Ding Yuanzhao, 39, holds multiple advanced degrees—including a PhD in biology from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University and a master’s in biodiversity from Oxford. Years ago, he was celebrated for nearly acing China’s notoriously difficult gaokao exam, earning him admission to the prestigious Tsinghua University. He later added a master’s in energy engineering from Peking University to his résumé.
Yet despite this long list of elite credentials, Ding’s reality today is far from what many would expect. After his postdoctoral stint at the National University of Singapore ended in March last year, Ding hit a wall. He sent out countless job applications, sat through more than ten interviews, and waited—for responses that never came.
With no promising opportunities in sight, he signed up as a food delivery rider in Singapore. Clocking around 10 hours a day, he made the equivalent of roughly ₹47,000 a week—enough to cover his family’s needs. “The job is steady, the money pays the bills, and I stay fit while doing it,” he said in a candid social media post. He also mentioned that tutoring was off the table—not due to a lack of qualifications, but because he felt too awkward approaching potential clients.
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After several months, Ding moved back to China and now works with Meituan, one of the country’s largest food delivery platforms, in Beijing.
His story has triggered heated discussions online, with many questioning what academic success is really worth in today’s job market. As China’s youth unemployment rate (excluding students) reached 14.9% in May, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, Ding’s situation feels less like an outlier and more like a symptom of a much larger problem.
While some sympathized with his struggle, others praised his willingness to do honest work instead of holding out for a “dignified” job. Regardless of where people stand, Ding’s journey has struck a chord—and opened up a broader conversation about the mismatch between higher education and real-world opportunity.
