Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Title: Graduate unemployment; do they deserve better treatment than anyone else?

In the West, when countries publish its unemployment figure, they don’t break it down to qualification level. Everyone is treated equal, whatever skill or qualification he/she possesses. So I was rather perplexed when reading Malaysia media highlighting the sixty thousand odd unemployed graduates and the steps taken to upgrade their communication skills to get jobs. Wouldn’t other unemployed Malaysians deserve some help to get jobs as well? Western countries churned out millions of tertiary level graduates every year, and they compete for jobs like everyone else. It’s not uncommon if the waiter at a restaurant holds a degree, and gets just the average wage.
Western governments normally give out funding to education providers to set up and provide courses in communications, computing and basic skills like forklift driving and interview skills. These courses are open to all, whether graduate or not. Giving extra help to graduates while leaving the non-graduate on their own is smack of discrimination. Not only they tied up country’s resources in educating them at universities, now they demand to be given cushy jobs as well. Sound like cradle to grave preferential treatment to me.
Employers look for people who have to tenacity to work hard, good team worker as well as creative. They also look for people who are prepared to roll their sleeves and volunteer to do dirty jobs. When looking at a number of candidates, those who are currently working in menial jobs to get money for their upkeep instead of bludging off their parents will be the first priority.
So those of you graduates who are still unemployed, get out there and do whatever job is available (waiter, cleaner and labouring jobs) it will look good on your CV.

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