Life’s dilemma: having a satisfactory job in a city you don’t like
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Let me start by telling you about my situation. I graduated from a 211 university in June this year, obtaining a master’s degree in a chemistry-related field. Currently, I work at the Research Institute of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group, based in Panzhihua, Sichuan. The Research Institute of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group (www.panyan.cn) was formerly a research institute directly under the Ministry of Metallurgy; it later became part of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group. It possesses strong research capabilities. I am currently working there on technology-related tasks related to titanium. Although the salary is low at present, I am quite satisfied with this job. But I have many confusions working at this Pangang Research Institute in Panzhihua. One of the reasons for my confusion is that I don’t like the city of Panzhihua: it’s in a remote location with extremely poor transportation ； As it is an industrial city, environmental pollution is relatively severe ； The city is in a valley, even more mountainous than a mountain town ； The weather here is hot, with an average annual temperature of over 20 degrees. There are no distinct seasons; it usually rains only in the months of July, August, and September, while the rest of the time the sun shines brightly ； Prices are also higher than in Chengdu............ Another reason for my confusion: my wife and I live in different places (we got married right after I graduated). She is a high school teacher in Suining, Sichuan, and started working right after graduating from university. She came to Panzhihua and tried to find a teaching job in the education sector, but the school was located far from the city center (where I am), and the surrounding area was poor, so she gave up that opportunity and returned to Suining to work. It remains difficult for her to find a satisfactory job in Panzhihua, as many positions in public institutions require connections, and I don’t have any such networks here. Third reason for confusion: I want to work in Suining, but there are no organizations in Suining that are better or on par with the Panzhihua Iron and Steel Research Institute suitable for me. If one wants to work in Suining, there are three options: go to a junior college (with few students in my field of study), work at the environmental protection agency (where no positions are currently available), or become a teacher in middle schools. Let me briefly introduce Suining: Located in the heart of the Chengdu-Chongqing region, Suining has better transportation facilities and urban development compared to Panzhihua; it is a city suitable for living in. However, its economy is currently weaker than that of Panzhihua. As it is located at the center of the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, its development is seen as promising. I’m still working at the Pangang Research Institute, trying to find a way to get my wife to transfer to work there; even if the conditions are tough, should we go back to Suining to work at one of those three institutions? Which of those three units would be the best choice (I’ve already contacted them and there’s no problem going there)? I would be grateful if you could all offer me some advice. I’ll be very thankful to anyone who responds; thanks in advance!
Living in separate places... Since you don’t like climbing mountains, and from what you’ve said it seems like your partner also considered leaving Suining, why don’t the two of you go to Chengdu together to look for work? I believe you will have more choices~ In fact, as long as your job is good, you won’t need such high earnings from your LP job, so it should be easier to find a job you like. Considering factors such as the comfort of living together in the future and the education of any children you might have (if you decide to have them), I personally think it would be better to leave Pan City, if you have to choose between Pan City and Sui City. From your words, it seems you really like the nature of work in this kind of research institution; the Environmental Protection Bureau might satisfy you more than working as a teacher... However, there are no permanent positions available at the moment, so be sure to consider the future prospects carefully. If there’s no reason to stay in Suipan or other similar cities, it’s recommended that you move to larger cities like Chengdu and Chongqing, where you’ll have better opportunities, broader horizons, and a more comfortable lifestyle, all of which will be beneficial for your future. But it’s still up to LZ to think it through and make a decision themselves, haha~ Good luck!~
Well, I agree with what was said on the second floor – think in a longer term. Why must it be the cities of Suining and Panzhihua? You could consider going to larger cities like Chengdu; this way, you’ll have more opportunities for both of you to find jobs, and the income levels, as well as the economic development and living conditions of those cities, will also be better. This could indeed be a good option – the original poster might want to give it some thought.
In my opinion, if the job in Panzhihua is worth sticking with and beneficial for future development, there’s no need to worry too much about the present. I believe the kind of work that the original poster likes isn’t something that many people are interested in; working in a job one doesn’t like will lead to regret in the future. As for the environment, it’s a matter of adapting to it. As for a spouse, I think it’s quite easy to find a teacher as a partner – as long as the two of them can understand each other and avoid complaining, and whoever has more free time can take on more household chores. It’s okay to work hard when you’re young; things will improve step by step.
Go find a wife; life isn’t easy.
Pangang is still likely to be a large state-owned enterprise at present, but nowadays there isn’t much difference between state-owned and private enterprises； Provided you work on 90% of China’s titanium resource research, the prospects should be good! And housing prices aren’t too high:) Isn’t Panzhihua a great tourist destination these days? Add your wife to Pianba! Men put their careers first! If you’re capable of making your wife quit her job, then support her!
Go to work as a teacher in a middle school, return to Suining – there are advantages to living in a small city
I think many of the friends upstairs have made good points... Since they’re both married, I think it’s better for the two of them to be in the same place... Living in separate places is very inconvenient. If he can’t move there and you don’t plan to move either, then you could both look for jobs in places where it’s easier to live, like Xindu District in Chengdu... There are many schools and chemical factories there as well. I also want to ask how the original poster ended up working at Panzhihua Iron and Steel Company... I’m majoring in chemistry too, and some of my classmates study in Panzhihua... They say the living conditions there are poor... But I still think it’s a good company... Could you give me some advice?
A career is important, but so is the family. The best thing to do right now is to go to your wife’s parents’ place. If you get the chance to find something better in the future, you can leave there together and move to a better place.
Between a career and family, I think the family is more important. A job can be found if it’s lost, but it’s very difficult to find a wife again. I hope LZ will think it through carefully; good luck
If it were me, in your situation, I would choose to go to Suining and work as a teacher at a junior college or middle school. If you want to get something, you always need to give up something else.