SCHOOL’S out but the real education begins.
While some Thomasian graduates may still be recovering from separation anxiety, many of them have already gone job-hunting.
This year, UST sent off more than 8,000 graduates, majority of whom were from the Faculty of Engineering with a total number of 1,430.
For Rogelio Leogie Ondevilla, a fresh grad from the College of Accountancy, facing new challenges and meeting new people are his foremost concern.
“In my 16 years of schooling, I thought the struggles and challenges would end there, but then I realized it’s just the start of new trials and fears,” he said. “There are so many people to meet during job interviews and much more in the companies that I have applied for.”
But for Yoshiki Kurata, an Industrial Engineering graduate, working environment and threatening bosses are what he worries about.
“We really have to go to another adjustment because the people that we’re going to meet are not all Thomasians,” he said.
“The compensations and positions offered are really minimal,” Kurata added. “Companies nowadays are really after experience, and because we are fresh grads, they tend to give us lower compensations and such.”
Job hunting 101
Though many job fairs and openings have been advertised and scattered all over the Web, the Department of Labor and Employment announced last February that job vacancies in the Philippines are mostly for professionals such as accountants, sales personnel and civil engineers.
Meanwhile, blue collar jobs such as carpenters, pipe filters and welders are much demanded overseas.
“Usually fresh graduates are not immediately hired abroad. They need to have work experience first,” said Prof. Lucila Bance, director of UST guidance and counselling department.
Despite many job opportunities in the country, Bance said the characteristics and academic qualifications should fit the requirements of vacant jobs.
“Most companies look for the following qualities according to most human resource personnel: good attitude (has initiative), critical thinking skills (has the ability to make appropriate decisions) and good communication skills,” she said.
Preparing for the ‘hot-seat’
But anxiety would always be in the forefront of an applicant’s mind before facing interviewers.
Though internship already gave graduates an idea beforehand of what one should do on nailing a job, Bance shared some tips on how to prepare for job applications.
The first step is to create a well-written resumé.
A good resumé should be simple so as not to overwhelm the reader and should be grammatically sound and accurate, Bance said.
She added that having proper mindset and rehearsing how to answer questions that are most likely to be asked are good practices, including doing research to obtain a sufficient background of the company one is applying for.
“Think of what you can contribute to the company. Review your experience in practicum or internship and relate it with what you can do for the company,” Bance said.
Aside from the academic performance, individualities of applicants are also observed.
“Checking verbal and nonverbal behaviors and dressing appropriately is a must for the interview,” Bance said. “Remember to pray for we always deserve the best.” MONE VIRMA GINRY P. GUMAPAC
