Skilled worker helps to change old perceptions

Han Xuezhou, who has earned himself a lucrative position as a skilled worker, is helping to change people's misconceptions about graduates of vocational schools.

The 21-year-old from Guangnan county, Yunnan province, has been infatuated with machinery since childhood, when he usually played with bicycle parts and made wooden toy cars on his own.

"I was quite naughty back then and even pulled some furniture apart," he said, recalling his early years in the formerly impoverished area.

Han said he was also inspired by an older neighbor, who was working as a skilled worker.

"I heard that he earned a much higher salary (than other locals), so I started learning about technical schools when I was in junior high school. I had a poor academic performance back then, but I tried to learn some skills after finishing junior high school rather than continue to do poorly at a senior high school," he said.

In September 2019, Han enrolled at the Yunnan Technician College in Kunming, the provincial capital, where he learned about computerized numerical control. He said that even though he loves machinery, he initially felt upset because he was studying at a vocational school.

"My older sister applied to do a bachelor's after finishing her vocational education. My educational background is much weaker than hers, but all those frustrations have gone now. I think it's good to get a higher educational degree, but the salaries I've earned as a vocational graduate are not inferior to those of other people," he said.

"All disappointments or frustrations can be relieved through work and income. Educational background matters, but so do my skills."

The young man, who is active in school events, has taken part in provincial and State-level skills competitions, where he tested his innovative approach and highly-developed skills.

For example, in September 2020, he joined the provincial trial for the nation's first vocational skills competition. "I get to know my weak points through these competitions, so I can improve myself," he said.

In March, the school recommended Han for a placement as a computerized numerical control technician at Jabil Green Point Technology, a company that provides manufacturing solutions for mass production, in Wuxi, Jiangsu province.

Initially, the three-month internship, which started in March, was not easy for the greenhorn.

"The operating system is totally different from those we practiced at school, so some machines collided when I was still unfamiliar with the operating procedures. It was only the second day of my internship, which made me deeply depressed," he said.

However, he made great efforts to bounce back, becoming familiar with the operating system and the work routine in about two weeks.

Thanks to his endeavors and outstanding performance during the internship, the company was impressed by Han and gave him a monthly payment of 7,000 yuan ($1,045). Later, it offered him a full-time job and will raise his monthly payment to 10,000 yuan when he officially signs a work contract.

Han said that he decided to accept the offer because the COVID-19 epidemic means it is not practical to look for other job opportunities.

"My idea is more practical because I need to do high-quality work rather than just talking big," he said. "In my view, skilled workers will never be phased out through industrial and social development. Instead, the skills will be updated as society develops, which will require us skilled workers to improve ourselves all the time."

Han said that he is now running two online shops selling daily necessities in his free time as he is willing to try many new things at a young age to help support his family.

Liu Xi contributed to this story.