Charles Zhang, the founder of Sohu.com and a big name in China’s early internet scene, is advising college students to hold off on grad school or launching a startup right away. His take? Get hands-on experience first. He even admits his own advanced degree didn’t help much when he was building his company—real-world work did.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another "follow your passion" pep talk. Zhang’s pushing back against the rush to higher degrees or entrepreneurship without groundwork, especially in China’s hyper-competitive job market. It’s a pragmatic take from someone who’s been there—and it might make students rethink the default path of more school or jumping straight into a startup.