Department of English Holds 2025 Undergraduate Thesis Defense and Employment Promotion Meeting

Recently, the Department of English of the School of Languages and Communication Studies, Beijing Jiaotong University convened the 2025 Undergraduate Thesis Defense and Employment Promotion Meeting. The meeting was attended by all final-year undergraduate students of the Department of English. Faculty and staff present to offer guidance and address student inquiries included Wen Yingchun, Deputy Secretary of the School's Party Committee; Lu Qiang, Director of the Student Affairs Office; An Ruolin, Secretary of the School's Youth League Committee; and Zhu Yanyan, Dai Jiangwen, Ma Li, Feng Lei, Li Lanxia, and He Li from the Department.

First, Zhu Yanyan conducted a pre-defense guidance session for the students. She explained the entire defense procedure, providing a detailed analysis of each segment—from designing the opening remarks, to presenting the main content, and concluding with a summary. Drawing on her years of experience as a defense evaluator, she shared practical techniques, cited common issues from previous years, and proposed effective solutions.

Following this, An Ruolin and Wen Yingchun delivered an in-depth analysis of the employment landscape and opportunities for 2025. Using comprehensive data and vivid case studies, they provided students with a clear understanding of the job market. They encouraged students to actively communicate with faculty and advisors, stay informed on employment trends, and develop scientifically sound career plans tailored to their individual circumstances.

Department Head Dai Jiangwen presented employment data from recent graduating classes, illustrating trends with a series of relatable examples. For instance, she highlighted cases where graduates who had proactively planned their careers and accumulated internship experience successfully secured positions at desirable companies. In contrast, others faced repeated setbacks due to a lack of clear goals and adequate preparation. She encouraged students to remain grounded and develop multiple contingency plans.

Afterwards, leveraging their professional expertise, the faculty provided personalized advice and guidance. Students actively shared their concerns and ideas during the session. Through candid, face-to-face communication, participants gained greater clarity on their future directions. The department is committed to advancing high-quality employment outcomes for its graduates and strives to support every student in navigating the employment landscape to find their own path.