New university graduates attempting to secure work in an increasingly competitive job market are likely to be out of step with prospective employers because of a lack of appropriate preparation and self-appraisal. The observations were made by career consultants in response to the results of an employment survey.

 

In September the Shanghai Labor and Social Security Bureau questioned more than 200 new university graduates in the city on their attitude to securing work and future careers.

 

The survey revealed that approximately 80 percent of first-time job seekers considered studying hard or attending vocational skill training to be the only preparation they could make for their future career. Ten percent of respondents had never taken any action to prepare for the job market, the survey said.

 

"It seems to be a common phenomenon that new graduates stay in classrooms and dream about their ideal job rather than having a finger on real job opportunities," said Peng Ming, a career consultant.

 

Peng suggested the idealistic approach made youngsters look for jobs that were suitable for them rather than gearing themselves up for employers' needs. Fifty-two percent of respondents said their ideal jobs would be in a profession they were interested in.

 

Because of domestic universities' recruitment expansion in recent years Shanghai is home to 129,000 new university graduates this year. This is more than twice the figure of 2002.

 

"University graduates had better lower their employment expectations and look for employers and positions that they can manage," said Ouyang Hui, campus recruitment director at ChinaHR.com.

 

(Shanghai Daily November 1, 2006)