Jobstreet: More employers prefer graduates from top universities

By: Nestor Corrales - 10 years ago

The University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University (clockwise). UP PHOTO FROM INQUIRER FILE; ATENEO, UST AND DE LA SALLE PHOTOS FROM THEIR FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS

Manila, Philippines—Fresh graduates from top Metro Manila schools have a better chance of landing a job, a recent survey of employment search engine Jobstreet.com Philippines revealed.

The survey conducted by Jobstreet.com for Fresh graduate Employability showed that most companies in the Philippines still look on which university the graduates come from.

Among 400 companies surveyed, 77 percent of the respondents said they prioritize graduates from University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University (DLSU).

The survey, however, said, graduates from other universities should still be confident in landing a job as 94 percent of companies said they would still hire applicants even if they did not come from the top four universities.

Jobstreet.com quoted a Human Resource practitioner saying, “So long as they are able to communicate in English, are trainable and dedicated to work hard, they will still be considered even if they don’t graduate from top universities.”

This, after the survey also indicated that graduates from state-run universities such as Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), Philippine Normal University (PNU), and Polytechnic University of the Philippines are also considered by employers.

According to Jobstreet, employers said fresh graduates need to highlight their internship experience, their grades and extra-curricular activities on their resume to make up of their lack of experience and have higher chances of being hired.

It, however, said that while some employers were open to hiring fresh graduates, some expressed concern about “fresh graduates leaving the job after being trained, [with] poor communication skills, [and with] unrealistic salary expectations.”

Jobstreet.com said that in 2013, 83 percent of companies hired fresh graduates.