Employment Preferences of Young People: No Longer Pursuing "Iron Rice Bowls"

Hi! I'm Charles, and I recently observed an interesting phenomenon at ETHGlobal Tokyo

Honestly, watching the shifts in young people's employment attitudes over the years feels like blockchain Gas Fee—superficially a technical issue, but fundamentally reflecting transformations in societal structures.

On Wednesday afternoon at ETHGlobal Tokyo's exhibition area, I noticed an intriguing scene: traditional "iron rice bowl" positions attracted almost no inquiries. Those young graduates holding prestigious university resumes had eyes sparkling not with desire for stable jobs, but with curiosity for possibilities.

I think... this actually mirrors deeper societal changes. Today's youth aren't naive—they clearly recognize how traditional "iron rice bowl" positions are becoming increasingly lightweight. After all, in this Web3 era, workplace concepts have been completely reshaped.

By the way, this shift isn't accidental. I discussed this topic with a senior HR professional at a Manhattan coffee shop in New York. He said: "Today's youth view career choices as adventure trips rather than lifelong anchors." This cognitive shift has, to some extent, shaped current employment trends.

Why Are "Iron Rice Bowls" Losing Their Appeal?

Hmm... this reminds me of a late-night conversation last year in San Francisco. Several friends from different industries and I debated:

"Why don't today's youth see state-owned enterprises or tech giants as ultimate career goals like we did?"

A Silicon Valley engineer replied: "Because our generation inherently embraces Web3 culture—freedom, openness, decentralization. These principles now permeate our career choices."

I think... this might relate to our generation's upbringing. Watching young people coding DeFi projects at 4 AM on Tokyo streets, I sensed the fire in their eyes—a hunger for possibilities, not stability.

Against this backdrop, the stability and security offered by traditional "iron rice bowls" feel increasingly burdensome.

MyJob Insights: Value Positioning in New Work Paradigms

Honestly, trends on MyJob's platform are fascinating. Data from the past 12 months shows:

• Solana developers saw 38% average salary increases, yet applicant numbers kept dropping? No—this reflects cognitive upgrading.
• More elite university graduates are choosing Web3 technical roles as their first option
• Talent skilled in Solidity and smart contract development commands stronger bargaining power
• Traditional finance professionals are rapidly migrating to DeFi and NFT sectors

At Hong Kong's Token2049, I noticed an interesting scene: young accountants from Big Four firms actively inquired about transitioning to GameFi development. Such strong willingness for career shifts was unimaginable a decade ago.

Upon reflection, a key MyJob insight emerges: today's youth prioritize learning curves and growth opportunities. They embrace challenges born from uncertainty.

In a Paris café, I met a PhD candidate using MyJob who said: "Rather than chasing lifetime job security (which may never exist), I prefer accumulating diverse experiences through short-term projects." This mindset shift represents revolutionary changes in workplace concepts.

Psychological Preparation Guide for New Work Paradigms

Hmm... this raises a question: As "iron rice bowl" concepts dissolve, how should young people psychologically adapt? Stability anxiety remains many people's core workplace concern.

My hiring observations reveal that successful Web3 professionals share traits:

• Strong self-motivation—They understand decentralization demands self-discipline
• Continuous learning—They grasp how technology evolves faster than traditional industries
• Risk-sharing mentality—They tolerate early-project uncertainties while spotting opportunities
• Cross-domain integration—They excel at combining knowledge from different fields

Interestingly, MyJob data shows top performers aren't necessarily technical experts (though important), but those maintaining growth mindsets amid uncertainty.

Actually... I often tell young job seekers: Web3's perceived "instability" is precisely its most valuable feature. Like Solana transactions—seemingly volatile, yet the system remains stable.

This cognitive shift takes time. During late-night work in Berlin, I pondered: Perhaps we should reframe new work paradigms as "distributed career anchors"? Like StarkNet's virtual machines—maintaining core competency consistency while navigating different nodes.

One inspiring MyJob case: A former investment banker transitioned from junior developer to architect across multiple DeFi projects in three years. Despite uncertainties (failed projects, technical iterations), his growth curve was continuous and exponential.

I'm Charles, writing this in a Tokyo cafe during ETHGlobal. If you're navigating these uncharted waters, remember:

1. The most valuable skill today is adaptability, not specialization.
2. Your professional identity is now a portfolio, not a resume line.

This is how we build the future.