EMPLOYERS should be concerned that 36% of fresh graduates are quitting their jobs in the first year to seek better prospects and pay, a survey revealed.

The survey by Monster.com showed that 74% of the young talent polled had left their jobs due to a “lack of development”, while 43% wanted a higher salary.

Asia Pacific Monster.com managing director Sanjay Modi said the difference in views between employers and fresh graduates was cause for concern.

“This should obviously be a concern for employers looking to attract, hire and retain young talent in the long term. However, there is also a realisation that young talent, perhaps, expect too much too soon.”

Sanjay said employers must look into the promotions sought by fresh graduates within their first 12 months of employment.

“This is a time when young talent need to prove themselves, work hard and hit their targets as per the job description.

“Fresh graduates should not expect to be handed promotions and additional responsibilities before achieving these goals.”

The survey involved more than 700 employers and fresh graduates in the country, with the aim of bringing to light the challenges and expectations surrounding the recruitment process for young local talent.

When it comes to challenges on the job, the majority of fresh graduates said their lack of industry knowledge and experience affected their confidence.

The survey found that 58% of fresh graduates agreed that their first job was key to paving the way for future careers, but 24% said they struggled with a lack of mentorship and 22% said their bosses posed a challenge.

The poll found that 21% of young talent felt that they should receive better compensation and 20% were not ready for working life.

However, 80% of the employers polled believed that they provided enough support for fresh graduates to succeed.

The survey also found that 67% of employers spent less than three minutes reading an applicant’s resume, with 50% scanning through it for between one and three minutes, and 17% reviewing it in under a minute.

It found that 68% of employers were interested in applicants’ experience, while 58% were keen on candidates’ education and qualifications.

Having a good resume is crucial, with 45% of employers expecting a well-written CV, with only 11% not minding spelling and grammatical errors.

Eight per cent of employers said they would like to be provided with links to applicants’ work portfolios, while 5% sought candidates with volunteer experience.

The poll showed that one way for young talent to land jobs faster was by completing internships before seeking employment.

In Malaysia, 60% of fresh graduates said they had completed at least one internship stint before landing their first job, while 91% of employers said it was important for job-seekers to complete internships.

The survey found that only 42% of employers in the country offered internship programmes. – September 22, 2017.