Are UKM Graduates Ready to Face the Challenges of the Job Market?

An increasing number of graduates, especially from public institutes of higher learning in Malaysia are unemployed. A degree can no longer be regarded as an automatic passport to employment. What are the causes for this state of affairs? Is this because the job market is getting more competitive? Or are the current batch of job seekers and graduates unmarketable? It is not prudent to blame the graduates entirely for their predicament. It is crucial to find out whether the courses offered at the universities, adequately prepare them with the right blend and attitude to compete in the job market. Hence, it is important to study whether UKM graduates are equipped with sufficient communication skills and the basic research knowledge to fulfill the needs of the prospective employers. As a preliminary study, this paper will report on what graduates from The School of Language Studies and Linguistics share about their experiences with employers during their Industrial training and propose strategies to address these issues.