Here I want to share with my young friends my experience in job hunting with only one misgiving that I have to make known my occupation. The discreet reader must have guessed that I must be working in a medicine related profession; actually I am a gastroenterologist, a doctor treating gastrointestinal disorders.

After graduated from Shandong Medical University, I went on to pursue my graduate career in Peking Union Medical College with the intention of obtaining a doctorate.  All has gone well in the first two years and my hopes rose high, but my hope was dashed when at the mid-term of the third year, the Education Division informed that I could not continue my doctoral program, which meant one thing then, I had to go job hunting.  It was not an exaggeration at all. I knew before hand that most of the large hospitals have set it as a rule that only those who have MDs are qualified for an interview. Summoning up enough courage, accompanied by several colleagues, I began my arduous journey to the market. Needless to say I didn’t venture to get an interview with the prestigious hospitals, instead I lowered my goal and targeted on the moderate ones. After sending in a dozen of my curricula, I beat a hasty retreat, with little hope of being chosen by any of them.

   Surprisingly a few days later the personnel director of a hospital in a suburban district of Beijing notified that they were very interested in my background and my character. A date was settled for the interview. That day I was very anxious: I got up early, trimmed my appearance, caught on the early bus, and arrived there one hour ahead of time. There were already several students waiting anxiously outside the office. Carefully I approached a seemingly senior clerk, and introduced myself to him, who promptly picked up my curriculum and began to size me up. I felt a great relief when he nodded and smiled. The talk was the most pleasant in my life. They said the director of the GI department was vacant and I was the best candidate. They even provided for my living. I was intoxicated and couldn’t believe my eyes. I promised that I should sign the contract within a month. What happened later? I didn’t go there as my tutor strongly disapproved of my decision. To this day I often can’t help regretting this missed opportunity.

  The good thing is that the choice of a relatively low-caste position has served as an armament, backing you up to fight for a better one with confidence. That first invitation has changed my luck, afterwards several other hospitals extended their hands to me, and I happily chose one that best suited me. Within a few years I was sent to Macau by the Ministry of Health as a specialist and had a fresh experience here.