The three things graduates lack

Written by New Straits Time Friday, 18 February 2011 20:49

GRADUATES are losing out on job opportunities due to their poor command of English and communication skills, and also their lack of leadership qualities.

State Unity, Human Resources, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman M. Asojan said efforts were being taken to train fresh graduates in these three areas, which were highly sought-after by employers.

One of the state government's initiatives was the Career, Business and Skills Expo 2011, or KEPAK , which was a roadshow covering 10 districts to inform job seekers of business opportunities in Iskandar Malaysia.

"The KEPAK event will focus on all aspects of career, business and skill development.

"In the meantime, we need to conduct more studies on why graduates fail at job interviews," said Asojan, when replying to a supplementary question from Lau Chin Hoon (BN-Pemanis) at the state assembly yesterday.

On an related issue, Asojan said various programmes to develop human capital, targeting graduates and youths, were already up and running.

Programmes such as the Graduate Employability Management Scheme (GEMS), Graduate Employability Enhancement, Iskandar Malaysia Graduate Leadership Assessment Development and Belia Rakyat Tempatan Mahir were designed to produce knowledge workers (K-workers).

He said GEMS was part of the Economic Stimulus Package launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on March 13, last year. It was aimed at equipping unemployed graduates with the necessary skills.