Can I apply for a Non-B visa while in mainland China if I'm not currently employed?

Good evening everyone, thanks for reading and sorry for the long post. Is it possible to do a non b visa while I am still in mainland China? I just returned to the mainland after one week extension for my tourist visa on arrival. I am told that if I apply for a tourist visa again within a month, a really high chance to get rejected. So after research about applying for non b visa, there are a few things I would like to get advised on:

1. From the embassy website, I should prepare the certification of my employment in a chinese company and the company’s documents. I am not currently employed by any company in China. So what other ways I can obtain a non b visa?

2. From E-visa website, the requirements for non b visa for an employment purpose, other than my passport, my pics, my contract with my thai company, there are two other things: letter of approval from Ministry of Labour, letters of recommendations from the prior employers

Do we need to go to Surat Thani for this?

And do we really need that recommendation?

If you have any information, would be much appreciated when sharing with me, thanks a lot!!!