This summer, the Class of 2024 graduate from Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT). Despite the COVID-19 Pandemic and the running difficulty of Sino-foreign university co-operation in the year they entered GTIIT, the determined students keep moving forward with the motto of "Dream it, do it". Some students chose to pursue postgraduate studies and delve further into scientific research, while some chose to join the workplace, contributing to the development of the country. This interview will share with you an employment story of 2024 graduates, to witness how GT students open the new chapter of career with the spirit of dedicated engineers.

Yu Haomingzhe

High school: Tianjin No.42 High School

 Program: Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

 Admission: Sinopec Qilu Petrochemical Company-Refining and production technology reserve post

When filling the applications for college entrance examinations in 2018, Yu Haomingzhe resolutely listed GTIIT in the admission pre-batch, taking a significant step for his future. Upon entering GTIIT, he experienced a challenging period due to increased academic difficulties. However, he strove for changes and tackled the problems actively, ultimately securing an offer from Sinopec through on-campus recruitment. Now, he is about to write new stories in his desired company.

 “Hitting rock bottom and slowly climbing up”

Enrolling at GTIIT was, for Mingzhe, an "unexpected result" following his failure in the second mock exam, and also the beginning of a journey to shatter the past and rebuild himself. In addition to struggling with the English-taught classes, his introverted personality also led to repeated setbacks in group collaborations. "At that time, I was a bit naive, feeling doing things alone was more efficient than teamwork, and I would rather go through all the difficulties by myself, even if the outcome wasn't good."

The challenges of English-taught curriculums, teamwork, presentations, and GPA came one after another, marking the early stages of his university life along with a sense of self-doubt.

The point when he had to retake his freshman year, was like "hitting rock bottom and slowly climbing up", in Mingzhe’s description. After processing his frustration, he began to actively seek changes and explore a proper path of improvement. Weak in spoken English, he boldly spoke out and enhanced practice; facing difficulties in group cooperation, he reflected on the issues for breakthroughs; with a low GPA, he humbly sought advices from others and caught up.

"It was my physics lab instructor Dr. Roman Kreiserman who spent a long time guiding me, helping me realize that my thoughts about teamwork were quite one-sided." As the ability of collaboration improved, the rich opportunities of presentation in GTIIT helped Mingzhe overcome his fear of public speaking. "Before, I thought giving a speech was terrifying, as if only corporate giants or academic experts could stand on that stage. Now, I realize that as long as you have a thorough understanding of what you want to share and express your thoughts smoothly, that's already a significant progress." He added immediately, "And having so many presentation experiences at school is a big plus point when it comes to job hunting.”

His efforts paid off. In the sophomore year, Mingzhe's academic performance get stabilized, and he began to tackle more challenges ahead.

“An opportunity in hand is already a victory”

Studying abroad, pursuing domestic postgraduate studies, and entering the workforce were the three paths that lay before Mingzhe before graduation. After much consideration, he decided to grasp two opportunities at once—preparing for both the postgraduate entrance examination and campus recruitment.

"It’s not that easy," Mingzhe explained, "You have to ensure a good state and keep balanced between job hunting and curriculums." During the second semester of his junior year, he was busy attending classes, preparing for the postgraduate exam, and participating in autumn recruitment.

At the beginning of 2024, the results of the postgraduate entrance examination were announced. Finding himself not admitted, Mingzhe decided to fully focus on the spring recruitment. He optimized his resume, practiced mock interviews, and cast a wide net in job market. "I would check the website of every company I knew, to see if there was any position suitable for me. As long as there was an interview invitation, I would attend it."

In addition to the tightly packed schedule, he also had to battle with fluctuating emotions. Over the past six months, there were applications that went unanswered, and experiences of being eliminated in the first round of written tests. "I was very stressful at the early stage, not knowing what kind of questions I would be asked," Mingzhe admitted. "Later on, I learned to calm down, doing my best to get all the points that I could possibly get, not giving up. An opportunity in hand is already a victory."

The knowledge and skills acquired at GTIIT became his best support in job seeking. "First is English proficiency. Both CHEC and Wanhua Chemical Group had English tests, and some companies also conducted English interviews, which directly allowed me to stand out. Additionally, the curriculum at our school covered a wide range of subjects, including computer science, chemical engineering, materials. Under materials, there were subdivisions like polymers, quantum mechanics, engineering drawing... which prepared GT students to adapt to various positions quickly." Beyond solid professional foundation, the guidance from the professors at GTIIT also added weight to Mingzhe's job search. "Professor Wang Nan tried to expand our knowledge in computer applications and helped me solve engineering problems by mathematical models. More and more state-owned enterprises are undergoing digital transformation now, and these skills are recognized by interviewers."

Several months of intense effort ended up with a satisfactory answer sheet. In May of this year, Mingzhe emerged from a pool of 2400 competitors and officially became a member of Sinopec, along with some graduates holding master's degree from prestigious 211 and 985 universities in China. A total of 40 candidates were selected for the position he applied for.

“Be an excellent engineer”

Reflecting on what had impressed the interviewers, Mingzhe believed that his calm personality might have been the key factor. "Sinopec values a meticulous and rigorous attitude. The ability to withstand pressure is also crucial. In addition to 12-hour shift, we also need to study more theories after work and deal with various tests. The safety issue is like a sword of Damocles hanging over the head of every chemical plant worker, and human can indeed be said to be as light as ants in the face of industrial accidents."

Learning and mastering the technological process, inspecting the refining plant, and managing labor personnel are Mingzhe's understandings of his first job after joining the company. It requires solid practical skills and a meticulous artisan's mindset. "The polymer and fluid mechanics knowledge I learned in MSE program, along with the chemical engineering courses I chose, did match with this position." With the right academic background, he appears more confident as he embarks on the career journey. “Our common goal is to maintain the smooth operation of equipment, equip ourselves with the abilities to analyze and solve problems independently, and be excellent engineers.”

Looking back on his university days, Mingzhe said, "My focus was on seeking changes." Despite the bumps along the way, he never thought of giving up but instead rallied his spirits at every setback, striving to break through the adverse situation. In the future, he plans to pursue an on-the-job graduate degree, preparing for long-term development.

GTIIT

Within GTIIT, there are students like Mingzhe who may lag due to unfulfilling academic performance or feel lost due to an uncertain future. However, with resilience, they always accumulate strength, waiting for the moment to flow into the wider seas.

Text：GTIIT News & Public Affairs

Photos: provided by the interviewee