Photo taken from Philippine Star
And you know what time it is... Another batch of unskilled and inexperienced people are gonna join the job market. According to Philippine Star, our country's new graduates would be facing bleak employment opportunities. I've been there and I have to say, IT'S TOUGH.
Quoting from the article by Philippine Star...
So imagine yourself, competing with let's say 100 other people..."TUCP executive vice president Gerard Seno said many of the 700,000 new college graduates would have difficulty finding employment and would likely end up jobless."
What makes yourself different from the others?
What is your competitive advantage?
Let me share to you the things I've learned along the way in order to at least land yourself on a job.
NEVER BE TOO PICKY
The market is filled with numerous jobs, the fact is, it's just not the job you dreamed of but there is always a job for you out there. Because, if there's one thing I've learned, WORK EXPERIENCE MATTERS (to get to the job you really dreamt about since you were a kid)! You don't have the luxury to be nit-picking the jobs out there (well, unless you're the son/daughter of a rich businessman or something). My first job was at EMERSON as a Collection Specialist and I was a business graduate with an Economics major. I thought I would never get something away from that experience. I was wrong. The ability to deal well with customers over the phone is a very important skill especially if you want to work yourself up the ladder. Also, it was an multinational company and that alone is a big plus for a company.
PREPARE YOURSELF
Like I mentioned earlier, if you are competing with 100 new graduates (not to mention experienced professionals who's currently unemployed as well), what can you do to get that job? According to Forbes, people can make a few judgement just by looking at you and it goes the same with your Resume/CV. And when you get that magical interview, dress up neatly and professionally. Try to wear corporate clothes (long sleeves, coat and tie). Also, I prefer confidence than practice, so direct eye contact, smile and answer all their questions with honesty and conviction.
EDUCATE YOURSELF MORE
Nowadays, post-graduate degrees such as Masters are considered to be a necessity. Universities all over the world are now offering scholarships to distinguished graduates who would like to pursue a post-graduate degree. Try to get a degree from a program that would offer you the chance to create an international network through your peers. International Master degrees are becoming more and more popular for young aspiring professionals. Like the one from National Cheng Kung University's- IIMBA, that offers you the chance to gain knowledge and understanding of different cultures from all over the world.
PUMP YOURSELF UP
Never should you overestimate your capabilities. Always remember that we should continuously grow and learn more and more each day. And, as the world becomes flatter and flatter each day, equipping yourself with International knowledge and skills becomes more and more important. Why don't you try learning another language? According to the Telegraph, German, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Polish are some of the best languages to study. Why don't you try taking free online courses? Alison.com offers a wide range of courses to choose from. Best part is, it's FREE! Unemployed? Don't have anything to do while looking for a job? Why not get a certificate for a skill that you'd find useful for the job you're looking for? It is not accredited however by any certified institutions but is accepted by some Business organizations worldwide. But come on, isn't it better to get a Diploma on Social Network Studies than just mope around whole day in front of Facebook?
Never lose HOPE!
It's tough out there! We already know that. But you have to keep on moving forward no matter what.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
A somewhat unconventional advice I could share is that accept the first job offer that is being given to you by an employer...even though you are still waiting for some calls or replies from other companies...the mere fact that a company would like to have an inexperienced fresh grad like you is already a very big blessing...bonus points is that you will start to accumulate the "experience" that other companies are searching for...
ReplyDeleteA good advice indeed The Business Outsider. I really think that accepting some offers by companies would give you the experience that most companies are looking for. Based on my experience, I chose to accept my very first job offer too and I had no regrets!
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