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Limited jobs for graduates

EVERY WEEK THERE are a plethora of ads requesting only applicants with years of experience who have at least a Bachelor's degree to apply for the job - others need not apply. But just how many people fit into the educated-with-experience niche?

One woman, Marshalee Durrant, 26, says though she has the qualifications for a paralegal, she finds it difficult to find a job. "There is too much prominence placed on having a degree. You find that a lot of persons with the degrees don't have experience. The persons who just graduated from law school, they are not in tune with some of the things that they have to do."

Durrant says with four years of experience, she is hoping that she will be successful soon.

Another woman, Monique Brown, who recently graduated from the Northern Caribbean University, (NCU), with a degree in Mass Communications, says she has been looking for a job for more than seven months and has not yet got a job.

"I have applied to most of the media houses and PR (Public Relations) companies and I still have not received any responses form some. Some of them have sent me back letters saying that they have no vacancies and they will be putting me on file," she said.

DISCOURAGING

Brown, who is in her early twenties, says she is somewhat discouraged by the process. "After going through all that stress of getting a degree and then nothing is turning out, it is discouraging."

"The thing is, some of us are just graduating, and they (companies) in the ads are saying that they want persons with a certain number of years experience, but how are we to get that experience if no one is willing to hire us?" she asked.

Brown, therefore recommends that the companies implement a system that meets graduates half way. "What they should do is to take in the graduates for entry level positions, so we can gather experience."

Mrs. Jacqueline Coke-Lloyd, executive director of the Jamaica Employers Federation, (JEF), says all the blame should not be placed on employers, but the students have to start thinking about their goals and the job market before pursuing studies.

"They will just have to take control of their lives. It is important that they do their homework about the job market before they study. So many are doing these degrees that they won't use, or don't want. What they should consider is working for free to get the experience at a company, either as an apprentice or management trainee. Wise people will go in and create jobs for themselves," she said.

Coke-Lloyd also said there was no basic reason for different employers, requiring either a certain number of years experience, or a degree, while some decide to couple the two.

"Different enterprises require different skills. It just depends on the goals and the strategies and the plans for the organisation ... but the job market can only accommodate so much and no more, it has nothing to do with discrimination. There is no way that an employer will take on more than they need," she said.