An Employer's Sentiments

Folks, am posting here Ms. Regina Reyes' blog on the Paradox of Employment in the Philippines, which I feel truly embodies my sentiments as an entrepreneur. Please pass my bloglink around. Thanks!

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EDITOR’S BLOG
By Regina Galang Reyes, MyTrabaho Online Editor

The Paradox of Employment
“Jobs, jobs everywhere but not a single one for me,” this seems to be the plaint of many jobseekers today, to paraphrase the cry of one lost at sea, “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink.” On the other hand, HR recruiters also wail, “Applicants, applicants everywhere but not a single qualified one for our vacancies!” Of course, these are exaggerations but it is a fact that jobseekers find it hard to find the jobs they want and employers also find it hard to find the applicants they want. This is what I call the paradox of employment (or unemployment, if you will) here in the Philippines.

Perhaps the key to understanding this paradox is the phrase, “they want.” The thing is, many jobseekers today, no longer just accept “any available position” even though when asked what job they want, they often say, “any available position.” Why do I say this?

For one, college graduates’ salary expectations are high. Who among college graduates now would accept the minimum wage rate? Many would find this rate very low even though remaining jobless means they have no income.

Second, how many of the college graduates would apply to companies that are not well-known or are small and medium scale enterprises? Many called to apply for these companies often would hesitate going these companies when called for interviews. But according to studies, SMEs are the biggest employers in the country and there are many lesser known (and less glamorous) companies that can afford to give good compensation packages.

Third, how many of the college graduates would apply to call centers and BPOs or for sales positions? Many jobseekers think that jobs at call centers and BPOs are dead-end jobs (which is definitely not true) and that sales jobs are demeaning (which is also not true!). There are other industries and careers as well that suffer from wrong perceptions by jobseekers.

One high government official once stirred a controversy by saying that jobseekers are unemployed because they are “choosy.” While his statement may have been a broad generalization, still, it is a fact that many, many jobseekers have their own specifications for what jobs are “ideal” for them that prevent them from getting a job in the first place. But we who have already worked long and hard in the corporate world know that finding the dream or ideal job is a journey. One doesn’t get to one’s destination in a wink of an eye (except those in Star Trek who can just say, “Beam me up, Scotty!”).

On the other hand, recruiters are quite specific on what “they want.” Technology and market forces have created jobs and job requirements that did not exist say, ten years or even five years ago. If you look at the job specifications of job postings now, you will see a lot of technical skills that are not normally taught in school but have to be learned in that specific industry, career and even company. Come to think of it, there are also many skills that are must-haves for any person who would like to enter the corporate world that are also not taught in school.

Things become more complicated when employers state that they will hire only those with work experience. Added to this, of course, all companies are always on the lookout for those with a positive attitude towards work. This is the undefinable “X” factor that HR recruiters look for in candidates. All these specifications combined truly makes looking for qualified candidates similar to looking for a needle in a haystack!

When jobseekers’ “wants” and employers’ “wants” do not align, then unemployment results.
Visit www.mytrabaho.com for articles that can help you solve the Paradox of Employment. And, do not hesitate to e-mail advice@mytrabaho.com for free job-hunting tips and career advice.