Former finance worker ditches career to focus on a budding new industry

'If I had discovered astrology in my 20s, I wouldn't have chosen to become a career woman in finance," says Jiang Ying, co-founder of Nodoor.com, China's first astrological consulting firm. "It looks good, but it does not suit everyone."

Jiang, 40, who got her MBA from Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in 2005, says she used to be very confused about her career. She struggled and experienced many lows. That is, until she found astrology.

"While at school, people make an assumption that the most excellent student should go to an investment bank, but it may turn out that he or she may not be happy with that work afterward," Jiang says. "I used to work in mergers and acquisitions. It is a decent job for most people, but I did not feel happy while working there."

In 2007, Jiang began learning about astrology.

"Astrology helps you understand yourself better, and therefore helps you choose the right career," Jiang says.

"In China, people tend to be crowded into the same popular job, but sooner or later some of them will be very depressed as they find that their job actually does not suit them."

She says her astrology advice company will help people in many aspects, such as dealing with personal relationships and providing tips in finding the right partner.

"Most people who come for counseling are white-collar workers who have problems in their careers and relationships," Jiang says. "But astrology provides 'a kind of knowledge', which helps them get on the right track."

She adds that "everyone experiences ups and downs and some of them will feel very fragile and depressed in their lows, but astrology explains that this is a temporary period and can help them get rid of depression and their bad mood".

"Astrology plays a very positive role in educating people," Jiang says. "In China, fortune-telling traditionally tends to threaten people, but astrology does not."

But Jiang says China lacks professional astrologists, which is why she established an organization that provides professional training.

In 2011, Jiang contacted David Railey, a leading astrologist in the US, to set up China's first astrology school to provide professional classes in Beijing.

"Unlike the US, the development of astrology in China is not mature," Jiang says.

Five US astrologists have been invited to give lectures at Nodoor.com since 2011, most of whom are very experienced and above the age of 60.

Apart from providing classes for people who want to become an astrologist, Nodoor.com also provides counseling for individuals who are interested in astrology.

"More people have started to place importance in astrology in China. There are women who want to know what type of men suit them and parents who would like to know what kind of major is suitable for their kids when they go to universities." Jiang says.

Jiang believes the market for astrology in China has a lot of potential and her next plan is to produce more online products on the site.

"In the end our business still belongs to the innovative type," she says.

In August, Nodoor.com published its first online report that helps women analyze the type of man that best suits them.

"This is a quite popular topic as nowadays leftover ladies have become a social phenomenon in China and most of them are eager to find the information about what their other half should be like," Jiang says.

"We are now in a great era of information. People have a need for this and we are providing information for their needs."

Contact the writers at liaoxue@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/20/2012 page13)