Things you should know when looking for work

The prospects of landing a job may appear bleak for many fresh graduates, especially with recent statistics showing that the rate of joblessness in the country is increasing. But a recent study reveals that companies still accept applicants who just got out of college.

Eileen Camarillo-Go, Jobstreet.com’s marketing communications manager in the Philippines, says at a press briefing in Aracama at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig recently that “eight out of 10 companies still hire fresh graduates.”

Out of those who fill vacancies with fresh graduates, 80 percent get one to 10 hopefuls, while the remaining 20 percent accept more than 10, she adds.

The figures were based on data gathered by Jobstreet.com from its enlisted employer-companies in a period of one month from January to February this year.

But Camarillo-Go cites preference for the “Top 4” universities among companies when screening applicants.

Coming from the Top 4—University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University—appeared as an important factor in considering an applicant for 77 percent of the companies who sent in their responses.

From the 10,000 companies tapped by Jobstreet.com in the Philippines for its study, 400 responded.

However, 94 percent of the companies still said they will consider applicants from the “other” schools, particularly from government institutions Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; and private universities Far Eastern University and University of the East.

In a statement released to the media, Jobstreet.com says companies will hire applicants from the other schools “so long as they are able to communicate in English, are trainable and dedicated to work hard.”

Grace Colet, Jobstreet.com country manager in the Philippines, clarifies that only 15 to 20 percent of the job vacancies are filled by applicants from the Top 4. “Graduates from the other schools still account for most of the number of successful applicants for job vacancies,” she adds.

Camarillo-Go reveals what companies are looking for when they are considering applicants for a job.

“Employers find willingness to learn, initiative, honesty and integrity as the key behavioral traits that will make an applicant employable,” the Jobstreet.com officer notes.

Meanwhile, the top skills that make an applicant employable are “communication skills, trainability and technical know-how,” Camarillo-Go adds.

Not only are companies hiring fresh graduates, they are also offering them hefty compensation.

Jobstreet.com says that based on the figures provided by the companies, computer hardware-related jobs give the fattest pay check for fresh graduates with an average salary offer of P19,447.

Following close are jobs in hotel management and tourism services with an average salary offer of P19,297 for those who just finished college, while fresh graduates of nursing, medical technology or related healthcare courses may look forward to an average salary of P19,179 for their first job.

But those who did not finish courses related to the jobs which offer the biggest salaries for fresh graduates may still look forward to a good start.

Regardless of specialization, fresh graduates may get jobs with an average salary of P20,629 in the travel and tourism industry, P19,975 in the field of telecommunications, and P18,963 in the area of computer hardware.

Yoda Buyco, Jobstreet.com marketing director in the Philippines, also advises fresh graduates to immediately send their applications, because employers are highly likely to hire applicants in the first half of the year.

“Our studies show that 42 percent of the companies hire during the first quarter of the year and 35 percent in the second quarter. Only 15 percent hire in the third quarter, while 9 percent do it in the last quarter,” she explains.