I Like Society and The World Around Us.

① Looking at Maps and Globes

Some students can spend hours simply staring at maps and globes—not to memorize names of mountains, rivers, or cities, but to imagine the shapes of continents and coastlines, and to dream about distant lands.

National Geospatial Survey Staff

In China, the National Bureau of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation conducts advanced monitoring of the Earth using satellites and GPS. Staff work in two main areas: measurement and cartography. They measure continental drift with millimeter precision, create updated large-scale maps, and forecast natural hazards like earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Work may involve climbing mountains to set up GPS receivers, collaborating with international teams on Antarctic research, and managing vast digital databases. Entry requires passing the national civil service exam and a strong background in geography, surveying, or related sciences. It is a competitive but highly meaningful career for those curious about how our planet shifts and evolves.

Cartographer

Cartographers produce maps for urban planning, land use, disaster prevention, and many other fields. Work begins with aerial or satellite photographs, followed by on-site surveys to confirm details. Today, digital mapping dominates, though hand-corrected maps are still valued for accuracy. Becoming a cartographer usually requires specialized training in mapping technology or GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and many work in private mapping companies contracted by government agencies.

Map Editor

A map editor decides how to present maps—what regions to highlight, how to simplify features, and how to adapt to new developments. Map editors also conduct “ground truth” surveys, comparing new maps with previous editions to check for changes. While no formal license is required, solid geographic knowledge is important. Paper maps may no longer dominate, but demand remains for printed maps in government planning, education, and professional use.

Survey Engineer

Survey engineers prepare measurement plans and collect data for construction projects such as roads, bridges, residential complexes, and farmland. They ensure designs match actual conditions on the ground. With the expansion of large-scale infrastructure in China—high-speed railways, airports, and hydropower stations—survey engineers remain essential. Entry requires a university or technical degree in surveying and passing a national qualification exam. The work demands both technical expertise and the physical stamina for outdoor fieldwork.

Antique Map Researcher

Before scientific surveying, maps were drawn with imagination and local knowledge. Antique map researchers study these maps from the perspectives of history, geography, folklore, aesthetics, and comparative culture. Some are professors or museum curators; others are hobbyists like teachers or civil servants. They often join regional study groups or academic associations, focusing on how maps reflected people’s worldviews in different times. Success in this field requires a love of history, persistence, and the ability to interpret incomplete information with imagination.

City Magazine Publisher

City magazines introduce local life—restaurants, fashion, music, events, and travel information. In China, many free magazines are distributed in bookstores, cafés, or tucked into newspapers, supported by advertising. Staff coordinate editing, interviews, and advertising sales. While pay may start modestly and often begins with part-time work, the job is rewarding for those who enjoy connecting communities and curating urban culture.

② Learning National and World History

History is not just about the past—it is about how the past connects with the present. A nation’s current state is inseparable from what happened 50, 100, or even 1,000 years ago. If major historical events had turned out differently, our world today might look very different.

Archaeological Excavator

Archaeologists uncover buried cultural heritage—ruins, artifacts, and fossils. In China, thousands of construction projects reveal new sites each year, requiring emergency archaeological surveys. Professionals document, analyze, and preserve remains, knowing that excavation itself is an irreversible act. Training typically involves university studies in archaeology, history, or anthropology, and practical fieldwork. In recent years, major discoveries like the Sanxingdui ruins in Sichuan have attracted global attention. Archaeology requires not only knowledge and skill, but also respect for cultural heritage.

Antique Shop Worker

Antique shop staff specialize in identifying and trading artworks, ceramics, furniture, and calligraphy. The skill to distinguish genuine antiques from replicas cannot be learned overnight; it requires years of practice under experienced dealers. Beginners often start by tending the shop and learning etiquette, gradually progressing to negotiation and appraisal. In China, antique shops are concentrated in markets like Beijing’s Panjiayuan or Shanghai’s Dongtai Road. The business depends on trust and relationships, and while risky, it is appealing for those fascinated by history and material culture.

③ Understanding Society

Modern society is complex: new roads, bridges, airports, and dams are built constantly. But who decides these projects, and how are they funded? Understanding the organization and operation of society is both important and fascinating.

Journalist

Journalists gather and report news in fields such as politics, economics, technology, and culture. In China, journalists may work for newspapers, TV stations, or online media, or as independent writers. While AI and social media have changed the industry, investigative reporting, clear writing, and a strong sense of responsibility remain crucial. Many journalists see their role as contributing to social progress by bringing truth to light.

Judicial Scrivener

Judicial scriveners handle legal documents and procedures for individuals and businesses—such as property transfers, inheritance, or court filings. In China, similar roles exist among paralegals and legal service workers. The work requires legal training, strong communication skills, and certification. These professionals help ordinary people navigate the complexities of law.

Administrative Scrivener

Administrative scriveners specialize in preparing documents for government permits and approvals—business licenses, restaurant permits, land-use agreements, and more. In China, this overlaps with the work of lawyers, notaries, and business consultants. While less well-known, this role is vital for entrepreneurs and citizens navigating bureaucracy.

Patent Attorney

Patent attorneys protect intellectual property by filing patents and representing inventors in disputes. In China, the profession is strictly regulated, requiring national qualification and registration. Patent attorneys need strong technical backgrounds (often in engineering or science), plus legal knowledge. With China’s rapid innovation, the demand for patent attorneys has grown significantly.

Maritime Agent

Maritime agents handle ship registration, inspection, and safety compliance. In China’s major ports such as Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Qingdao, agents liaise between shipping companies and government authorities. They ensure vessels meet legal requirements and help coordinate logistics. Certification is required, and the job appeals to those who love the sea and international trade.

Newspaper Reporter

Reporters in newspapers often begin with several years in local bureaus, covering a wide range of stories before moving into specialized sections such as politics, culture, or international affairs. The role requires curiosity, persistence, and a strong sense of justice. In China, traditional newspapers now coexist with digital platforms, but reporters remain essential for in-depth and trustworthy information.

Civil Servant (General Administrative Duties)

Civil servants work in government offices at national and local levels. In China, civil servants are recruited through the national exam, with millions competing each year. Duties range from drafting policies to handling public services. The role offers stability, but also demands dedication, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility to the public.

④ Selling Services

The service industry provides not only technical and professional expertise but also experiences that bring satisfaction and comfort. In China today, the service sector employs hundreds of millions of people and generates a larger share of GDP than manufacturing. Jobs range from hospitality and tourism to education, legal support, IT, and beyond.

Hotel Worker

Hotels divide their work into departments: guest services, food and beverage, banquets, and kitchen operations. Staff may handle reservations, concierge services, front desk check-in, housekeeping, restaurant service, wedding planning, or cooking. While shifts can be long and demanding, the industry values attentiveness, communication skills, and the ability to make guests feel at home.

Hostess

Traditionally, hostesses assist guests in hotels and inns, often handling room services with courtesy and warmth. In China, the role overlaps with hospitality and housekeeping staff. Physical stamina, communication skills, and a professional appearance are essential.

Tour Bus Guide

Tour guides on buses explain destinations, lead games to entertain passengers, and assist drivers. The role is seasonal, often busiest during holidays. In China, tour guides must be licensed and often work with travel agencies, balancing knowledge with enthusiasm.

Housekeeper

Housekeepers manage cooking, cleaning, shopping, and caregiving in private homes. In China’s large domestic service market, housekeepers may also care for children, the elderly, or patients at home. Agencies provide training and placement, and confidentiality and trustworthiness are highly valued.

Funeral Service Worker

Funeral workers manage arrangements from ceremonies to cremation, supporting grieving families with sensitivity. In China, the job is recognized with national skill levels (from entry to technician). It demands compassion, stamina, and respect for tradition.

Wedding Planner

Wedding planners advise couples, coordinate venues, and organize ceremonies. While no formal license is required, training and experience are crucial. In China, the wedding industry is booming, from luxury banquets to destination weddings. Creativity, patience, and negotiation skills make this role both challenging and rewarding.

Matchmaker

Matchmakers connect people seeking marriage, offering introductions and advice. In modern China, matchmaking has professionalized into agencies and online platforms, but the essence remains: helping people build families. Successful matchmakers need social insight, empathy, and discretion.

Management Consultant

Management consultants analyze company problems and recommend strategies in areas such as finance, marketing, operations, and human resources. In China, large firms like McKinsey and domestic firms alike employ consultants. The work requires strong analytical skills, adaptability, and communication, often under tight deadlines.

Advertising Professional

Advertising staff work in agencies or production companies, planning campaigns, negotiating with media, creating content, and managing events. In China, the industry spans traditional TV to digital platforms like WeChat and Douyin. The work is dynamic but time-intensive, requiring creativity and resilience.

Guesthouse Manager

Guesthouses, often family-run, provide travelers with a homelike atmosphere. Owners handle everything from promotion to cooking. In China’s rural tourism boom, guesthouses thrive by showcasing local culture and scenery. Successful operators balance hospitality with business management.

Railway Service Staff

Rail service staff sell food, assist passengers, make announcements, and handle emergencies. In China, this includes attendants on high-speed trains. The work is customer-facing and often demanding, but provides opportunities for advancement within the railway system.

Travel Planner

Travel planners design itineraries, book tickets, arrange accommodations, and sometimes handle visas. In China, planners work in agencies or independently, offering both group tours and customized trips. Strong language skills, cultural knowledge, and organization are essential.

Mortician

Morticians prepare bodies for burial or cremation, including dressing, makeup, and ceremony support. Beyond technical skills, the role requires empathy and the ability to comfort families. In China, training programs and certification systems exist for funeral directors.

Call Center Operator

Call center staff answer customer inquiries, handle complaints, or promote products. In China, many companies outsource call centers to specialized firms. The job requires communication skills, patience, and confidentiality.

⑤ Selling Goods

Selling goods to consumers is called retail. In China, retail has transformed rapidly: traditional mom-and-pop shops coexist with supermarkets, convenience stores, online platforms, and live-streaming sales. Regardless of format, the core remains the same—moving products from shelves into people’s hands. But depending on the type of store, the required knowledge and skills vary greatly.

Pawnshop Worker

Pawnshops lend money using items as collateral. Customers bring in jewelry, watches, luxury bags, electronics, or other valuables. Staff appraise the item’s worth, lend a percentage of its value, and if repayment is made, the item is returned. If not, it is sold. In China, pawnshops require official licenses and must keep detailed transaction records. Workers need sharp appraisal skills, awareness of market trends, and strong negotiation abilities. Many begin by apprenticing in existing shops before running their own. The challenge lies in balancing risk and trust, but for those with an eye for value, the trade can be rewarding.

Discount Ticket Shop Clerk

Discount ticket shops buy and resell tickets—such as train, bus, cinema, or prepaid cards—for a small profit margin. The business model is “small profits, quick turnover.” In China, online resale platforms and secondary markets (for concerts or transportation) have taken over many of these functions, but physical outlets still exist in large cities. Staff must secure reliable sources, move inventory quickly, and understand how demand fluctuates. The job is fast-paced and requires constant attention to pricing.

Convenience Store Owner

Convenience stores are ubiquitous across China, from 7-Eleven and Lawson in big cities to local chains and independent shops. Owners sign franchise agreements, invest in setup, and manage daily operations. Work starts early—restocking shelves, managing staff, monitoring sales, and ordering goods from the franchise network. Owners must understand thousands of SKUs, keep up with consumer habits, and adapt quickly. Although the market is competitive, convenience stores remain a cornerstone of urban life. Success requires resilience, business sense, and customer care.

Bento Shop Owner

The “bento” or lunchbox industry is booming in China’s cities, especially with the growth of food delivery platforms like Meituan and Ele.me. Owners oversee menu design, ingredient sourcing, cooking, packaging, and distribution. Shops must meet strict food safety standards—health permits, inspections, and sanitation compliance are required. Competition is intense, and margins can be thin, but the demand for affordable, fast meals is huge. For entrepreneurs who enjoy food and customer service, it can be a lively, community-oriented business.

Other Related Jobs

• Bookstore Clerk

• Secondhand Bookstore Owner

• Florist Shop Owner

• Registered Salesperson (pharmaceuticals/medical devices)

• Photo Studio Owner

• Auction House Worker

• Secondhand Clothing Store Clerk

• Online Seller

• TV Shopping Host

• Film Distributor

• Film Publicity Manager

  Essay I: Desire, Credit, and Communication

  
  
  
  

  By Ryu Murakami (adapted for today’s context)

  
  

  When I was in New York about twenty years ago, I once ended up with extra tennis tickets at Madison Square Garden because of a mistake in scheduling. Since the tickets were expensive and non-refundable, I tried to sell them outside the venue. Technically, scalping was illegal, but I thought it was wasteful to let them go unused.

  
  

  I shouted at the crowd: “Tickets! Anyone want tickets?” But almost everyone already had theirs, and they looked at me with suspicion. At first, I couldn’t sell even one. Still, I persisted, and finally, just before the match began, I sold a single ticket. The thrill I felt at that moment was unforgettable—equal parts excitement and guilt. It wasn’t only because reselling was illegal; it was more the uneasy feeling of having profited by selling something that I could have given away.

  
  

  Later, I tried a different strategy. I noticed a group of flight attendants shopping at a nearby luxury store. I went inside and offered my tickets at half price. To my surprise, they were delighted, thanked me profusely, and even invited me to dinner afterward. This time I felt less guilty, more exhilarated by the act of selling itself. It wasn’t really about the money—it was about the communication, the negotiation, and the moment when desire met opportunity.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  The Act of Selling

  
  
  
  

  In childhood, “selling” hardly exists. Kids might trade marbles, cards, or toys, but those are games of exchange, not commerce. Even intelligent animals like chimpanzees and dolphins do not sell; trade and commerce are uniquely human inventions.

  
  

  For most of human history, during hunter-gatherer times, there was no systematic buying and selling—people simply consumed what they collected. It was only with the advent of large-scale agriculture, fishing, and herding that surplus appeared. With surplus came specialization: rulers, priests, artisans, soldiers—all supported by trade. This led to the birth of money, and eventually markets.

  
  

  The essence of commerce has always been desire, trust, and communication. People’s needs for food, tools, or entertainment created desire; agreements to exchange goods created trust; and the act of negotiating those exchanges became communication. These three elements—desire, credit, and communication—are still at the heart of every sale today.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Capturing Desire

  
  
  
  

  Why did I feel guilty after selling my spare tickets? Because deep down, I believed I could have given them away as a gift. But when I sold them, I wasn’t motivated by money—I was fascinated by the process itself: the thrill of catching someone’s desire and making a deal.

  
  

  That flash of connection—when another person shows interest in what you offer, and the exchange is sealed—creates a joy different from being thanked for a free favor. It is a joy rooted in communication and human psychology.

  
  

  This is why, no matter how technology evolves, jobs involving selling goods and services will never disappear. Online shopping, live-stream e-commerce, and AI-driven recommendations may change the methods, but they still rely on understanding human desire and building trust.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Who Becomes the “Top Seller”?

  
  
  
  

  Some people simply excel at selling. They may not be glamorous or especially persuasive, but when they step onto the shop floor or in front of a camera, they connect with customers and close deals. In today’s China, for example, livestream anchors can move millions of products in a single night because they know how to present value and read the emotions of their viewers.

  
  

  Interestingly, the skills differ depending on what is being sold. A top luxury car salesperson succeeds not by flattering wealthy clients, but by vividly describing the driving experience and prestige that comes with the brand. A skilled salesperson of domestic economy cars, by contrast, convinces buyers by emphasizing reliability, practicality, and price-performance. The “talent for sales” is diverse and contextual, but the principle is the same: understand desire, build trust, communicate clearly.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Conclusion: Waiting Won’t Sell Anything

  
  
  
  

  It’s often said nowadays, “Goods don’t sell like they used to, the market is saturated.” That may be true—but often the problem isn’t demand, it’s how the sale is approached. Simply displaying products and waiting passively rarely works. Successful retail—whether it’s a street demo, a Taobao livestream, or a Douyin short video—actively engages customers, explains benefits, and creates urgency.

  
  

  Sales methods will keep evolving, but one truth remains constant: you must find a way to meet human desire with trust and communication.

  
  

  For me, selling those tennis tickets taught a lasting lesson: just moving from the street to the right setting—inside a store, to the right audience—was enough to sell them all. Sales is never only about the product. It is about place, timing, desire, and the spark of communication.