Graduates 'too choosy and lack confidence' remain unemployed

KUALA LUMPUR: Being too choosy and the lack of confidence are the main factors why many fresh graduates are still unemployed nowadays, according to Graduan, a leading career and employment resource provider.
Graduan Managing Director Elia Talib said the young graduates refused to accept jobs which did not only match their qualifications but did not pay well due to their lack of experience.
"We are concerned about the cost of living which does not match the salaries offered, but for a start, they (fresh graduates) should not be fussy.
"Once they had improved and perform well, it will give them the chance to be appointed to higher positions with better salaries," Elia told Bernama after launching the 'Graduan Aspire 2015' programme and 'Graduan Apire+' corporate luncheon here today.
As for the ability of graduates to converse and write well in English, she said this was not so important because the language acquisition improved with practice.
"Graduates should be confident in expressing their ideas, as well as, be able to network. If they have critical thinking, that will give them the opportunity and the 'value-added' to go further," she said.
Elia also said fresh graduates should not be worried with the requirements for working experience by the industries because with a high confidence level, employers would definitely hire them, with or without experience.
The two-day Graduan Aspire, is expected to attract 40,000 graduates nationwide, an increase from 37,000 participation, last year, driven by the involvement of renowned companies.
About 120 top corporations and institutions are taking part including Maybank, DRB-Hicom, Celcom Axiata, Exxonmobil and Naza World.
Meanwhile, Graduan Apire+ is a corporate luncheon for 200 Malaysian talents with minimum three years working experience to network and engage with chief executive officers and senior managements. – Bernama