Move over, traditional career guides. In an era where jobs can involve managing virtual economies, designing sustainable cities or programming artificial intelligence, the classic career path isn’t kids’ only option. For the next generation navigating a world of limitless career possibilities, the well-meaning advice to “follow your passion” can feel overwhelming without a map. Now, a wave of adults with truly fascinating jobs are throwing that map wide open. They’re stepping out of their labs, studios, and field sites to share the real, unfiltered career advice they wish they’d had – not just about how to land the job, but how to build a life of curiosity, resilience and purpose. This is more than career day; it’s a mentorship movement designed to inspire the innovators, problem-solvers and dreamers of tomorrow.

Search the keyword #careerday to find more articles like this.

Tell us your name, and give us the elevator pitch about your job.

My name is Christian François, and I work online with expat parents and professionals from every corner of the world, helping them become CEO of their health, crush their fitness and weight management goals while navigating an over-productive work-life schedule.

Could you walk us through a typical day or week in your role? What are your primary responsibilities?

As a coach, my top responsibility is to create customized nutrition-workout-lifestyle programs for my clients, to hold them accountable along the way and to be a support system for whenever they need a bit of a push.

Now that I’m self-employed, I wear quite a few different hats in a day on top of being a coach.

I usually start my days with going through what I like to call “priority messages” – meaning that I pick up any interactions with my current clients from the day before or anything that came in and that requires direct attention and a response ASAP (e.g., if one client has a brunch event coming up, I need to give them the tips they need to navigate all the yummy food properly).

After that, I reply to any sort of important inquiries or interactions that come through social media.

Then I spend about one to two hours studying something (it’s always either a health/nutrition course or an entrepreneurship course), which gives me some fresh ideas and perspective to attack the next part of my day: social media marketing/content prep.

I spend about one to two hours planning, writing or shooting content for social media. I post about two to four times a day).By the time I finish with this, it’s usually noon or afternoon, and that’s when I go back to wearing my coach hat and do client check-ins, either via video calls or via messages.

The rest of the day after that is usually sporadic. I usually either go back to studying or prepping content.

This entire flow usually [goes]from 8am to 9pm [on weekdays]and on the weekends from 8am to 1pm.

What is the most rewarding or fulfilling part of your work? What problems do you get to solve? On the flip side, what are the most significant challenges or stressful aspects of your job?

The most rewarding part of being a coach is definitely to see the person achieve their goals, mostly after struggling and failing at it several times in the past, then to see them graduate out of my program and being able to sustain their results on their own without needing my help anymore.

I also enjoy building relationships. Most of my clients are in the age range of 40 to 50, have very interesting stories and successful careers, and I get to learn a lot from them through our interactions.

To be able to do something I am passionate about, and have freedom of time and location when it comes to work, and live quite a comfortable life as a result of my daily work is something else I am very grateful for as well.

The biggest challenges and stressful aspects were when I first started. I did not have much experience and knowledge. So I wouldn’t know how to work with special cases such as people who have metabolic and hormone problems, how to create workout plans for people who only have 30mins per day to train, how to help high executives who have to go out and drink with partners several times a week, etc.

Over time, I have learned to navigate every potential situation someone goes through, which has made the coaching process way more enjoyable.

How did you get to where you are today? You can talk about your educational route, pivotal moments, unplanned detours and any other decisions that you find important.

To make it really short, let’s say that dropping out of a PhD to go full-time into fitness and nutrition coaching was the last thing that my mom wanted to hear back in 2020.

I had a bachelor’s degree in hotel and tourism management, came to China for a master’s in business administration, then went for a PhD in management science and engineering (right in the middle of Covid and when online learning started becoming a thing).

I wasn’t enjoying the PhD, while my growing passion for fitness has already opened a few doors in terms of opportunities to work full-time.

So, I eventually sat my parents down (they were stuck here for two years, unable to go back home in Madagascar due to the lockdown situation) and told them that I was going to quit the studies.

So, I started working full-time as an in-person trainer, switched between different gyms, while on the side I was also working on my online coaching program and slowly growing it.

In early 2024, the online coaching was doing so well that I felt confident to let go of all my personal training jobs, start my own company and work fully for myself and remotely.

And here we are today.

I’m grateful that my parents trusted me and gave me their support because looking back at all that I have achieved since then, I truly think that quitting the studies was the best decision that I have taken.

I did not despise or hate studying, but I think my passion for fitness was to big for me to neglect.

Knowing what you know now, if you could go back and give one piece of advice to your teenage self about work and life, what would it be?

The first one is advice that I have gotten from my father while he was tearfully saying goodbye and getting ready to board the plane to leave my home country: “Dream, see and think big.”

When in doubt, feeling tired, not confident, unmotivated, faced with big decisions, remembering those words [has]always been a great way to re-center myself and dare to take steps outside of my comfort zone.

The second advice is a habit that I have always adopted since being a teenager: “Never spend a day [without]studying or watching something related to what you love.”

Since I stepped into the gym back in 2016 when I was looking for a way to make my ex miss me (true story, lol), I never spent a day without reading or learning something about “nutrition-fitness-health.” This is also what made things go smoothly when I decided to drop out of school and work full-time, because at that point, I already had a couple of professional certifications that would qualify me to be a coach. I truly think if you spend a day without at least absorbing some sort of new or even repetitive information in your brain, then you are wasting a lot of potential.

Images: Christian François 

Move over, traditional career guides. In an era where jobs can involve managing virtual economies, designing sustainable cities or programming artificial intelligence, the classic career path isn’t kids’ only option. For the next generation navigating a world of limitless career possibilities, the well-meaning advice to “follow your passion” can feel overwhelming without a map. Now, a wave of adults with truly fascinating jobs are throwing that map wide open. They’re stepping out of their labs, studios, and field sites to share the real, unfiltered career advice they wish they’d had – not just about how to land the job, but how to build a life of curiosity, resilience and purpose. This is more than career day; it’s a mentorship movement designed to inspire the innovators, problem-solvers and dreamers of tomorrow.

Search the keyword #careerday to find more articles like this.

Tell us your name, and give us the elevator pitch about your job?

Heya, I’m Shagi. I’m a conduit between brand and customer, a brand strategist & creative builder focused on Asia. I’ve spent the last decade helping brands find their voice – from Founding Dienastie and F&B like Larry the Bird to shaping campaigns for global players like VF Corp and IN-N-OUT and Nike. I love where culture meets commerce, and I thrive on turning bold ideas into stories people actually care about.

Could you walk me through a typical day or week in your role? What are your primary responsibilities?

That’s a doozy of a question because no day/week are identical as I work primarily solo on a couple projects at a time. A week could range from pitching a campaign, negotiating with supplier partners, doing research on brands/partners’ locations etc. or simply a lot of calls and emails. It runs the gamut.

What is the most rewarding or fulfilling part of your work? What problems do you get to solve? On the flip side, what are the most significant challenges or stressful aspects of your job?

What really keeps me going is seeing an idea come to life – that moment when something that started as a quick sketch or late-night note becomes a real campaign that people react to. When you see a brand you’ve worked on connect with an audience in a genuine way, or when a creative concept actually shifts perception, that’s the best part.

I love that my work sits right where culture meets commerce. Every project is about finding that balance – how do we make something culturally sharp, emotionally resonant and still commercially effective? I get to help brands figure out how to speak with authenticity, especially in cross-cultural contexts like helping a global brand localize its voice for China or guiding a local startup as it goes global.

At the same time, I get to collaborate with some incredibly talented people – strategists, designers, producers, founders – and that collective energy is addictive. When everyone’s locked in on the same creative wavelength, it’s magic.

On the flip side, the challenge is definitely the pace and pressure. You’re juggling multiple projects, multiple markets, and everyone wants something “breakthrough” by yesterday. Balancing that creative ambition with business realities – budgets, timelines, approvals – can be a real test.

But honestly, that’s part of the thrill. It forces you to think fast, stay flexible and keep growing. The industry moves quickly, and so do the ideas – so you learn to find calm inside the chaos.

How did you get to where you are today? You can talk about your educational route, pivotal moments, unplanned detours and any other decisions that you find important.

It’s been a mix of curiosity, culture and a lot of learning by doing. I’ve always been drawn to how brands tell stories – even as a kid, I’d study ads just to figure out what made people care.

I studied marketing in Beijing, but most of what shaped me came from the real world – working in music, nightlife, and streetwear, where you learn how to build energy around an idea. Those early projects taught me how creativity and culture drive connection.

Over time, I moved into brand consulting and creative direction, helping both indie labels and global companies find their voice in China. Launching my own concept, Larry the Bird, was a turning point – it made me see brand-building as storytelling through experience.

Now, everything I do sits at that intersection of culture, creativity and business – helping brands stay authentic while growing globally.

Knowing what you know now, if you could go back and give one piece of advice to your teenage self about work and life, what would it be?

LIFE is twisted. Be patient with yourself and learn to execute, not just theorize.

Images: Shagi

Move over, traditional career guides. In an era where jobs can involve managing virtual economies, designing sustainable cities or programming artificial intelligence, the classic career path isn’t kids’ only option. For the next generation navigating a world of limitless career possibilities, the well-meaning advice to “follow your passion” can feel overwhelming without a map. Now, a wave of adults with truly fascinating jobs are throwing that map wide open. They’re stepping out of their labs, studios, and field sites to share the real, unfiltered career advice they wish they’d had – not just about how to land the job, but how to build a life of curiosity, resilience and purpose. This is more than career day; it’s a mentorship movement designed to inspire the innovators, problem-solvers and dreamers of tomorrow.

Search the keyword #careerday to find more articles like this.

Tell us your name, and give us the elevator pitch about your job.

My name is Steven McKinney, and I’m the Foreign Principal at IF Montessori Kindergarten here in Beijing. Around the city, I’ve long been known as “Stevie Mac,” the former frontman of one of Beijing’s most well-known party bands. These days, my focus has shifted toward writing and acting, developing original stage plays and my upcoming motion graphic comic.

At IF Montessori, my primary role is to oversee the entire school – from classrooms to curriculum – ensuring that our English foundation is strengthened within a strong Montessori program. I also focus on marketing, recruitment and developing the school’s reputation so that IF stands out as one of the top kindergartens in the city.

Could you walk me through a typical day or week in your role? What are your primary responsibilities?

No two days are the same, but my week usually involves observing classes, mentoring teachers and meeting with parents and administrators to align on goals. I spend time developing our English curriculum, planning events and brainstorming creative marketing strategies. Whether it’s coordinating open days, guiding new staff or ensuring every classroom runs smoothly, my job is to make sure the school not only operates efficiently but also continues to grow and improve as a community.

What is the most rewarding or fulfilling part of your work? What problems do you get to solve? On the flip side, what are the most significant challenges or stressful aspects of your job?

The most rewarding part – without question – are the kids. They’re the reason I’ve been teaching in Beijing for over a decade. Their energy, curiosity and laughter make even the toughest days worthwhile.

As for challenges, recruitment is definitely one of the biggest. The education market in Beijing is increasingly competitive, and part of my job is finding creative ways to make IF Montessori stand out among other top schools. It can be stressful, but I genuinely enjoy the challenge – it keeps me sharp and motivated.

How did you get to where you are today? You can talk about your educational route, pivotal moments, unplanned detours and any other decisions that you find important.

I’ve been in Beijing for 12 years, and honestly, it all comes down to consistency, hard work and daily micro-goals that build long-term progress. I’ve applied that mindset to everything I’ve done here – teaching, management, music, even acting. Each experience built on the last, shaping me into a better leader and educator. The journey wasn’t always a straight line, but that’s what made it meaningful.

Knowing what you know now, if you could go back and give one piece of advice to your teenage self about work and life, what would it be?

Haha, easy. I’d tell myself: “Study Chinese in college, and fly straight to Beijing right after graduation.” It would’ve saved me a few detours, but honestly, every step led me right where I was meant to be. Life’s an adventure. The trick is to keep moving forward, stay curious, and enjoy the ride.

Images: Steven McKinney

Move over, traditional career guides. In an era where jobs can involve managing virtual economies, designing sustainable cities or programming artificial intelligence, the classic career path isn’t kids’ only option. For the next generation navigating a world of limitless career possibilities, the well-meaning advice to “follow your passion” can feel overwhelming without a map. Now, a wave of adults with truly fascinating jobs are throwing that map wide open. They’re stepping out of their labs, studios and field sites to share the real, unfiltered career advice they wish they’d had – not just about how to land the job, but how to build a life of curiosity, resilience and purpose. This is more than career day; it’s a mentorship movement designed to inspire the innovators, problem-solvers and dreamers of tomorrow.

Search the keyword #careerday to find more articles like this.

Tell us your name, and give us the elevator pitch about your job.

I am Mary Peng. I am originally from New York and have lived in China since 1991. I am the CEO and Founder of the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS), the first full-service, wholly owned foreign enterprise animal hospital and humane animal welfare resource center in Beijing. ICVS was founded in 2006.I am the president of  INN Beijing  (International Newcomer’s Network), a non-profit community organization that helps expats, returnees and long-term residents of all nationalities not only to survive but to thrive in Beijing.I am a board member of the Jane Goodall Institute China (JGI Roots & Shoots) and trustee emerita of the Jane Goodall Institute Global board.

Could you walk me through a typical day or week in your role? What are your primary responsibilities?

My day usually starts before 6am. It is the best time of day to check emails and messages and to organize the day and week ahead. I manage all of the hospital’s operations, including finance, legal and regulatory affairs, marketing and our outreach and non-profit programs for the community.  Our non-profit humane animal welfare programs include pet adoptions, fostering programs, shelter medicine programs, Trap-Neuter-Return programs, neonate care workshops and pet import/export information sessions. We provide internship programs for local and international schools and host a veterinary learning exchange program for veterinary students and practicing veterinarians from overseas. I speak with ICVS’s management team and doctors daily to ensure hospital operations are running smoothly and to discuss any support that the doctors and staff need to provide the best care for our patients. I have meetings every week with ICVS clients and community partners at schools, universities, companies, and embassies.

As a JGI board member, I meet online and in person regularly. As an INN volunteer, we plan monthly Coffee Mornings and Trekkies and our BIG events for the community every week.

Our next BIG event will be the 2025 INN Halloween Fun Party on Oct 26. The Halloween Party is one of the most popular INN events of the year and will sell out! Last year, we had over 120 attendees, including more than 40 kids, at the INN Halloween party.

Every weekend, I host free “ICVS Departing from China with Pets” online information sessions in English and Chinese for pet owners from across China and overseas. I share information on preparing pets for export to more than 180 countries. And several times a month, I volunteer at an organic farm and pet shelter in Beijing. ICVS provides vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries and medical care for the shelter pets, and we enroll them into our adoption program to help them find their forever families.

What is the most rewarding or fulfilling part of your work? What problems do you get to solve? On the flip side, what are the most significant challenges or stressful aspects of your job?

The most fulfilling part of my work is the small victories I see every day. When the pet is sick, the whole family is sick with worry. We often see three generations of the pet’s family at ICVS – the parents, the kids, the grandparents and often other extended family members, all coming to ICVS with their pet. The pets cannot tell us what is wrong, so being able to provide world-class medical care, diagnostics, surgeries, treatments and hospitalization to help the pets get better and go home with their families is very rewarding. And for pets that are facing end-stage diseases or progressing towards the end of their natural lives, helping them stay comfortable and maintaining a good quality of life is equally important. We all want the best for our family members and working at ICVS every day with our wonderful team helps to deliver that care for beloved pet family members. Every day is filled with problem-solving. Businesses face constantly changing legal and regulatory requirements. Managing supply chains for drugs, medical supplies and equipment is a constant for the healthcare industry and it is even more challenging for animal healthcare.

One of the ongoing challenges of my job is educating the community to “Adopt, Don’t Shop” for pets. The animal sales industry is still a new and largely unregulated sector with many animals bred for profit. The animals are often sold before they are fully weaned. As a result, the purchased pets often have health issues as their immune systems are not strong, and [they]are unlikely to have been vaccinated. It is very worrying to see such young pets very sick and often struggling to survive if they become ill shortly after purchase. Not all of the pets survive even with intensive treatment and hospitalization. The stray and rescued pets are often healthier as they have fewer issues with inbreeding and have already proven they can survive life on the streets. There are so many beautiful and healthy adoptable pets waiting for adoption families. Please adopt, don’t shop!

Another major challenge is helping pet owners prepare their pets for export. People often move to other cities in China and also overseas. Depending on the destination country, it could take 1.5 months to nine months or more to prepare a pet for export. And costs associated with pet export have to be budgeted for well in advance of the departure date. Our mission at ICVS is to help keep pets and families together when the time comes to depart China. But there are many cases where an emergency situation arises, or visas are cancelled or not renewed, or a once-in-a-century global pandemic occurs, that disrupts lives and may require pet owners to relocate on short notice. If the pets are not fully prepared – what ICVS calls “departure ready” – the pets might not be able to leave China with their families. If pets cannot travel together with their owners, this results in many additional costs for pet care, boarding, hiring relocation agents to complete customs declaration and to physically ship pets overseas. And if resources or budget is not available, some of these pets may never reunite with their families. This is why I give free online information sessions at ICVS on preparing pets for export to anyone who needs help. Because pets are for life.

How did you get to where you are today? You can talk about your educational route, pivotal moments, unplanned detours and any other decisions that you find important.

It was never planned that I would open the first international standard full-service animal hospital in Beijing. I started my career in advertising and marketing after graduating from Barnard College of Columbia University. Over ten years of working for multinational advertising agencies (e.g. Saatchi & Saatchi and Dentsu, Young & Rubicam) in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and New York taught me so much about marketing and advertising and consumers. I needed more knowledge about general business management and knew I that I wanted to run a business myself one day. With a career change in mind, I left the ad industry and applied to business school, earning an MBA from Columbia University. While I was in New York completing my MBA, I was hired by McKinsey & Company and worked at the firm for nearly six years, during which time they brought back to China as a senior management consultant. During this entire time, I had my beloved cat, Boo Boo, with me. I adopted Boo Boo as a kitten in 1994 in Beijing. I brought her to the USA with me and then back to Beijing when we returned in 2002. My experiences as a pet owner in China during this time, trying to find vaccinations, getting her spayed, and figuring out how to relocate her overseas and then back to China made me realize that China needed to develop all of these sectors. I lived through the same experiences pet owners face today, but at an earlier time in China’s history. And I knew that the Chinese people loved their pets and wanted the best care for them. I had a healthcare emergency with Boo Boo in 2004 in Beijing, and it changed my life. It made me realize that the animal healthcare industry was not going to improve naturally with time. By 2004, more than ten years had passed since I first adopted Boo Boo, and the animal healthcare sector had barely advanced. I realized that if I wanted to have better healthcare for my pet, I would have to be the person to bring about that change. I left my career as a management consultant to learn about the animal healthcare sector, with the goal of bringing to China a world-class, full-service, international-standard animal hospital. ICVS opened in 2006, and we have been honored to serve pets and their families for nearly 20 years.

Starting a business is never easy and is filled with challenges and difficulties along the way. You don’t know what you don’t know. All of my work experience in advertising, at McKinsey, and my business school education did not provide me with the complete knowledge to run a healthcare company. But everything I had learned was useful, and it allowed me to problem-solve through all of the challenges I faced along the way.

Creating ICVS lifted the entire animal healthcare industry as it raised standards and professionalized the sector.

Knowing what you know now, if you could go back and give one piece of advice to your teenage self about work and life, what would it be?

Do not pass up any opportunities, and do not be afraid to take the risk. When I graduated from college, I was set to join a huge insurance company as a claims-adjustment trainee in New York. Instead of taking this safe and well-paying job, I took a risk and accepted a starting-level position at Saatchi and Saatchi in Taiwan. I barely survived to the end of each month on a modest entry-level salary. But the hard work paid off and gave me a wonderful career in advertising. And this first career that I loved helped me become more qualified for future opportunities. When my cat needed healthcare in China, when the pet healthcare sector did not really exist yet, I took the opportunity and the risk to help create the pet healthcare sector. I am so happy I took those opportunities and risks. I have never lived with regret about what my life could have been. The work will be incredibly hard, and there will be a lot of uncertainty and very scary days. But keep your eye on the long-term and know that everything you do and every risk you take will give you the knowledge, abilities and confidence to face your future.

Images: Mary Peng

Move over, traditional career guides. In an era where jobs can involve managing virtual economies, designing sustainable cities, or programming artificial intelligence, the classic career path aren’t kids’ only option. For the next generation navigating a world of limitless career possibilities, the well-meaning advice to “follow your passion” can feel overwhelming without a map. Now, a wave of adults with truly fascinating jobs are throwing that map wide open. They’re stepping out of their labs, studios, and field sites to share the real, unfiltered career advice they wish they’d had – not just about how to land the job, but how to build a life of curiosity, resilience, and purpose. This is more than career day; it’s a mentorship movement designed to inspire the innovators, problem-solvers, and dreamers of tomorrow.

Search the keyword #careerday to find more articles like this.

What’s your name and give us the elevator pitch about your job.

Morten Holm, Danish architect and partner in Archiland Intl. where we, with our 100-people team do sustainable master plan and architecture design. And for the last five years, also now founder and co-CEO of the Green School at FunFarmFam. Below, I will share a bit on what we, our fantastic team of 15 people of educators, free-ranging animal caretakers, tree keepers and farm to table kitchen people are doing.

Overall, we call this “Learning Beyond the Classroom.” Yes, and now you may say, “WHAT!?” Well, imagine everything surrounding actually is also a place to do joyful, engaging play-based learning, using real-life environments to deepen our understanding of our lives and the surrounding world. Yes, you may still say, “WHAT!?” Okay, but picture this: This weekend activity we will start in the field, introduce “tuber plant” families and their niche in the eco system, study their strategy for growing, take a few leaves, study their green corn photosynthesis under our portable microscope, dig up the sweet potato “tubers,” bring them back to our indoor classroom, clean them up and twist and test your own recipe to your likings of a cupcake or quiche; while they are baking, we will venture back out and serve the leftovers to the goats or the chickens. That’s Learning Beyond the Classroom.

Could you walk me through a typical day or week in your role? What are your primary responsibilities?

I primarily work as a mentor (guiding and assisting learners) and creator (what and how to do) for the new or special activities. And then everything related to the new design, from the biggest landscape to the smallest poster.

Since our activities relate to real-world learning, seasons, nature etc., every week is basically slightly different.

Monday to Tuesday: I (and the team) may be preparing for visiting schools coming and the weekend activities. This means assisting educators on how to run the activity, subjects to share, how to manage the group size, weather, safety issues and so on.

Wednesday to Friday: I would maybe go to a school campus, doing an immersive school garden class together with a group of fantastic high school students, teaching elementary school students and/or visiting schools and running activities at Green School/farm for a  whole-day activity like the one mentioned above.

Saturday to Sunday: We will have families or students doing seasonal indoor/outdoor activities. Activities combine great things of interest in our field, nature, farm, using the materials here to do craft, woodwork, design thinking and, of course, food literacy/cooking tasty things!

What is the most rewarding or fulfilling part of your work? What problems do you get to solve? On the flip side, what are the most significant challenges or stressful aspects of your job?

Greatest Joy – and it by far outweighs challenges:

• Being in close contact with seasons in nature and with the modest hope that our example is inspirational to others.
• The immediate sheer joy of families and students coming here. Instantly rewarding as compared to architecture.

Greatest Challenge:

• Climate change makes growing ecological fruits/vegetables harder as well as running the part of outdoor activities more unpredictable.
• And changing the “comfort convenience” culture of some people who are not from the Nordic countries. The joy of outdoor life is really for ALL seasons!

How did you get to where you are today? You can talk about your educational route, pivotal moments, unplanned detours and any other decisions that you find important.

I was extremely lucky to come into a family of open-minded parents – that we don’t get to choose, right? This means travelling by a heavily packed car, two siblings plus me in the back seat, low-budget, heavy impractical tent across Europe in all childhood summer holidays, and getting to meet “the world” at an eye level from early on.

Later on when I was 16, I was doing the same but now on my own: backpacking, low-budget train trips, sleeping very rough across Europe for a month before mobiles, SoMe and credit cards, learning by doing on how to get by and meeting new European friends.

And later, I went on to study in the school of architecture for five years, but every summer break I was persistent enough – walking with my portfolio from studio to studio – to get internships at design studios in Denmark, Sweden and Spain. These practical experiences taught me that distant university handbook theory, to me at least, can only bring you to a certain level of knowledge, but truly understanding was far better deployed or internalized when I experienced this in a real-life context.

I guess the most pivotal moment was when I got a message from my university classmate: Come to Japan and work with me – yes, still before the wide internet and mobiles. I said yes, resigned from my first real job at a “hot” architecture studio, went to Tokyo, and shared a humble tatami room with an English-teaching Londoner I had never met before – but I learned immensely from this three-month collaboration.

In other words, a lot of growth – maybe the biggest leaps – came from whenever I was being a bit out of my comfort zone.

Knowing what you know now, if you could go back and give one piece of advice to your teenage self about work and life, what would it be?

1. Follow your own path. Gaining experience looks different to each one of us. Create your own mold, off or on “school.”

It took me quite a long time to build enough confidence to listen to myself rather than others when making choices…

2. Follow your passion and spend time following your curiosity, even if it means being a nerd, deviating from the course or not speeding through the education system.

It took me quite some time to take risks, to explore alternative ways of learning about the world and myself after schoolwork, travels, internships etc.

3. Follow and unfollow(!) your peers. Value the work of collaboration. Embrace difference and sharing exchanges.

It took me quite some time to understand the value of alternating between inspirational leading and also to fall back and be a strong team player.

Images: Morten Holm

Do you remember being asked as a kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answers were often the classics: doctor, teacher, firefighter, astronaut. But the world of work has exploded with possibilities that didn’t even exist a generation ago. Today’s young people are curious about becoming UX designers, ethical hackers, renewable energy engineers, content creators, data scientists and so much more.

But how do they learn about these paths? How do they see what’s truly possible?

This is where you come in.

We believe that one of the most powerful ways for young people to learn about their future is to hear from the people who are shaping it right now. And we know there’s a wealth of experience and inspiring stories right within our community.

We are looking for parents with cool, interesting, or unconventional jobs to share your story.

Why Your Story Matters

Young people are making decisions about their subjects, their passions, and their futures, often with a limited view of the options available. A textbook can explain what a “project manager” does, but it can’t convey the excitement of launching a new product or the problem-solving skills used every day.

Your story can make dream careers a reality by showing the real, human side of your job – the challenges, the rewards and the day-to-day tasks. You can help demystify and prove that career paths are rarely a straight line. Sharing the twists, turns and lessons learned along your journey is incredibly valuable. And you’ll help spark new interests. You might just introduce a young person to a passion they never knew they had.

“Cool” is subjective. We want to hear from everyone, whether you’re a software developer at a gaming company, a pastry chef who creates edible art, a digital marketing specialist, a freelance graphic designer or a small business owner.

If you love what you do and have a story about how you got there, we want to hear from you.

If you’re willing to share your story and a piece of advice to help inspire young minds, please get in touch with us.

Contact us at minayan@beijing-kids.com or add our editor on WeChat (ID: Wilhelmina87).

Let’s work together to open the doors of possibility for the next generation. Your experience is their roadmap.

Images: Freepik

Do you feel like no one hears your voice? Despite that, do you still think and speak passionately? Worst of all, do you need an activity for college applications but secretly dread it?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then welcome to Unit-E. 

Unit-E is a professional, non-profit, student run magazine across all international schools in Beijing. Yes, it is an activity for college applications and character development and CAS – but our true purpose is to amplify the voices of Beijing students. In the spring of 2010, two students from Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) and International School Beijing (ISB) gave birth to Unit E, and grew it to all international schools in Beijing. Students participated as artists, writers, designers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

Students, teachers, and parents agree on their favorite part of Unit E – its community. We build a community of readers and writers that inspire and empower each other through art and writing, learn from each other’s experiences and mistakes, and network, socialize, or gain new perspectives. Every year a team graduates, and every year a team begins a new journey within and without Unit-E.

In 2022, Unit-E have daily articles on WeChat and Instagram accounts as well as paper print issues every two months. Our funding comes from associated schools in Beijing, for whom we advertise in print. We have student representatives in Beijing City International School (BCIS), ISB, DCB, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Harrow, Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS), Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB), and more, webbing a diverse social network of multiple languages, cultures, and aesthetic sensibilities.

We have five columns to cover every bit of creativity, fun, love, talent, niche, and argument possible: Creative, Academics, Chillax, Student Opinion, and Happenings.

The Creative column includes art, music, photography, dance, poetry, short stories, diaries, personal essays, memoirs, and journals. We help you gain inspiration from and learn about adolescent artistic expression.

The Academics column is every student’s handbook. How to excel in school? How to study for IB/AP/A-level exams? How to study for SSAT and SAT? How and where to intern, become leaders, and do charity work? How to choose universities, agents, and counselors? We have valedictorians and progressing students to answer you. 

The Chillax column is fashionable, fabulous, and fun. We provide a reliable firsthand guide for students in Beijing on where to have a girl’s night out, a romantic date, a shopping spree, what to wear, how to relax, where to eat… it goes on. 

The Student Opinion column is of course, opinionated, and therefore encourages students to be bold and confident. We argue for ourselves in respectful and beneficial ways about relevant issues within Beijing and the international community. 

The Happenings column reflects the wider context——how we students fit in a world that’s ever-changing. From law to economy to movies to galas to royal families, we have everything——do you want to know the latest gossip? Yes, but first, tea at Unit-E.

We are also absolutely thrilled to announce our current recruitment!

Anyone in Beijing with passion and curiosity can join. Based on your interest, you can be an editor, designer, marketing representative, writer, artist, or musician!

Submit your applications to Editor In Chief 2015053040@mybcis.cn, and work to be published through the QR code below——we already have many members, so be quick or give the opportunity to someone else.

 We look forward to hearing from you!

Images: Unit-E

We’ve all heard the phrase “It’s either a lawyer, a doctor, or a failure” at some point in our lives. That was before technology and globalization rapidly took over the world. Now, in the Gen-Z world, those careers are so “last generation.” With things such as artificial intelligence, robots, and electric cars taking over our world, what will be the next hot thing in the working world?

Well, I got some of the most tech-savvy and up-to-date trendy teens to answer that question. And who knows, maybe you’ll find your future dream job listed below!

Jessica Q., a junior, says:

I think the new hot careers in the future will be one of the following: AI, data analyst, and/or computer engineer. Mostly because there are so many new technologies being developed these days, and many ideas coming from the new generation, such as robots, flying cars, sending people to space (Elon Musk vibes anyone?), and even haptic technology. So, as long as the technology field keeps developing, these three are probably going to become the new hot careers.

For me, as long as I am good at math or statistics, I would like to be professional at any of the three I mentioned. FYI, math and statistics are the basics of any technology-related career, so those skills will be crucial to the jobs. I think these careers are super beneficial to 21st century society, as to today’s emerging digitized life. Moreover, who wouldn’t like sending the first batch of people to Mars?

Daniel, a junior, says:

I’d say computer science, since you’ve seen the metaverse going on right now around the world. It’s a mind-blowing concept, but the corresponding technology of it is still not comprehensive or mature yet. Thus, these careers are needed to make sure the blueprint comes to life. Things that people are imagining will very likely be real in a decade, and I’m really looking forward to more inventions that maybe do not exist right now. Like maybe actual hover boards, or a robot to do all my chores.

I’m definitely interested in trying out careers in the computer science field. Although I am not currently studying any subject related to computer science, I still follow the latest news on technology and social science, aka trying to catch up with trends. You know what this era is, so it’s gonna be great.

Zoey X., a sophomore, says:

I think careers within the field of software engineering will be very popular in the future, especially for us Gen Zs, and maybe for Generation Alphas (born 2011-2025). Most people in society rely upon or have greater demands on technology nowadays. Even elementary kids need to have iPads for school (and that has only become a thing in the last two to three years). Another field I think might become popular is psychological counseling, because accompanied with the development of our society, an increase of social, peer, and/or family pressure can directly affect people’s mentality. Although we want society to continue to develop, we also need the people to have a healthy mental state so we don’t corrupt.

Personally, I’m more intent to explore psychological counseling. I think it’s quite interesting to solve people’s mental problems and to meet different personalities. Having a career in psychology is quite demanding, but I think it’ll be fascinating to solve problems and help the new generations to become healthier, both physically and mentally.

Jeffery L., a junior, says:

I personally think that psychological counseling will be a very popular profession in the future. This is because now emerging technology industries such as artificial intelligence have entered a bottleneck in their development, and we can see that some internet companies are making layoffs. As people’s life pressure increases, the number of psychological problems will also increase. As a result, the demand for psychological counseling is set to increase significantly in the future.

I think I will enjoy this new career a lot. I am quite good at communicating with people in general, and I enjoy being able to help people with their problems. Although it requires a lot of patience, I’m willing to see the younger ones in society become better. Moreover, I think increasing communication between us will stop society from isolation. So, I look forward to solving that problem.

Sophia H., a sophomore, says:

I think careers like doctor, bio engineering, biomedicine, computer technician, and economics-related careers will be the hot projected careers in the future. Basically, the ones that have a positive correlation with the development of high tech. In society right now, we see people with their phones or computers or smart watches 24/7. So, to keep up with our increasing pace, we need more people within these fields to develop more immersive technology, so our society can continue developing.

For me, I will enjoy careers related to medicine and economics because I’m personally interested in these fields as well. And I think it’s going to be amazing to see the development on the frontlines. It’s really interesting to develop groundbreaking medicines to help people, and I really believe that us Gen Zs can and will make a change in society.

Tony W., a junior, says:

I think careers within the field of psychology [will be the next big thing], because of the relatively large volume of pressure. So, we need to ease the pressure within society. Studies show that the population having psychological problems is starting to increase, especially within the younger generation (like teens and young adults). Psychological counseling is something that technology cannot do, as it advocates human communication. We need more face-to-face communication to ensure our society is in a healthy position.

However, I’m not currently interested in this field of study. Personally, I’m going to be mainly working in the economics field in the future because I am interested in the comparison of economics (which is still very important within our society). But I still think psychological careers are important.

XueFei Liu is an IBDP student studying at Beijing City International School who has an obsession with classic literature and is constantly trying to find the answer to life for herself and others.

 

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Graduation issue

The application period for the annual jingkids Summer Internship is open. This year we’re breaking the internship time period down into two 2-week sessions.

This year’s summer internship will be broken down into two 2-week sessions:
Jun 20-Jul 1 (application deadline: Mon, Jun 16)
Jul 4-15 (application deadline: Mon, Jun 27)

You’ll be expected to be in the office Monday-Friday from 10am to 3pm with a lunch break in the middle. This two-week intensive training will give you the skills you’ll need to become an efficient writer who knows how to pinpoint the needs and interests of your readers.

To apply, send a CV and at least two writing samples to minayan@beijing-kids.com or Wilhelmina87 on WeChat. Please specify which session you’d like to attend. We can’t wait to work on this issue with you!

So what should a high schooler’s CV look like?

Your CV is your résumé. When we apply for a job, it’s what we send to the person doing the hiring, along with a cover letter, that’ll give them an overview of our experience.

For adults, along with the basic information our CV should include where we went to school, our majors, GPA, awards and accomplishments, and our previous job, along with the name and contact information of our references (usually our previous bosses). But what if this is your first job? You’ve got to start somewhere right?

Start by organizing your CV into sections. There should be one section for your basic information, one for education, one for previous employment (if you have any), one for awards and accomplishments, and one for hobbies or extracurricular activities.

Here’s what you should include in your CV:

Start with the basic information.
– Your first and last name
– Nationality
– Date of birth
– Contact information (usually phone number, WeChat, email, and address. Only share your address if you’re comfortable with people knowing where you live. It’s not mandatory to include it in CVs)
– Photo. If you’re going to include a photo of yourself, choose one that represents yourself in a professional manner. Ex: Avoid the selfies and cute filters. You don’t need to go to a professional photo studio to take these photos. Finding a friend or parent to take a well-lit, waist up photo in front of a not-too-busy background is perfect.

Since you’re still in high school, the education section should include your education information dating back to middle school. You don’t need to go back as far as elementary school.
– Name of your school
– Graduation year
– GPA if you’re keen on sharing. It’s not necessary, but if you’ve got a high GPA, I would recommend including it.

The previous employment section can include any previous jobs where you’ve worked and internships you’ve taken part in in the past.
– Name of the company
– Start and end date(s) of your work experience
– Your duties. List out what you were responsible for doing at this job.

Awards and accomplishments is where you can let your future employer know all the hard work you’ve put into your academic career.
– Name of the award and the year you received it.

Finally, the hobbies and extracurricular section is where you showcase your interests, and allows your employer to get to know you a bit more outside of your academics.
– List out your hobbies and how many years you’ve been at them.
– List out your language abilities and the level of proficiency. Ex: Arabic – Fluent

If you’ve like to add a reference section at the end, be sure to let these people know in advance so they’re not confused when they get contacted about you.
– List their name, job title, relationship to you (Ex: Parent or Previous employer), and a way to get in touch with them, whether it’s email, phone, or WeChat.

Crafting a professional CV is an essential life skill that every teen needs to learn. This, along with many other real-life on-the-job experiences is what you’ll walk away with at the end of your internship with jingkids.

We hope to see you in the office this summer!

Images: Pexels