EHR 101 - Employability Skills: Key Challenges in Seeking Employment

This report identifies key challenges that university graduates face when seeking employment, including debt and financial pressures, lack of experience, decisions regarding postgraduate education, a high number of graduates competing for the same jobs, and excessive demands from employers. It highlights that many companies prefer experienced candidates due to the complexities and costs associated with training new graduates. The report concludes that despite these challenges, graduates can improve their employment prospects by participating in extracurricular activities to build contacts and credibility, and by being innovative in meeting evolving market demands. Desklib provides resources like past papers and solved assignments to support students in their academic and professional development.

Running header: Employability Skills 1
Employability skills
Students Name
Institutional Affiliation

Employability Skills 2
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Challenges that students face when seeking employment after graduation....................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................6

Employability Skills 3
Introduction
The long-term goal for most college and university graduates is to acquire productive
employment immediately after graduating (Vedder, Denhart & Robe, 2013). However, as
students shift from student life to working professionals, they are faced with different struggles
and challenges when seeking employment. Even to the most prepared graduates, challenges are
inevitable due to the ever-changing employment conditions. Therefore, the only way to
navigating the complex hurdle of employment is remaining flexible. This report will pinpoint the
key challenges that student’s seeking employment face after graduating from University.
Challenges that students face when seeking employment after graduation.
Different factors/challenges influence the post-graduation experience for graduates
entering the workforce in varying ways. These hurdles affect graduates irregardless of academic
majors’ graduates take or school attendance. To begin with, we have debt and financial pressure.
Most students get to learn about crucial money management skills during their university life
since they try as much to make ends meet with limited resources (Brooks, 2018). However, since
most university expenses qualify for financial assistance from student loans, after students leave
school, the financial pressure to pay up the loan ratchets-up. Besides, other costs of living such
housing, transportation and food start piling up hence forcing students to adapt pressured
lifestyles in order to account for both living expenses and debt. This at times alters their career
paths in order to cover all bases.
Secondly, we have lack of experience. Most companies have innumerous entry-level
applicants to sort when there is a job opening. When the number of graduates seeking
employment is high, companies often request for candidates with experience for entry level roles
(Jones, 2017). For the university students, acquiring experience while still in school may be
impossible, and therefore, they may lack the skill sets required by the companies. This makes it a
challenge for many students since they may feel pressured to look for jobs alongside studies even
before graduation. Others seek internships related to the courses they are undertaking so as to
gather industry experience required for their future employment. Besides, according to a survey
conducted, companies seek employees with experience since training new graduates may be
complex and may expensive (Pascoe, 2016). Due to this competitiveness in the market, it is
tough for students to find employment.

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Thirdly, we have the postgraduate education. Most university students face a hard time
while deciding between furthering their education or entering the workforce. Some students
understand that studying further may be crucial to securing a job depending on their field of
study (Jones, 2017). For example, a Ph.D., masters or any other specialization may be critical to
securing their chosen career. For other students, more qualifications may be essential in joining
the workforce with a higher salary or position.
Fourthly, we have a high number of graduates looking for the same job. A high number
of students may do courses that are quite popular such as the Bachelor of Business. Therefore,
after the students graduate, thousands of students enter the workforce with the same degree.
Thus, the remaining students who have done a similar course have a hard time securing a job
(Godofsky, Zukin & Van Horn, 2011). The challenge here is standing out and making their
degree seem unique as compared to other students. However, since students are already
consumed in studies and others at side jobs, they often find it to build their resumes further and
be different. This, therefore, makes it more difficult to secure good jobs after graduating.
Lastly, we have excessive demands. Today’s competitive work environment has
excessive demands beyond the workplace requirements. Therefore, new graduates at some point
may face an unrealistic expectation from employers since they may demand long working hours
while at the same time demanding high-quality output (Godofsky, Zukin & Van Horn, 2011).
Working as such may be valuable to the company; however, these demands may be unachievable
for some graduates due to lack of adaptability or perseverance.
Conclusion.
In the current market, it's difficult for newly graduated students to acquire employment
opportunities. Beginning with the new workplace obligations and requirements, fresh graduates
may be ineligible for different positions; therefore, companies opt for non-graduates who have
the skills required rather than the fresh graduates who do not have the necessary skills set
required by the companies. However, even with these challenges graduates face while
transitioning to the workplace, there are different ways to help reduce the level of difficulty in
securing employment. For example, making sure students participate in other groups or programs
can be beneficial since it will help build contacts and also increase credibility. Everyone has an
opportunity, however, how one puts effort, time and concentration is what defines success. With

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the changing market needs, fresh graduates should also be innovative and figure out new ways to
meet the new demands (Fogg & Harrington, 2011). This will help them both secure and begin
their jobs.

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References
Brooks, S. (2018). 5 Key Challenges That College Students Face After Graduation. Retrieved
from https://www.igrad.com/articles/5-challenges-for-students-after-graduation
Godofsky, J., Zukin, C., & Van Horn, C. (2011). Unfulfilled Expectations: Recent College
Graduates Struggle in a Troubled Economy. Work Trends. John J. Heldrich Center for
Workforce Development.
Fogg, N. P., & Harrington, P. E. (2011). Rising mal-employment and the great recession: The
growing disconnection between recent college graduates and the college labor
market. Continuing Higher Education Review, 75, 51-65.
Jones, E. (2017). The Biggest Challenges Facing University Graduates - RECRUITING TIMES.
Retrieved from https://recruitingtimes.org/business-movers-shakers/21246/biggest-
challenges-facing-university-graduates/
Pascoe, A. (2016). What are the challenges facing students for employment after finishing
University? Retrieved from
http://anthidapascoe.wixsite.com/mysite/single-post/2016/10/05/What-are-the-
challenges-facing-students-for-employment-after-finishing-University
Vedder, R., Denhart, C., & Robe, J. (2013). Why Are Recent College Graduates
Underemployed? University Enrollments and Labor-Market Realities. Center for College
Affordability and Productivity (NJ1).