Why are college freshers not finding a job?

When business magnates utter words like most college graduates are not employable, it sends distress signals to both the institutions, parents and the students. What’s ailing the educational system that fails to produce worthy manpower? We shall try to explore the many reasons why people fail to get the jobs they think they deserve.

Manners, people

Some have no clue what etiquette really means at the workplace. From showing up on time to dressing up well for the job to being part of a team, are all employable skills that many fresh grads lack. Importantly, they need to soak it all up, the pluses and minuses at the workplace, and learn to adjust and adapt to the changes they encounter that are far removed from campus life.

Know the fundamentals

Office work is not just about what you know. It’s also about how you work with your subordinates and supervisors. It’s about how you gel with them and how you make your work speak. Performing on tap eight hours a day isn’t easy for those who have always tasted freedom. Sure, there are flexi jobs and flexi work timings, but they still demand the same output from you. To fulfil that requirement, you need to be disciplined, communicative and responsive. If you lack these basic traits, you are out of a job, no matter which company you join.

Soft skills

Soon after you graduate, or while you are graduating, it’s better to join a finishing school that teaches you all the soft skills needed to make you employable. One survey by the Workforce Solutions Group at St. Louis Community College clearly points out the rot in the system. Most applicants fail to get jobs because they lack ‘communication and interpersonal skills’, the survey declared after talking to scores of employers.

Inability to think

Several other surveys have pointed out another important facet: the freshers don’t think. Perhaps, because it hurts. Or perhaps, they are plain lazy. When you stop thinking, your mental faculty is dulled. And when you can’t think, there’s no room for creativity in such individuals. And companies thrive on innovation and out-of-the-box thinking. If the college grads cannot solve problems or communicate their strategies well enough, they are no way employable.

The usual suspects

Some fail because they don’t know math or science. Or worse, they have no clue about technology, except ofcourse, social media.

Technical skills can be acquired

If recruiters are saying that your lack of technical skills didn’t get you a job, they could be lying if you are sure of your capabilities. The real reason, according to another survey by Adecco, could actually be an absence of “soft skills’. Now that’s a long list, ranging from communication, creative thinking, creative skills and team work.

Discipline and problem solving

According to one interesting survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, companies are looking for disciplined people who can solve problems, collaborate with their team members and priorities tasks.

Be flexible, be punctual

This survey by the ManpowerGroup nails the issue. It says that companies are looking for candidates who are flexible, punctual and pay a lot more attention to how they look and the way they interact with their office workers. Importantly, the recruiters are looking for self-driven individuals who are competing against themselves.

Internships matter

It should not be just any internship. Students should intern at companies they want to work for. If they impress their bosses at work, they could get hired soon after they graduate. This helps the companies realise their capabilities and the students understand if the company culture suits them. It’s a win-win for both. But some students make the mistake of either not interning anywhere or interning at a place not suitable for their actual job requirements.

Do you have it in you?

Are you ready for a full-time job? Your answer is the biggest indicator of your employability index. Some students still want to relish campus life and others don’t want to work for a living. They love their freedom too much to forsake it for a tedious job that demands more than they had bargained for. Many try to freelance, but that’s a fluctuating income they cannot rely on. You need a permanent job at least for the first ten years of life to understand the intricacies of being disciplined, responsible and accountable. Once you are rooted in these values, you could hire yourself if entrepreneurship is what you are built for.

And finally…

Technical skills can be acquired with training and re-training, but how do you fix a lifetime of bad habits? You can, but it takes a lot more effort and time, and the companies don’t have the resources to treat both. The onus is on you, dear fresher. Shape up or you will be shipped out.

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Originally published at GoCheckApp