BEIJING: Lyu Xinmin, a 29-year-old female strategic planner, spends her break time scrolling through her phone — not for leisure but to review resumes and answer career-related questions from strangers. All unpaid. All for women.
Three months ago, she posted a simple offer on Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, to offer free help for women navigating job hunting and career progression.
“At first, I never expected this small initiative to make such a difference,” Lyu admitted. “I just wanted to use my experience to bridge the information gaps for women as lost as I once was.”
She provides online guidance in her expertise, offering resume reviews, interview strategies and career planning advice. Participants present their backgrounds and questions and she prioritizes those facing urgent career transitions.
“I had planned to help one or two participants each week, but the demand was overwhelming,” Lyu said. “I found myself answering questions whenever I had a spare moment.”
Her efforts paid off. Many participants have secured jobs or envisioned their career paths under her suggestions. “It brings me a deep sense of fulfillment and I genuinely enjoy doing this,” she said.
As demand grew, so did the network.
Today, what started as a single act of kindness has expanded into 13 mutual support groups, covering topics such as job applications, workplace development, entrepreneurship and studying abroad. Lyu and other volunteers also organize roundtable meetings and group discussions to address common challenges.
Lyu opened the door to voluntary assistance for women, and more followed. A wave of mentors joined, sharing their expertise from various fields and voluntarily offering insights to help others navigate their paths.
One of them is Chen Yue, a 25-year-old front-end developer who transitioned from electrical engineering to coding. She now works in the tech industry, where women are still underrepresented. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
