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Be on guard when online
Is asking for the Wi-Fi password the first thing you do when you walk into a restaurant or cafe? For many the answer is yes, for others it may be the second thing they do. In any case, in an era of logging in wherever we go, many people use sensitive information on the invisible Net, posing a risk to their finances and personal safety.
Here, three students share their experience of being tricked or having their personal information stolen. Whether it’s chatting on QQ, shopping on Taobao or connecting to a “free” Wi-Fi network, not being careful can have serious consequences.
Following safety tips are provided by Xu Xingxing, 28, a senior engineer in the Internet payment department of ePro (Beijing) Information Technology Company.
Chatting online
Hackers plant viruses on public computers and websites to steal the passwords for your accounts when you log on.

Yang Lina, 22, a senior majoring in Chinese literature at Shandong Normal University, chatted to her niece online during the summer vacation. “My niece was studying in Germany at the time. When I asked when she would come back, she said she wanted to fly back next week but that her bank account had been blocked and that she couldn’t get any cash,” said Yang.
“She asked me to transfer 10,000 yuan to her classmate’s account, and not to tell her parents as they would worry about her. She launched a video chat and I could see her. What’s more, her behavior was the same as usual. For instance, she always called Bonn ‘a small village’,” said Yang.
Yang transferred 10,000 yuan to the account. But later, when her niece appeared again, she realizeed she had been tricked.
How to avoid being tricked
Always set up a complicated password for your accounts. It’s best to include special characters in the password, as this makes it harder for hackers to decipher.
Most viruses come from illegal websites, USB sticks and mobile hard drives, so you should run a virus scan before you use them. When a virus accesses your computer, the hacker can control the camera to record your image, or even to record you typing in passwords on your keyboard. So pay attention that you don’t point the camera at your keyboard.
Friends and relatives should also be cautious about strange requests, especially from someone who is abroad. People abroad are usually harder to reach when verification is needed, and relatives and family members are often extra protective when they hear about an emergency. Students should leave multiple contact numbers with their family and keep family and friends updated on their news.
Online shopping
Liu Wenjiang, 18, a sophomore majoring in automotive engineering at Wuhan Technical College of Communications, found a new laptop selling for only 1,600 yuan on Taobao.
“It was only half the market price,” Liu said. “I talked to the seller online and he or she sent me a link asking me to do a favor by paying one yuan for an item and leaving a good rating for the store. When I had done this I could take advantage of the offer, the seller said.”
The link opened a website that was so similar to the Taobao website that Liu didn’t suspect a thing. He typed in his bank account and password according to the prompts.
When the website told Liu there was an error, he asked the seller what the problem was, but the seller didn’t reply.
A few minutes later, he discovered that 2,000 yuan had been taken from his bank account.
How to avoid phishing
It’s best to use a U aegis, or a dynamic verification code for every bank transaction. With these precautions, fraudsters can’t take your money even if they know your password.
The passwords for your social media accounts, bank account, e-mail and forums should all be different. This is because the password for a forum can be easily cracked, and if the passwords for your other accounts are all the same, hackers can access your e-mail inbox, find personal information and figure out other passwords.
Public Wi-Fi
Ren Zhijiong, 24, a fresh graduate who works as a marketing executive in Shenzhen, used his cell phone to access the Wi-Fi at a Starbucks cafe.
“I found two Wi-Fi networks, one called Starbucks and the other Starbucks2. The first one required me to register on a website, but the second one didn’t require a password. So I connected to the second one, and paid for an air ticket through my mobile banking app. But when I tried to buy a movie ticket through another app, I found I couldn’t log on to my bank account,” said Ren.
“I called my bank and they told me that my password had been changed. When I asked the staff at Starbucks, they told me that they didn’t provide a Wi-Fi network called Starbucks2.”
How to stay safe on the go
Usually, you need to ask the staff in the store to give you the Wi-Fi password. If there are several Wi-Fi networks, ask the staff to confirm which one is provided by the store.
Some people like to connect to Wi-Fi networks automatically on their smartphone or laptop, but this means they’re at risk of falling into a trap without even noticing. It’s safer to choose “connect manually”.

Writing a cover letter to impress
If you apply for a job position with a foreign company, chances are you will be asked to provide an English cover letter along with your resume.
But what exactly is a cover letter? How long should it be? And most importantly, what should you write about?
A cover letter, or motivation letter, is almost a standard requirement when applying for international jobs. In brief, it is a letter introducing yourself as a person and explaining why you are applying for the position. But there is more to writing a good cover letter.
Usually a cover letter should be one page in length, including the sender’s and the recipient’s address, which should be placed at the top of the page. Under this, write a short header in bold print to inform the reader what the letter is about. For example, “Internship opportunity at Haier Group”. If you are sending an e-mail, put this information in the subject box.
Next, address the employer by name if you know the contact person. Otherwise it is acceptable to use “Dear Hiring Manager”. In the first paragraph you should then say what position you are applying for and how you found out about it.
In the next few paragraphs explain in detail why you believe yourself to be a suitable candidate for the position. The aim of the cover letter is to encourage the reader to look at your resume, so be confident but try to avoid repeating the same information that is already in your resume.
It is very important to tailor your cover letter to the position you are applying for. Read through the job description carefully and explain why you meet its requirements.
It is best to provide concrete examples of where you learnt the skills necessary for the job, so include some information from your work experience and studies.
Don’t lie, as HR managers can easily assess whether you are saying the truth or not. Also, remember that if you are invited for an interview, you will most likely be asked questions about your previous experience, so think of good examples that demonstrate your skills, such as teamwork or problem solving. This is where you can really stand out from other applicants.
Writing a convincing cover letter takes a lot of time and effort, but don’t think you can cut corners by writing just one letter and sending it to different employers. The first thing HR managers will pay attention to is whether you have thoroughly researched the company. If they receive a generic letter it will probably end up in the bin.
Ask your parents, friends or your university’s career center to read through your cover letter, and make sure there are no spelling mistakes. You can look at samples of cover letters on the Internet for reference, but do not copy them.
In the final paragraph, express your enthusiasm for the position and say that you look forward to a response. Also offer to provide further information on request.
Make long internships pay off
Zhang Ze, 22, a senior majoring in Chinese literature at Beijing Normal University, is interning with a TV station. Even though he’s been there for six months, he still hasn’t been offered a job.
“My internship contract doesn’t have a specific end date, but I can keep interning due to business needs. I’ve worked for six months now on only a nominal salary and I’ll stay as long as the company wants me to,” says Zhang. “The reason I’m hanging on is that I really want to get an offer.”
Facing a tough job market, many graduates like Zhang choose to do long-term internships, usually between three months and a year in length in an effort to gain workplace experience and skills. But keeping up appearances and proving your ability is no easy task.
Here, HR managers offer advice on how to make the most of an internship and get a job offer to make all that hard work pay off.
Make a contribution
Not all internships have a specific duration, so some interns stay on as long as possible in the hope of improving their chances of getting an offer.
But Shen Qi, HR manager at AVIC Capital Co Ltd in Beijing, says showing initiative is crucial to getting your name on the candidate list.
“A long-term internship will provide you with a detailed understanding of the industry and an opportunity to experience a full-time role in a particular business area,” says Shen.
“From the outset you should contribute to your team’s output, take responsibility, work with senior professionals on key projects, and expand your skills and experience.”
Communicate effectively
Employers always seek interns who are motivated and demonstrate a go-getter attitude.
Employers also want people doing internships in their company who have a strong work ethic, are dependable, and work well both independently and in a team environment.
Pay attention to priceless skills including effective communication, public speaking, negotiation, patience, persuasion and interpersonal skills,” says Yang Xiaohai, general manager of human resources in Maersk China Shipping Co Ltd.
For instance, Yang said, make sure you take the initiative to introduce yourself and demonstrate a positive and friendly attitude toward everyone you meet, from the security guards to the CEO.
Keep up-to-date on employer information and read what the professionals are reading. Learn more about your employer, the competition, and the industry.
“Internship success requires motivation and a true desire to learn more about the industry,” says Yang.
Sell yourself
In a long-term internship you need to pay attention to show results in order to persuade the company to hire you.
When you apply for a full-time position, you should emphasize what you have done for the company, according to Liu Bingjun, HR manager at China Southern Glass Holding Co Ltd.
“Give examples of projects you worked on and skills you used and acquired,” Liu says. “This way you can downplay the part-time aspect of the internship and the company should see that you have the experience it is looking for.”
If things don’t work out and you’re worried that an extended internship will look bad on your resume, simply tell potential employers that it was part of your career development plan.
Leave it at that and be proud of the work you did.
Liu believes a long-term internship should be seen as an investment.
“If you are offered a paid internship with a good company and you think there’s a chance of being hired, then go ahead and do it for a long time,” says Liu. “If not, cut your losses and set yourself an end date.”