Sure, the American job market is not so hot right now. Luckily, there is China!
Joshua Arjuna Stephens ’07 is one of several American college graduates featured in an NY Times article about how China’s surging economy and low cost of living are offering a promising alternative to questionable post-grad employment prospects in this country:
One of those in the latest wave is Joshua Arjuna Stephens, who graduated from Wesleyan University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in American studies. Two years ago, he decided to take a temporary summer position in Shanghai with China Prep, an educational travel company.
“I didn’t know anything about China,” said Mr. Stephens, who worked on market research and program development. “People thought I was nuts to go not speaking the language, but I wanted to do something off the beaten track.”
Two years later, after stints in the nonprofit sector and at a large public relations firm in Beijing, he is highly proficient in Mandarin and works as a manager for XPD Media, a social media company based in Beijing that makes online games.
So there you have it, the new Brooklyn is Shanghai.
NY Times: American Graduates Finding Jobs in China