Beijing: A food delivery rider in China with degrees from prestigious global universities has sparked conversations surrounding the challenging job market, South China Morning Post reported.
The 39-year-old Ding Yuanzhao has long been delivering food working for Meituan in Beijing, a leading shopping platform.
Ding Yuanzhao, a native of southeastern Fujian province, cracked China’s national university entrance exam gaokao, in 2004.
Scoring 700 out of a total of 750, Ding got admission to prestigious Tsinghua University, thus earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry.
Following it he earned a master’s degree in energy engineering from another prestigious institution, Peking University.
Pursuing further study at Nanyang Technological University, a leading school in Singapore, he received a PhD in biology.
Alongside, Ding came out with a master’s degree in biodiversity from Oxford University in Britain.
Before turning to food delivery, Ding pursued postdoctoral research at National University of Singapore (NUS).
After his contract ended in March last year, Ding started sending out resumes and went on to attend over 10 interviews.
Despite his efforts, he was unable to secure job to settle down.
It was then he turned to food delivery work in Singapore thus earning around SG$700 (US$550) a week by engaging 10 hours a day.
Later in a post he called delivery work a stable job that helped support his family adding ‘If you work hard, you can earn a decent living. It’s not a bad job’.
The report however did not reveal the details about his family.
“One advantage of delivering food is that you can get your workout in at the same time,” Ding was quoted as saying.
A running enthusiast, Ding says that delivery job helped him to combine work with his fitness workouts.
He refused to choose to work as a private tutor for young students after feeling ‘too shy to seek customers on his own.’
Relocated to China a few months later, Ding is now delivering food working for shopping platform Meituan in Beijing.
Ding grabbed attention on social media after he posted a video encouraging students who completed the gaokao exam.
‘If you haven’t achieved good results, don’t be pessimistic or discouraged. If you’ve done well, keep in mind that most people’s work doesn’t make much difference in the grand scheme of things,’ Ding reportedly said.
Ding’s story has triggered huge response on social media in China with many questioning the point of education when a highly qualified person is doing an ordinary job.
However, many others praised Ding’s positive attitude with one user saying ‘There’s nothing wrong with his decision. At least he didn’t give up during a low point in his life.’