dark-colored water would flow everywhere after the rain,” Dinh recalled. But the demanding environment was not her only difficulty as Dinh soon found out that being bilingual (双语的) wasn’t enough for her to be a qualified translator. She had to be an expert in the field of garbage disposal (垃圾处理) too.

“The biggest challenge I faced was the translation of technical terms, many of which I couldn’t understand at the time,” Dinh said. “Whenever I ran into words or expressions that I wasn’t familiar with and couldn’t look up myself, I would ask my Chinese colleagues to explain them to me. They were always eager and happy to help.” In the company’s Vietnam branch, the number of Chinese staff slightly goes beyond that of Vietnamese, but Dinh said she never felt any cultural differences. “We’re not divided by our nationalities, and we’re members of the same family — China First Metallurgical Group.”

Dinh now works as a junior manager, and her job description includes translation, foreign affairs contactor, and marketing. As a local resident of Hanoi, Dinh is very proud to have contributed to this project. “I hope to improve my information research and negotiation skills in the future and to further explore and develop the Vietnamese market with my colleagues.”

4 . At 6 feet, 7 inches, Will Allen was a natural at basketball. He received scholarship offers from more than a hundred colleges. He finally chose the University of Miami.

Going away to college meant leaving the family farm. He remembered how hard that life on the farm had been. Now that his life was full of possibilities, he swore he would never go back to farming.

After college, Allen began a pro-basketball career in Belgium, where, ironically (讽刺地), he rediscovered farming. He found the farmers there farmed the way his parents had back home, caring for the land without using chemicals and fertilizers.

Allen and his family moved back to the United States in 1977 after he retired from basketball. They settled in Milwaukee, where his wife’s family owned a farm. In 1993, Allen bought the last remaining farm in the city of Milwaukee, where he began his career as an urban farmer. Later he formed his own organization Growing Power, one of the world’s top urban agricultural organizations.

Allen also travelled across the United States, Africa, and Central Asia to help people grow food more efficiently in ways that fit in with their own culture. “Food is in short supply all over the world right now,” he says. “A lot of people are hungry. We need to grow food everywhere we can—in backyards and side yards, on rooftops, and even in buildings.”

He has spoken about urban agriculture around the world and is currently designing a vertical farm which is a new way to help feed more people in cities. “My main mission is to bring food into people’s lives and train people how to grow food. That continues to be important to me. ” said Allen. He said so, and he did so.

“Growing food is powerful,” Allen says. “It can change the world!”

5 . If you dream about working and meanwhile travelling in different countries, we’ve made a list of jobs that allow you to tour around the globe while earning some money!

If you’re in the medical field, becoming a travel nurse is a good option. A travel nurse in worldwide demand is well paid, so medical professionals can wear uniforms on any continent. The nursing assignments vary in the length of working time. You can enjoy accommodation payment and insurance benefits, but you have to work in the high-stress environment.

A waiter abroad is a popular choice for young travelers because some restaurants don’t require much precious experience or qualifications, but they do not have access to high health insurance. Many people do service work for a while to earn enough money to travel abroad for the rest of the year. It’s OK for those without family to deal with customers at night, but they can’t get high wages.

English is one of the world’s most spoken languages, so there is always a demand for people who can teach it. Being an English teacher abroad often requires a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification. There are some popular destinations for prospective teachers. However, as teachers abroad, especially part-time teachers, their salaries are not high.

Oil industry is one of the highest paying fields for both skilled and unskilled workers, with plenty of opportunities to travel whether they fulfill a position in exploration or production. You can be a researcher or an engineer on deep sea drilling rigs (钻塔). The job is well paid, and you can help companies do less harm to the sea.

Please accept my application for the internship (实习) you posted through ABC College’s Career Services Office. I would love the opportunity to work as an editorial assistant for your company. After reading the job description, I believe I am a well-qualified candidate for the position.

You state that you are looking for someone with strong writing skills for publishing press releases and other informational materials. As an English major, a writing tutor, and an editor of my school paper, I have considerable experience in both writing and editing and have built up a highly relevant skill set. And my attention to detail and commitment to a future career in the publishing business will make me an excellent editorial assistant.

I meet your requirements that applicants should be both academically successful and resourceful. I am a double major with a 3.99GPA (平均学分绩点). I have demonstrated resourcefulness while working for Sarasota Reads, a program that involves discussing literature with children. For example, I have come up with numerous creative ways to engage them in the novels that we read together.

I am confident that my writing skills, academic record, resourceful nature, and office experience make me a qualified candidate for an internship with your company. I have attached my résumé (简历), along with a recommendation from Jim Greenspan, . my supervisor (导师) at the Career Services Office. I would appreciate an interview opportunity to discuss a potential position with you further. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Annie

8 . Why Do Millennials (千禧一代) Keep Changing Jobs?

Millennials have been labelled as the “job-hopping generation”. In fact, a recent survey showed that 49% of millennials would leave their job within the next two years! Observers from older generations may think it is caused by the youth’s laziness. However, if we search deeper, there is more than meets the eye.

Instead of the traditional and practical reasons of changing jobs, such as to get better salaries or greater job stability (稳定), many millennials are inspired by value-driven goals. For example, more have to seek new opportunities whenever they lack a sense of belonging in their present jobs. Additionally, some also leave their positions for companies which better suit their value system. Therefore, it is clear that many millennials do not only consider their jobs as a source of income, but in fact, seek meaning and professional achievement in their daily jobs.

Clearly, the fearlessness of millennials in seeking job opportunities has been inspired by new business models. With the rise of online platforms, millennials who prefer work-life balance and flexibility have been attracted towards such jobs. Moreover, the increase of social media has also created more career paths. From food and travel bloggers to YouTube content creators, more millennials are leaving boring desk-bound jobs to look for more untraditional, but certainly attractive, careers.

However, people have different opinions on job-hopping. While some employers value rich experience and skills that job-hopping brings about, many of them still look down upon job-hopping. Some even argue in disappointment that the youths of today are lazy, unable to bear hardships and too self-centered.

The former American President Jimmy Carter once said, “Human identity is no longer defined (定义) by what one does but by what one owns.” Indeed, his comment still rings true today. Rather than allow traditional models of success in society to define our youths, the millennial generation should be encouraged to define new horizons of success by making the right career choices guided by the right values.

9 . We’re now witnessing the emergence (出现) of an advanced economy based on information and knowledge. Physical labor, raw materials, and capital (资本) are no longer the key ingredients in the creation of wealth.     1     Tomorrow’s wealth depends on the development and exchange of knowledge. And individuals entering the workforce offer their knowledge, not their muscles.     2     Knowledge workers engage in (从事) mind work. They deal with symbols: words, figures and data.

    3     As a future knowledge worker, you can expect to be generating as well as exchanging information. Currently, three out of four jobs involve some form of mind work, and that number will increase sharply in the future. Management and employees alike will be making decisions in areas such as product development, quality control, and customer satisfaction.

In the new world of work, you can look forward to being in constant training to acquire new skills that will help you keep up with improved technologies and procedures.     4     Gone are the nine-to-five jobs, lifetime security, predictable promotions, and even the conventional workplace, as you are familiar with. Don’t expect the companies will provide you with a clearly defined career path. And don’t wait for someone to “empower” you.     5    

10 . For many American high school seniors and their families, May 1 is “National College Decision Day,” when students make a decision about their academic future.     1     According to a recent survey, more than half of Americans don’t even think college is worth the cost. This is upsetting, as completing college is as important as ever.

    2     Even in today’s competitive labor market, college graduates find work much easier and tend to command significantly higher incomes. The unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree or greater is currently half that of those with a high school degree. This college income advantage is due to technological advances like the personal computer and the Internet, which have caused a huge demand for skilled workers. The rapid advances today in automation and artificial intelligence will further increase the need for a highly skilled workforce.     3    

It is understandable why many students and families suspect that college is no longer “worth it.” College tuition has been rising for years, and many students fear being burdened with loans after graduation. But in fact, the net price of a four-year college, which is what students pay after financial aid, has been falling since 2018 and is now lower than it was in 2006.     4     In other words, the investment paid off.

To make smart decisions about where to go and what to study, students and parents can make use of resources available today to make informed choices.     5     With these resources, students can gain a reasonable picture of what their future holds down each potential path.