More than half employers complained that fresh graduates asked for unrealistic numbers of salaries and benefits, a survey conducted by JobStreet Malaysia found.
The study revealed that impractical demands such as high starting salaries and various benefits are among top reasons why employers reject job applications from fresh graduates. Held in March, JobStreet surveyed 405 companies representing the manufacturing, production, construction, building, engineering, retail and IT sectors, Free Malaysia Today reports.
According to the study, as much as 68 percent employers filed complaints that fresh graduates are asking too much. Major 75 percent graduates were reported to ask for starting salaries of RM2,400 while more than half graduates asked for salaries of RM3,000 and above.
Owing to the unrealistic demands, 72 percent fresh grads’ job applications were rejected, with only 2 percent employers saying that they are willing to pay fresh grads RM3,000.
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Additionally, the survey also pointed out several reasons why employers often reluctant in hiring fresh grads, including they were choosy about their jobs and demonstrated poor attitude (64 percent), had poor command of English (59 percent), and lack of communication skills (53 percent).
Seeing from fresh graduates’ point of view, they said that salary of RM3,000 per month is a reasonable number because they needed to meet their daily expenses for food, rent, transportation, and for savings as well.
Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general J Solomon further confirmed that their asking salary of RM3,000 was actually understandable, considering the current cost of living for fresh graduates included the repayment of student loans.
However, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said that those starting amounts would be more suitable for those fresh graduates with a master’s degree.
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