Chen Tao, a 38-year-old deliveryman in Beijing, drew attention online after revealing his unique background in a video. With a master’s in philosophy, Chen had previously worked as a journalist and in PR. After a failed business venture in 2022, Chen struggled to find a job for six months.
His situation worsened when he applied for a post in a Taoist temple, but was turned down due to his age. Despite studying Taoism at university, Chen was told that the temple required applicants to be under 35 years old. As proof of his expertise, he posted his graduation thesis on the subject.
“No company needs people over 35 years old,” he said in the video.
Chen’s sentiments were echoed by many people facing similar challenges in a job market that favors younger employees. “It seems that our average life span is 40, since few companies want those over 35,” one netizen remarked on Sina Weibo.
Some netizens have questioned Chen’s motives for sharing his story, but Chen balks at these implications, saying he attributes his current choice of work as a deliveryman to personal reasons. He told media that he desires to lead a quieter, more stable life as a teacher and that he plans to leave the capital and return to his hometown in Sichuan Province to pursue it.