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BEIJINGHONG KONG, Feb 29 Reuters Chinese university graduate Zhang Baichuan travels hundreds of kilometres from one job fair to another in a final push to find a better offer than the unappealing one he received after more than 1,000 applications.

He hopes the postLunar New Year recruiting season in China, when many companies advertise for new positions, brings more attractive opportunities than the livestream moderator role he was offered recently.

While Zhang, 23, was fine with the 5,000 yuan 695 monthly salary, with the company covering meals and accommodation, he dreaded the 12hour shifts, six days a week known in China as the 996 work culture.

I39;m not keen on a 996 schedule, but I39;m considering it as a safety net while I look for better options, Zhang, who holds a business management degree from Hebei GEO University, said outside his 50yuanpernight hostel room in suburban Beijing.

I don39;t like the devaluation of degrees, but the reality is that there are more college graduates now, he said before travelling to another job fair outside of Beijing.

Encouragingly for China39;s firstquarter economic growth, the postLunar New Year recruiting season is off to a stronger start than in 2023, when the world39;s secondlargest economy…