How to get ahead at work - it's not what you think Students need to learn what job skills are really the most needed, writes Zoe Mak

SCMP Young-Post 27-4-2010

A survey has found a huge gap between what students think they need to get a job and what employers actually want.

According to the survey conducted by City University last month, employers look for soft skills like language, communication and interpersonal skills when they hire new graduates, whereas students think employers want hard knowledge like general working ability to get a job.

Researchers interviewed 1,340 human-resource-department and -related personnel from different corporations and 820 current Form Six and Seven students from March 8 to April 8.

Results show that the top-three things employers look for from new graduates are: language and communication skills; creativity and analytical skills; presentation skills.

But the three things students think are most important for a job are general work ability, language skills and interpersonal skills.

More than 30 per cent of employers are not happy with newly employed graduates because they lack discipline, and more than 20 per cent say the new graduates do not have a high enough EQ (emotional quotient). They also lack problem-solving skills. Some 90 per cent of corporations said they wanted graduates to have good interpersonal skills, high EQ, discipline and ambition.

More than 80 per cent of students do not see a need to improve their employability. As many as 90 per cent were not clear on what employability was. Employability refers to the ability to get a job and keep it.

Some students are also uncertain of their career path. More than 60 per cent worry about or feel lost over their career and future.

The university's department of marketing is now launching the Big 6 Employability training programme. It gives students the chance to get practical experience, such as doing local, mainland or overseas internships, attending forums, and having dinner with successful leaders.

Students will also get to join study tours and exchange programmes. Outstanding students will win awards and scholarships. There are also special courses to improve language skills. Students will be encouraged through peer-assisted learning and participate in community services to improve their GPA. What students think they need: 89.85% working ability, 79.70% language skills and 71.78% interpersonal skills

Source: Wisenews DOCUMENT ID: 201004275316514

Questions:
1. Which qualities do you think are the most lacking for university graduates nowadays?
2. Could you think of any ways for university students to know about the demand in the labour market?

僱主與學生就業期望值相悖

大公報 27-4-2010

【大公報訊】記者孟苑報道：大學生慨嘆搵工難，面試表現欠佳及不了解職場風向皆是致命傷。一項調查發現，受訪年輕人認為「工作能力」最重要，企業卻認為選拔大學畢業生首要條件為「跨文化溝通能力」，並期望他們新入職後表示出「親和力及情緒智商管理能力」，最不重視「學校知名度」，顯示僱主與學生觀點有出入。

香港城市大學於三月至四月訪問了四百名本地企業人力資源或相關部門負責人，其中四成九為大型企業。近五成五企業過去一年曾聘請剛畢業的大學生，擔任助理及主任等。

調查發現，企業選拔大學生首三大條件為「跨文化溝通能力」、「創新及分析思維」和「表達及論述能力」，而超過八成受訪企業相對不重視「學校知名度」，「校內成績」亦僅獲一成七企業重視。

校內成績不重要

企業對新入職大學畢業生工作表現的期望方面，超過九成企業最期望大學畢業生入職後，表現出「親和力及情緒智商管理能力」，「紀律性」和「上進心」緊隨其後。城大市場營銷學系特任講師張婉儀認為，現時工作環境中，多數需團隊合作和互相溝通，具親和力的學生較受企業歡迎，此外處理壓力和逆境的能力也較為重要，因此智商管理亦不容忽視。

城大還訪問逾四百名中六和中七學生，在選擇大學學系方面，受訪者最重視「取得專業知識資格」，其次是大學可否提供「配合人力市場的培訓」。不過，高達九成受訪者認為「工作能力」是企業首要聘請人才的條件，其次為「語文能力」和「親和力及情緒智商管理」。

九十後不了解職場

城大市場營銷學系本科課程主任霍信昌解釋，僱主與新入職大學畢業生期望錯配，僱主重視大學生軟技巧及思維，高中生則認為「硬知識」最重要，說明九十後年輕人對前途迷茫，未能全面掌握職場信息，缺乏進修和提升就業技能的動力和全面了解。

城大市場營銷學系特任講師譚桂常建議學生除提高專業能力，亦要多參加實戰培訓、社區活動，提高語文能力，擴展國際視野，才能提高長遠競爭力。

文章來源：http://www.takungpao.com/news/10/04/27/JX-1249300.htm

思考題：
1. 你認為現時大學畢業生在職場上最缺乏甚麼條件或特質?
2. 就你所見，你認為有甚麼方法可以令大學生更了解市場對人才的需求?