Though graduation is still six months away, department leaders have already recommended a promising job in her hometown of Jiangmen to student leader Xiao Xu. Yet she finds little joy in this, as her boyfriend wishes to stay in Guangzhou for career development but has yet to secure suitable employment. To remain together in Guangzhou, Xiao Xu and her boyfriend have spent over a month attending job fairs at universities and talent markets, even applying to the same companies—yet their resumes consistently go unanswered...
Many job seekers find themselves caught between love and career. Over just two weekend days at the Southern Talent Market's final pre-holiday specialized job fairs, this reporter encountered dozens of "couple teams" seeking employment together. Yet most employers rejected these paired applicants.
Job Hunting with a "Bodyguard" for Courage
Despite the biting cold, job seekers at the Southern Talent Market remained undeterred in their quest to catch the last pre-Spring Festival hiring wave. Yet reporters noticed a distinct trend: many applicants were accompanied by a "sidekick" who carried bags, submitted resumes, and even helped jostle for space in queues when necessary.
At a booth for a well-known insurance company, Ms. Ma sat filling out her resume while her boyfriend, Mr. Long, stood nearby guiding her. The two recruiters inside the booth exchanged a knowing smile at the scene. After completing the resume, the brief interview concluded with the recruiter telling Ms. Ma to wait for further notice.Mr. Long told the reporter that his girlfriend, Ms. Ma, who had worked at Industrial Bank [33.83-2.25%] for two years, wanted to change jobs. He mainly came to "give her courage" and also looked for suitable positions for himself to switch jobs.
The reporter observed that Mr. Long was far from the only "chaperone" present. At several recruitment booths, the reporter overheard chaperones reassuring their girlfriends who felt intimidated by the high requirements and crowds of onlookers. When their girlfriends were interviewing, some chaperones even interjected to offer a few words of introduction.
Xiao Zhang from a Guangzhou vocational college shared that both she and her boyfriend secured internships but remain uncertain about permanent positions. They plan to attend the final major job fairs this year together, hoping to discover better opportunities.
Student Couples Job-Hunting Together
Our interviews revealed that these "couple teams" are mostly recent graduates, with some even applying to the same companies. Xiao Xu and his girlfriend Xiao Qiu, seniors at South China Normal University, are one such pair. "When we find a good company, we both apply. It doubles our chances of success."
Another couple, Ah Hua and Xiao Lin, have their own perspective: "Employers worry that college graduates are overconfident and impatient, prone to job-hopping. If a couple joins together, it can help employees settle down." Xiao Lin explains he now shares this reasoning with recruiters during job interviews, hoping both he and his girlfriend will be hired.
Corporate Perspectives
"Independence" Matters Most
"This year's job fairs frequently feature female candidates accompanied by their boyfriends during interviews." One company's HR representative found this phenomenon absurd. "How does bringing an 'entourage' to secure a position demonstrate personal competence? How can anyone trust her to handle the job independently?"
Recruiters find it even harder to understand couples who insist on joining the same company. A human resources manager shared that he had already "refused a hire" at a previous job fair.I received two resumes and was impressed by the male candidate. But he insisted his girlfriend be hired too. When we refused, he grabbed her hand and arrogantly declared he wouldn't accept the job either. It was utterly baffling."
Senior HR experts admit companies generally reject "couple applications," with many even prohibiting workplace romances among employees.Regarding Xiao Lin's perspective, the expert noted that recent graduates are still young and their relationships are often unstable. Hiring both individuals doesn't guarantee they'll focus on their work. Moreover, office romances blur the line between personal and professional life, inevitably mixing private matters with work. If one partner experiences poor work performance or feels wronged, it can easily affect the other and even disrupt the productivity of other employees.
Expert Advice
Avoid strolling hand-in-hand near the recruitment booth. When one partner interviews, the other should stay out of sight or keep their presence undisclosed. If present, never hover over the job seeker to offer unsolicited help or interject—this risks portraying them as overly dependent and lacking independence.