KUALA LUMPUR – Fresh graduates should manage expectations about salaries and also hone skills that will meet industry needs when job market conditions are better, recruitment agencies said.
They shared pointers for fresh grads entering the job market, which many consider to be increasingly more demanding for those starting out, compared to 10 years ago, as employers seek more extensive prior experience for fresh hires.
Jobstreet by SEEK Malaysia, one of Asia’s leading online employment marketplaces across five countries, had advice for both fresh graduates and employers.
According to SEEK Malaysia Jobstreet managing director Vic Sithasanan, the hiring landscape has changed over the last 10 years for entry-level positions due to various factors, including technological advancement, demographic shifts, and economic restructuring.
“Economic uncertainty and job market fluctuations have led to increased competition for positions. Fresh graduates may face tougher competition from experienced professionals who have been laid off or are looking to transition to new fields.”
Sithasanan also said fresh graduates should be aware of trends, such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and its varying effects on different industries.
“Sectors, like healthcare and technology, have seen increased hiring. Others, like hospitality and tourism, have faced significant challenges. Fresh graduates should be aware of industry-specific trends,” he said.
Sithasanan also advised employers to provide clear and transparent job descriptions during their talent acquisition process and help fresh graduates assess their suitability for the position. This would also reduce mismatched applications.
Hays Malaysia, part of a British multinational company providing recruitment and human resources services across 33 countries globally, gave encouragement to fresh graduates amidst the competitive climate.
According to Hays’ 2023 statistics for Asia, this year will have the number of active job seekers falling back to pre-pandemic levels with Malaysia having the most active job seekers at 33%.
“In times of burgeoning uncertainty and an anticipated economic downturn, we advise to think long-term when evaluating potential employers.
“Make sure to first understand what skills you’ll need to progress in your chosen field beyond the next three to five years.
“Honing your skills might be just what you need to come out ahead of your competition when the job market becomes more favourable,” Hays South-East Asia managing director Tom Osborne said.
He also said to manage salary expectations, as Malaysian employees expect more than a 10% increase in salary, although employers are only planning for increases between 3% to 6%.
Jason Wong of Hunters International, a Malaysian integrated human resources (HR) company, said competition for entry-level positions is much higher now than 10 years ago due to social media and job portals, increasing the applicant pool for jobs.
“The employment rate has improved after Covid-19 but the majority of fresh graduates still find it difficult to land a job.
“Many employers prefer candidates with prior work experience, wanting a ‘plug and play’ concept rather than spending time training fresh graduates,” said Wong, who is Hunters International director.
“Gen Z graduates (those born between 1997 and 2012) often seek meaningful work, rapid career progression and a healthy work-life balance. Meeting these expectations can be challenging in competitive job markets,” Wong added.
He advised fresh graduates to turn to recruitment agencies to navigate the challenges of finding their first full-time jobs with personalised career counselling. – November 23, 2023
