On May 19, 2022, the salon named “Little Secrets of Employment and Postgraduate Entrance Exams” — part of the “Peach and Plum Affection” mentoring series seminars for professional development organized by the English Department of the College of Languages and Communication — was successfully held online.

The “Peach and Plum Affection” mentoring series seminars are a signature program of the English Department and also a segment of the “Journey of Seeking Beauty” salon, a platform for fostering humanistic literacy of the department. Six students were invited to share their experiences in internships, employment, and postgraduate entrance exams. They are: Du Yuexi, an undergraduate from the Class of 2018 admitted to the master’s program at Columbia University; Chen Ziying, a postgraduate from the Class of 2021 majoring in Translation with extensive simultaneous interpretation experience; Zhang Yumiao, an undergraduate from the Class of 2018 employed by GroupM; Wang Xiaowei, a postgraduate from the Class of 2020 majoring in Translation hired by China Construction Bank; Wang Keyu, an undergraduate from the Class of 2018 who was admitted to the Master of Translation program at Beijing Jiaotong University with the second highest score; and Gao Xingyu, an undergraduate from the Class of 2018 admitted to the Master of International Business program at University of International Business and Economics. The audience consisted of undergraduate students from the English Department of the Classes 2019, 2020, and 2021, with over 80 teachers and students in attendance.

The salon was hosted by Ma Li, Secretary of the Party Branch of the English Department. She introduced that the English Department has always been committed to helping young students optimize their knowledge acquisition and enhance their sense of responsibility. This activity would carry forward the fine tradition of mentoring, embodying the philosophy of “fostering beauty through beauty”.

Liu Xinqi, Secretary of the Youth League Committee of the College of Languages and Communication, delivered an opening speech. He expressed the college’s attention to the students, combined with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s earnest expectations for young students, and encouraged them to consolidate their professional foundation, strengthen their life goals, unify personal ideals with serving the motherland. He urged the students to learn from outstanding seniors, make unremitting efforts to pursue progress, and become new-era youth worthy of the Party and the country.

Internship Experience

Du Yuexi shared that on-campus competitions are great opportunities to enhance one’s abilities, and students should make good use of various resources provided by the university. Regarding internships, preparations should be tailored to personal needs: prepare resume-related materials as early as possible, actively gather internship information through multiple channels, and conduct timely reviews after internships to clarify personal positioning and lay the foundation for future careers.

Chen Ziying noted that undergraduate study is a process of continuous self-improvement, and various activities and competitions organized by the college and university are valuable opportunities. She suggested seeking diverse Internship positions, as different roles offer distinct experiences, adding that daily knowledge accumulation plays an important role in practical internship scenarios.

Employment Experience

Wang Xiaowei emphasized that solid professional competence is the guarantee for job hunting. He advised students to broaden their horizons: when it comes to employment, one should not be confined to language-related fields, but combine career choices with personal life plans to clarify future goals. The knowledge accumulated should be based on textbooks but go beyond them; while signing employment agreements may be cumbersome, it is crucial to clarify all terms. Short-term goals should not be set too high, and having a correct understanding of one’s own abilities is particularly important.

Zhang Yumiao shared that clarifying one’s career direction is extremely important. Learning to put oneself in others’ shoes to make full preparations for interviews, extensively collecting resources, and conducting regular reviews are all beneficial.

Postgraduate Entrance Exam Experience

Combining her own experience, Wang Keyu shared with the students preparation methods for postgraduate entrance exams in English translation for different subjects. She emphasized the importance of balancing work and rest and maintaining a good mindset to sustain an effective learning state.

From the perspective of her own postgraduate exam preparation, Gao Xingyu shared her study methods and time management skills during the exam period. Using mind maps for knowledge review is an efficient revision method.Controlling the urge to use mobile phones during the preparation phase is equally important Only by clarifying goals and persistently devoting oneself to study can one gain valuable experiences.

The senior students also shared their contact information to facilitate further consultations from the students.

All students of the English Department gained practical and valuable knowledge suitable for themselves through this salon, which they will apply to their study and life. They are expected to apply this knowledge to their academic lives, and successfully reach their ideal destinations in the future.

Text: Song Ziyudan

Graphic Design: Chu Beibei, Shan Chaoyang

Layout/Review: Liu Xinqi, Ma Li