it's all about the interview

Blogger at NegaraKu ~ Malaysia has an opinion that perhaps it's not the graduate's fault that there are so many unemployed graduates in Malaysia. Employers are also guilty of "degree discrimination". It is common knowledge that certain companies prefer to hire graduates from foreign tertiary institutions. In fact, I personally know of a practice where a local company chooses to hire only graduates with foreign degrees into its Management Trainee programme, although the interview is open for all.

How do we eliminate this bias?

Then it all points back to the universities. Are the universities conducive for effective education? Are the lecturers up to standard? Is the student environment suitable for research and open communication?

But in the mean time what should the graduate do?

I lift this passage from Negaraku ~ Malaysia:

From what I see, its really the "way" to self presentation which might hold the key to graduates failing job interviews.

I really have no independent opinion on this. I have been fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how one views it) to have never failed numerous job interviews. I attribute my success to "self presentation", i.e. making the right first impression, selling yourself, marketing yourself effectively. Very often, one chance is all you get to convince an employer that they would do wonders if they recruited you.

So I guess the right thing to say now would be to "ace the interview, learn and study the company, read the people, and outshine your competition".