In “The jobless ‘professional’: A paradox“, the deteriorating quality of Philippine education is cited as one of the reasons why even college graduates cannot manage to land good jobs. According to the writer’s point of view, there are enough jobs for professionals (note that her discussion does not include non-professional jobs). It’s just that most college graduates are ill-prepared for what the jobs require.
What accounts for the joblessness of our “professionals” despite the availability of employment for them as our Sunday papers would show?Let us follow the plight of “A,” a fresh mass communications graduate from a Metro Manila college. “A” chances upon a newspaper ad for a writer. Along with several others, “A” applies for the advertised job. On the spot, he is made to write a job application letter. Handicapped by his inability to express himself in correct, let alone effective, English, “A” composes an incoherent, grammar-tortured letter of application. Summarily, “A” is sent home by his prospective employer, he does not even reach “first-base.” Dejected, he leaves and proceeds to answer a similar job ad but suffers the same fate. The woes of “A” as a “professional” have started. The job ads “A” answers, however, are repeated the week following. Other applicants are not “lucky” either, if it is any consolation to “A.” The search for the advertised “professional” continues. In other disciplines, the situation is not any better. [Manila Bulletin]
I agree. Some college graduates do not possess even the most basic communication skills. In one of my former jobs (the one I left about two years ago), I have interviewed dozens and dozens of these young people. I have read hundreds of application letters and CVs. The bulk are rejected right away upon a perusal of their application letters. Basic skills, like composing a letter, was expected. I mean, I learned that in grade school–the difference between a friendly letter and a business letter. Some didn’t even know they they required different headers and salutations.
I disagree, however, that there are sufficient jobs for these college graduates. If there were, I wouldn’t have been reading 320 application letters for a single job. The saddest part was that there were many instances when the applicants were over-qualified for the positions they were applying for. The domestic job market is that bad.
The interviews were especially poignant. Those who made it that far were asked a standard question: How much remuneration are you expecting? The ones who had good employment histories were more confident about figures. They knew their worth. But the new graduates… I heard this line too many times: Kahit magkano la’ng po, kahit basic pay la’ng, basta magka-trabaho la’ng po (It does not matter, even basic pay will do, just as long as I get employed).
I don’t think that paints a picture of an abundant domestic job market for college graduates.
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