THE biggest frustration faced by employers when they interview prospective job applicants, especially fresh graduates, is the lack of competencies like communication, innovation and leadership skills.
There are enough surveys that have been carried out by various organisations including the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) to reflect the seriousness of the problem.
The MEF said despite several Malaysian universities rising in rank in several international surveys, the perennial mismatch between graduates and jobs look set to continue with Malaysian graduates still lacking many soft skills.
MEF puts the ability to multitask, take on responsibilities, and apply practical and soft skills as the winning points for job applications.
Its president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said in a news report that based on a MEF Salary Survey for Executives 2021, a third of respondent companies expect newly hired fresh graduates to multi-task and work effectively in high-performing teams.
He said employers often seek evidence of practical experience, such as portfolios, project work or internships such as proof of a candidate’s abilities, adding that they increasingly recognise that formal education does not necessarily translate to proficiency in practical skills.
To put simply – the degree or diploma isn’t enough as it does not provide the competencies required by employers!
According to another survey by Economist Impact, supported by Google involving 1,375 employees, employers and industry experts across Asia Pacific, including 100 employees from Malaysia, placed soft skills as a top priority.
“More employees in Malaysia consider soft skills important (54%) than across the region (41.2%), outpolling employees in countries such as Singapore (51%) and Hong Kong (47%). Employees place special emphasis on interpersonal and intercultural communication (81.5%).
As expected, 65% of employees interviewed consider digital skills the most important for the workforce today.
In the current rapidly evolving and turbulent job market, the pressure on students to choose a degree that balances their academic interests with future employability prospects is greater than ever.
The challenge is clear: How can students ensure their field of study not only captivates their intellectual curiosity but also sets them up for career success.
A study by the United Kingdom-based Chartered Management Institute (CMI) looked at employers’ views of new graduates in the UK and offered some stark opinions about university graduates and their ability – or lack of ability – to jump straight into the workforce.
In the study, nearly 80% of employers said they believed graduates were not work-ready on entering the employment market after their studies.
And just under one-third (29%) of students said they did not believe their university offered them support in developing career management skills.
Indeed, as a Companion of the CMI, and a volunteer member of CMI’s regional board in Malaysia, I am a strong supporter of the added value that practical and professional CMI-accredited courses can give to students regardless of the subject they have chosen to study.
The CMI works with higher education partners across Malaysia to offer dual-accredited degrees that go beyond traditional academic programmes.
These courses provide a comprehensive educational experience by attracting students from diverse backgrounds and equipping them with the skills most in demand by employers today.
This approach aids higher education (HE) institutions in delivering enriched learning opportunities, enhancing students’ job readiness, and ultimately leading to higher satisfaction and better career outcomes – precisely what students tell me they are looking for when making their career choices.
And there is growing evidence of the demand in the job market for management and leadership skills.
According to the Human Resource Development Corp’s National Training Index 2023, “Management and Leadership emerged as the most sought-after skill among employers, constituting nearly a quarter (24.4%) of the total training participation last year.”
CMI’s impact on employability and its ability to address this skills shortage is undeniable.
An overwhelming nine in 10 higher education partners surveyed reported that CMI-accredited courses provide students with a professional qualification that clearly demonstrates their skills to employers.
This is not just a degree; it’s a pathway to gaining Chartered Manager status, which HE partners again overwhelmingly agreed significantly boosts students’ employability. Furthermore, 79% of partners believe that earning a CMI-accredited degree increases a student’s earning potential after graduation.
For both employers, they would want fresh graduates to turn up for an interview with more than just their diploma as they expect a strong resume, internship experiences that match the job they seek and, extra professional and recognised courses they have attended.
It’s the extras that supposedly will get the attention of the interviewers and help the applicants get the job, when everyone is equal.
Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai is the chairman of Bernama and advisor of Star Media Group. The veteran journalist is also a regional board Malaysia member of the Chartered Management Institute and a CMI Companion, the highest membership level of the United Kingdom-based organisation.
