SEARCHING for a job seems to be an age-long challenge. Competition among graduates with the same type of qualifications vying for similar positions, lack of ability in crafting outstanding resumes and scarce network from within the industry upon graduation are common obstacles, which are synonymous with it.
Although challenging, local higher education institutions (HEIs) have managed this issue well by achieving beyond 80 per cent of graduate employability. This year, however, the job search challenges are amplified with fewer-than-usual job openings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Numerous companies are downsizing, leaving many jobless. Considering this, graduates can no longer merely rely on their certificates, diploma or bachelor degrees should they wish to gain employment.
For the past seven months, we have witnessed changes in many areas of our lives, such as the increased levels of dependency on information communication technologies for work, entertainment and socialising. We also experienced an increased reliance on gig economy service providers, such as Grab Food.
While some struggled to find jobs, others created their own by using social media.
Some YouTubers who once treated their postings as a favoured pastime found themselves catapulted into stardom, which now draw in handsome pay cheques. This brings about the realisation that we must do things differently.
To help graduates attune themselves to the new job market demands, the government has allocated RM100 million for the Higher Education Ministry to conduct a career advancement programme known as "Penjana KPT-CAP". It aims to reskill and upskill participating graduates by boosting their existing abilities and knowledge.
The Penjana KPT-CAP consists of three sub-programmes — Place and Train, Entrepreneurship and Gig Economy. The Place and Train sub-programme provides competency training by industry players to its participants. Upon its completion, some participants will stand a chance at securing a job in the participating industries.
The Entrepreneurship sub-programme offers participants insight on the know-hows of kick-starting a company including methods to secure funding. The Gig Economy sub-programme provides competency training that will aid participants to generate income through engagements in the gig economy via freelancing.
The Penjana KPT-CAP programme lasts between four and six weeks.
It will be conducted by academics, practitioners and industry players at selected HEIs. At the end of the programme, participants will be given a certificate of competency from participating agencies. Obtaining it will beef up their resumes and function as an indicator of their enhanced capabilities to industry players looking to hire.
Graduates who did not manage to secure a job last year, as well as those who graduated this year are eligible to participate in the programme. Each participant will be fully funded to undergo one of the three sub-programmes, which is valued at between RM4,000 and RM5,000 per person.
Should there be any participant interested in undergoing two or all three sub-programmes, they may do so by paying the additional costs independently.
Those who wish to sign up for the programme can visit http://great.mohe.gov.my/.
The Penjana KPT-CAP programme will be launched by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday at the Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Razak, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The programme will begin next month.
It is hoped that participating graduates will secure job placements in the first quarter of next year, if not earlier.
While there is no instant remedy for the challenges faced, nevertheless, the ministry is diligently working to alleviate some obstacles for graduates in search of their first jobs.
Having said that, it is hoped that graduates will not allow the waves of change to knock them off their feet, but instead learn and ride them.
The author is Minister of Higher Education
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times