As a fresh graduate I am fortunate to have made the right decision on being able to gain employment in an organization which values and culture stress highly on the sharing of knowledge and the development of individuals. Personally I have spoken to many friends of mine and graduates in my varsity who have attended numerous job interviews, but are still unable to secure employment. I find it disturbing, after discovering that most of them share the same traits in which could be easily solved with a little self initiative.

Attitude is a major source of concern among the youths and graduates of our nation today. Many of them have the attitude and thinking that the world and their parents owe them a living. Since day one, they have had the luxury of being given everything, and when things do not suit their wants and needs they start blaming others and claiming that the world is an unfair place. Even when they do graduate, they are unwilling to break out of their comfort zone, in order to go the extra mile in which ever endeavour they have chosen. Thus, most graduates today take the easy way out by targeting easy going “glamorous” jobs with the promise of high perks, or like a rolling stone they will roll from one job to another without ever gaining self satisfaction.

Quoting Anthony Robbins “Great Leaders are Great Readers”, college and varsity students today simply do not read enough, apart from their lecture and tuition notes. There are many instances when students with straight A’s in their respective subjects go blank when they are tested in areas of general knowledge during a job interview.
Our Malaysian education system, which is very classroom and exam oriented have produced individuals which are timid and only proficient theoretically. Therefore it is crucial that students and graduates start reading extensively and start finding opportunities, with or without pay, that exposes them to real world situations in which analytical thinking and practical solutions are needed, in order to jive the mechanics of being “book smart & street smart” cohesively in them.

According to statistics, many job applicants are turned down not because they are unqualified but because, of their inability to communicate effectively during a job interview. I feel that we, the Malaysian society as a whole are guilty of the fact of not paying enough attention on the importance of communication and the consequences of failing to communicate proficiently. With the breaking down of borders and globalization the need to communicate effectively today is far greater than it has ever been. However to be a good communicator relates back to the need of having a great and positive attitude in oneself and to be an individual who is always rich in knowledge and content.

This brings us back to the question of, what do our graduates’ lack? Well, having said all of the above there, is one thing for sure in which they lack. They lack the ability to constantly challenge, push and develop themselves in all areas of education, business and life in general. The one thing I have truly learnt, during my time here in ATCEN is to constantly ask myself “what have I done today, that adds value to my life?” for without the passion of further growing and developing, we are but a stagnant pool of water just watching the world pass day after day before drying up completely.

 

A schoolboy’s dream… a competitors challenge. Donald J. Trump is the very definition of the American success story. He has continually set new standards of excellence while expanding his interest in luxury residential real estate, world-class hotels, office buildings, championship golf clubs, gaming and entertainment. Mr. Trump is personally involved in everything that his name represents. This commitment has made him the preeminent developer of quality real estate known around the world. He is the archetypal businessman – a deal maker without peer and an ardent philanthropist.

Donald J Trump
Chairman and President
The Trump Organization

Extracted from www.trump.com “biography of Donald J Trump”