We recently celebrated the beginning of a new decade as we enter the year 2020. It was a time of fireworks and merriment. However, for many fresh graduates and job seekers, there is no celebration as the coveted prize of a job continues to elude them. After 4 years of laboring and perhaps many sleepless nights, brought on by an exam intensive education system, the greatly desired job seems difficult to find. Long gone are the days when a bachelor's degree or even a postgraduate qualification open door to countless job offers. Tempting job seekers to ask prospective employers – What More Do You Want? Frustrated and disappointed – probably an understatement. Yet, I am certain employers do empathize with fresh graduates who remain unemployed many months after receiving that degree scroll.
Notwithstanding, one needs to appreciate that the marketplace evolves. Change is the new normal and the only constant. With it, the expectations and profile of an employee need to flow with the marketplace demand. It is therefore in the general interests of fresh graduates and job seekers to not assume that a bachelor’s degree is sufficient armor to protect and win in the “job battlefield”.
The statistics speak loud and clear. Our 21 public-sector universities and 38 private-sector universities produce something like 51,000 graduates a year, but nearly 60% remain unemployed one year after graduation, according to a study in 2018 conducted by the Ministry of Education Malaysia's Graduate Tracer Study. Associate Professor Dr. Hariharan N Krishnasamy of Universiti Utara Malaysia was quoted in an article by Vincent D’Silva in the New Straits Times dated 3rd February 2020, as saying “the widening gap between what the institutions of learning produce and what industry expects in terms of technical and soft skills had led to more unemployment challenges”. So, is our institutions of higher learning churning out mismatched graduates? Is this the main contributing factor in the rise of the gig economy? Oxford dictionary defines the gig economy as “a labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs”. It seems many of our unemployed graduates eventually ended up laboring in the gig economy. Is this a wastage of talents that could be put to better use in the interests of nation-building?
Undoubtedly the unemployment situation amongst graduates is a matter of great concern. It is akin to that stubborn acne that refuses to clear! I believe all stakeholders – institutions of higher learning to employers to headhunters/talent acquisition professionals to fresh graduates – need to play an active role in its own right to reduce if not eradicate this issue. And, I am sure the respective stakeholders have their own idea of what actions are needed. Perhaps, suffice to say that national interest should precede self-interest.
Notwithstanding, as a headhunter that has interviewed countless graduates and job seekers, it is regrettable to note that many exhibit an entitlement mentality. Fresh graduates and job seekers will do well to cast away the entitlement mentality. What is the entitlement mentality? I quote from conservapedia.com which says “an entitlement mentality is a state of mind in which an individual comes to believe that privileges are instead rights, and that they are to be expected as a matter of course”. Those with an entitlement mentality frequently imagine so-called "rights" that are in no way guaranteed – for instance, the "right to employment".
Therefore, my humble advice to fresh graduates and job seekers. Take personal responsibility. Rise up to the challenge – enhance your profile and not merely your resume writing, by upgrading on professional skills or by reskilling. For instance, a computer science graduate who desires to build a career in cybersecurity may attend courses and certifications on information security in addition to the basic degree attained. Cybersecurity courses such as Fundamental of Information Security Management System (ISO 27001), Certified Security Specialist, Certified Network Defender, and Certified Ethical Hacker are contents that create the functional and organizational skill set required to design and direct the implementation of any information security plan. Coupled with essential people skills such as interpersonal & social skills, English & business communications, positive mindset & work ethics, creative problem solving & analytical skills, and presentation skills will greatly enhance your profile. Of course, to be added to the build-up of your profile are those relevant part-time jobs. With this improved profile, you are definitely better positioned to claim that elusive job.
Disclaimer: The author is a headhunter with 17 years of industry experience. This article is the personal opinion of the author. It is not to suggest that success in work/life is solely dependent on what is expressed in the article. Photo credit: HajranPambudi/Unsplash.
