While most Chinese college graduates are busy settling into new jobs, some have decided to delay the working world for now and wait out a tough job-hunting season.
Li Yu from Anhui Agricultural University is among 7.49 million new Chinese college graduates this year -- a record high. Instead of looking for jobs, he spent the summer studying at several modern agricultural zones in east China's Anhui Province.
"I want to spend some time gaining experience in farm management," he said. "It will help me start my own farm and allow me to run it better in the future."
This year's job-hunting season saw 220,000 more graduates hit the market than in 2014, and slowing economic growth has meant diminished recruitment of new grads by companies.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the unemployment rate of recent college graduates stood at 7.74 percent, well above the average.
Some Chinese college students, like Li, have chosen to remain jobless after graduation to pursue travel, startups, or volunteering instead.
"Whatever we choose to do, most of us are looking for what's best for us," Li said. "As long as what we are doing now is beneficial to our future, it is a smarter choice than getting hired upon graduation."
Wang Man, 25, who graduated last year, agrees with Li. She rejected a secretary position with a company in Hefei, capital of Anhui Province, and has been traveling since then.
"I don't like monotonous work," she said. "To be frank, I haven't decided what to do yet. It won't do me any good to define my career hastily."
Supporters applaud these young people for throwing off outdated thinking and advocating a fresh attitude toward employment.
"Perhaps if you slow things down a bit and look around the world, you can map out your future more precisely," said Du Mengjie, 26, founder and CEO of Chinese crowd-funding website Dreammore.
Before starting the fundraising platform in 2012, Du spent eight months traveling to Nepal, India, Afghanistan, and Bahrein, among other places.
His trips were mainly funded by online donations, which inspired him to establish the Kickstarter-like website to help young Chinese realize their dreams.
"Chinese college students should be less utilitarian. They should take their time to think about their dreams," he said.
Analysts said more college students are deciding not to work upon graduation to avoid the pressure in the fight for positions, especially when excess capacity of traditional industries has worsened China's job market.
"Chinese college job-hunters today face unprecedented pressure," said Li Anding, associate professor of the School of Journalism and Communication at Northwest University. "When they leave college without an ideal opportunity, they prefer to remain unemployed as a transition."
"Career goals do not come to you when you stay in the classroom and dormitory," said Sun Hao, CEO of Careerguider, an online training site for job-seekers. "Only when you go out of your comfort zone and adapt yourself to changes will you become a more competitive job-seeker or entrepreneur."
However, some critics disapprove of this trend toward "NEETs" -- adults "not in employment, education or training" who live off their parents.
"Changing employment attitudes are no excuse for time-wasting and sidestepping," said sociologist Fan Hesheng.
Xia Shanjing, 25, from Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has decided to end her year of joblessness. She's preparing for the civil servant recruitment exam.
"I feel disconnected from society if I don't work," she said.
Experts noted that if resume gaps are too long, the confidence and competitiveness of young job-seekers might be bruised.
"It would be better to set yourself a deadline," said Tian Yipeng, vice dean of School of Philosophy and Society at Jilin University. "When it takes longer than you expected, it's time for you to get a job first and come down to earth."
