No pressure

Li used to work at a top IT company in Beijing earning over 20,000 yuan per month, but quit the job in 2011. Tired of the high pressure caused by a heavy workload and endless business trips, he chose to be a civil servant because of the "stable and secure" lifestyle.

Obtaining a Beijing hukou (household registration) was also Li's top priority. As a non-local citizen, Li could only become a Beijing citizen if he was employed by a government department. The hukou is also a top concern for people who choose to become civil servants.

Now, Li's salary is around 5,000 yuan a month, and he rents a two-bedroom apartment in the west of Beijing that costs him 4,000 yuan each month.

However, Li remains grateful. "I don't have many expenses. The canteen provides free lunch, and cheap breakfast and dinner. Also, we get a monthly meal allowance. That's enough," Li said.

To his joy, he will get a Beijing hukou before the end of the year.

Working in relatively enclosed and isolated circumstances, civil servants often complain that it is difficult for them to switch to other jobs.

"Some people say you should leave after being in a government post for five years. That's right. However, when your life becomes stable and you get used to the inertia, you will hesitate to disrupt your current life," Wang said.

Qiu kept his spirits up by setting goals in different phases of his life. He fills in his spare time by preparing for various exams. In the past two months, he obtained a certified public accountant (CPA) certificate. He is now preparing for the national judicial examination and financial analyst certificate.

"With the passage of time, the pressure on civil servants will dramatically increase, as channels for promotion for civil servants are limited. The longer you stay in the system, the pressure of getting promoted will increase," Zhang Yiwu, a professor of culture from Peking University, told the Global Times.

Promotions largely depend on assessments of comprehensive capabilities, including the power of execution, the enforcement of leaders' instructions and personal abilities.

"You have to adapt to the situation if you are unable to change it," Wang said.